Saturday 5th April – It might be weekend but no chance for a rest yet! I spent some time on speech preparation in the morning and then went at 1 p.m. to the Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre where a Table Top Sale was taking place, with proceeds from the stall hire and refreshments going to the Mayor’s Charity. In her introduction to the formal Relaunch of the Centre, Gayle Knight, the Creative Director, reminded us that it was over three years since the Centre had opened. We were entertained by a ladies’ and girls’ choir – I think known as Skoot – which rehearses there regularly. In my speech I said that the building would always be for me “Ossy Town Hall”, as I was 25 years old when the Borough of Hyndburn was formed from Accrington and the surrounding townships and the building ceased to be a Town Hall. I said how much I enjoyed coming to productions at the Civic and that I had recently joined the Board of Trustees. I remembered some of the varied events I’d been to in 2013 and 2014 and particularly stressed how pleased I was at the Heritage Projects undertaken – “Welcome to Gobbinland” and “The Accrington Pals”. I told people that on 16th February this year, when I dedicated the Pals’ Banner on Broadway, I’d invited the young people from the Civic Arts Centre to come and be photographed with me. They had made some useful media contacts as a result. I concluded by saying what a wonderful development the Civic Arts Centre was for Oswaldtwistle and the whole of Hyndburn Borough. I paid tribute to Gayle and all her colleagues, both paid and volunteer, and said how glad I was to see that this building had once again become the hub of Oswaldtwistle life. I wished them every success in the future! I took part in the usual photo shoot and prepared to depart. It was with some trepidation that I made my way to Ossy Mills to have my blood pressure checked by Church & Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club as part of Stroke Awareness Week. I was all too aware that I don’t lead a healthy lifestyle as regards diet and exercise, and thought that I wouldn’t be at all surprised if my blood pressure was up, given the hectic schedule I’ve had over the past ten and a half months. Franco stood poised with his camera as I placed my forearm on the table and the cuff was inflated. Not good news, I’m afraid! I don’t understand blood pressure readings but was told that mine was 179 over 95 and that I would be wise to consult the nurse at my GP practice. Consider yourself told, Judith! It’s actually a good thing that Rotary offer these various health checks, as some of us may be suffering from something we’re unaware of and may need to remedy it. Must ring up on Monday morning and make an appointment. I think healthy eating and more walking will need to be introduced into my schedule! It will be easier when I’m no longer Mayor! The Mayoress and I are used to opening exhibitions at the Haworth Art Gallery but today we were invited to a different venue – Churchfield House, Great Harwood, opposite the Parish Church. We’ve visited the house a few times during our mayoral term but this afternoon it was a really special occasion – an Exhibition of Artwork and Sculptures by Hyndburn Artists. Indeed, most of them were from Great Harwood or had an association with it. Refurbishment of the building as a community centre is still ongoing following redecoration of the downstairs rooms by the Prince’s Trust team in October last year. We were announced in grand style by our friend the Town Crier of Great Harwood, Rawden Kerr. I then gave a speech and we started to look round the exhibition. The rooms have now all been given local names, though the official plaques have yet to go on the doors. The Prince’s Trust Hyndburn Team 1 was assisted by a Hyndburn Borough Council employee who applied to be seconded. Heather Ashton Rowell is a part-time Gallery Assistant at the Haworth but is a very accomplished artist in her own right. The Haydock Room featured her work. Volunteer Sandra showed us an album prepared by the individual members of the Prince’s Trust Team under Heather’s guidance. The paintings in the room were inspired by Nature and the environment we live in. “Flowers from Churchfield Garden” is a reproduction of the window on the landing and has been gifted indefinitely to the House by the artist. In the De Lacey Room we became acquainted with the work of Colin Kay, who began painting 11 years ago with water colour at Great Harwood Library. Colin has attended art classes at Hippings Vale in Oswaldtwistle and then began to study new techniques with Harry Caunce. Colin now paints mainly in oils. He has exhibited in several venues and came 2nd at the Nelson Open. Colin is a landscape artist and enjoys