Dates
Private View: Friday 26th August 17:30 onwards, all welcome!
About this event
In early 1944, under the guidance and enthusiasm of Lewis Duckett, Principal of the Plymouth School of Art, a group of artists met to discuss the proposal of mounting an exhibition in the City Art Gallery that coming autumn.
Their work was to be shown under the title of the Plymouth Society of Artists the purpose of which was to encourage and foster a professional and progressive outlook in the fine arts of painting, sculpture and printmaking for the benefit of Plymouth and Plymothians. Membership was to be restricted to those living in the city, or with strong ties to it.
That aim, in itself, was simple but in the eight decades that have passed there have been many and varied interpretations given to it and, equally varied, the exhibits. There have been numerous changes that have taken place during this time, particularly in the external influences that prompt the work of the professional artist. Moreover, extended mobility is now commonplace and has allowed many more practitioners to be within easy striking distance of the city rather than be restricted to within its boundary. This has been responsible for the changed face of the Society, probably more so than any other factor, and unquestionably brings a clear distinction from Plymouth’s phoenix years following the Second World War.
There is something of a symbiosis between the Plymouth and Penwith Societies. Robert Borlase Smart, in whose memory the Penwith was founded, was also the Plymouth Society’s first Vice President following its formation. He continued in that rôle until his death in 1947. The relationship was to thrive over subsequent years with a number of the St Ives artists being invited to show in the annual exhibitions in the City Art Gallery……Further reading can be found at https://penwithgallery.com/exhibition/new-gallery-plymouth-society-of-artists-2022/
Contact
Accessibility
Facilities
Thu 2nd May, 2024
The Working Boat, Falmouth
£35 — £35
Book NowThu 2nd May, 2024
The Working Boat, Falmouth
£35 — £35
Fri 3rd May, 2024
Morrab Library, Penzance
£10 — £10
Fri 3rd May, 2024
Trebah Garden, Falmouth
£45 — £50
Book Now