depicting local scenes such as Pendle Hill. Joseph Bridge also had a painting “Joy of Spring” in the De Lacey Room. I met Joe and his wife Eileen who are old friends of mine. At the bottom of the stairs were landscape paintings by Joseph Taylor. John J. Welsh was exhibiting in the Hesketh Room. He took up painting after retirement and has tried out all mediums with Christine Wilkinson, Harry Caunce and Robert Driver as his tutors. In this exhibition, John’s work consists of oil paintings showing a variety of landscapes. Trevor Bullen’s work lines the stairs. Born in Clitheroe, he moved to Great Harwood 50 years ago. He studied textile art and design and admires the fine art and detail of J. L. Chapman. His paintings here are very varied but I particularly liked the Andy Warhol-type painting of Audrey Hepburn. Trevor works in acrylic on either card or canvas. Peaceful landscapes characterize the work of Christine Hayhurst in the Trappes Lomax Room, ranging from the “Jonquils” of Spring through to “Autumn Evening, Derbyshire. Sylvia Griffin is exhibiting in the Haydock Room. She lives not far away in Langho and has dabbled in water colour since school days. Ten years ago she began to attend an art class and became hooked on oil painting, which she finds to be a very expressive medium. Several of her paintings feature different types of flowers and a local scene, “Dean Clough”, is included. On the first floor landing we encountered the work of Rita Bunyan, born in London but now living in Great Harwood. Rita paints in oils and specializes in fantastical beings from the world of fairies and witches. In one of the upstairs rooms we acquainted ourselves with the amazing work of Janine Wilkinson, including some models like “House I grew up in”. The “May-Pole” sculpture is rather like a totem pole and is inspired by the artist’s love of dance and birds. It tells the story of reaching your goals and overcoming obstacles and emphasizes that security and stability, through strong foundations, allow personal growth and diversity. At the bottom of the stairs is a pencil drawing by Janine featuring the long-demolished Great Harwood Station – memories of the past! Walter and Doreen Riley are a husband and wife team. Walter served his apprenticeship in painting and decorating and was guided to the artistic side. He studied marbling, wood graining and sign writing, later teaching these skills at Blackburn College. His painting “The Allotment” invites you to sit on the chair and contemplate! Walter’s wife Doreen trained as a textile designer and later as a tailor. Her interests of gardening and flower arranging are evident in the paintings she has chosen to display. We met Geoffrey Robinson, an older man with an interest in old aeroplanes. He paints in water colour or acrylic on board and card, with a fine eye for detail. He seemed a very modest and unassuming man but with a love of his craft. Louise Hornby’s “Roots” in the Hesketh Room had to be THE painting in the exhibition. You needed to stand back from it, at the other side of the room, to appreciate it fully and to catch all the light and shade. We met Louise, who describes herself as “a Great Harwooder through and through”. She takes her inspiration from the natural world, encompassing cultural diversities and philosophies. Subject matter ranges from narrative to abstract, still life, portraiture, fantasy and nature. She uses diverse materials, though mainly acryclic on canvas. Paintings and drawings of Great Harwood’s “Town Gate” featured in the exhibition. Michael Bonney displayed a charcoal drawing at the bottom of the stairs whilst Eddy Foster from Accrington was showing the black and white Lowry-style painting he recently executed in connection with the John Mercer project and the refurbishment of the Mercer Memorial Clock Tower. Further paintings displayed on the staircase were the work of Tom Lund, who took up painting on retirement and is a member of the Great Harwood Community Art Group. How many people only discover their true talents when they’re able to give up the “day job” and find satisfaction doing something they find truly fulfilling? The Exhibition is only on till next Sunday 13th April so please try and spare the time to see it in the meantime. It’s open Sunday 6th, Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. and on Thursday 10th evening from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. It’s closed on Friday 11th but is open on Saturday 12th from 3 p.m. till 7 p.m. and finally on Sunday 13th from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. Be there to support your local artists! churchfieldhouse.org
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 08:26:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015