Decorative and Fine Arts Society

The latter part of 2011 was a very busy time for the Society. Lecture subjects ranged from a fascinating and detailed introduction to the art and culture of Australian Aboriginal art to Peter Medhurst giving full voice to an account of Gilbert and Sullivan’s 'Patience'. An innovation was our first lunch with a speaker. On Trafalgar Day at the Bookham Grange Hotel members had an enjoyable meal followed by an excellent illustrated talk on Horatio Nelson by local Nadfas lecturer James Taylor. In December a group of over 50 members visited St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle for the 'Festivo' Christmas Concert with the choir of the chapel singing traditional and modern carols augmented at times by audience participation. We were also entertained by a Northumbrian piper playing arrangements of traditional carols and by the Staines Brass who gave us excellent versions of carols, modern and ancient. It was an excellent evening in wonderful surroundings to start off the Christmas festivities.

You will have seen the art work of Dawnay School children in the last edition of this Bulletin. We were pleased to provide a donation under our Young Arts scheme for the school for the project. It was used to provide the equipment for the mosaics made by the pupils now displayed by the school entrance for all to appreciate. We offer an annual grant to local schools to support projects of this nature.
The next year promises to be as full of interest. In January we welcome back James Taylor and discover how the ingenious artists and designers of World War II created the popular and enduring images of public information.   He features posters and paintings and the story of the brilliant Cyril Kenneth Bird (Fougasse) who devised the campaign 'Careless Talk Costs Lives'. To mark the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens, Michael Wheeler introduces us in February to Dickens’ life and career before focussing upon the famous illustrations in the novels. Elizabeth Rumbelow celebrates the Seasons in Art, Poetry and Music in March.   Her lecture illustrates the seasons, using paintings from poetry and music. In April John Iddon presents Horace Walpole, the son of the first prime minister, Walpole had a distinguished and colourful life, but is perhaps best remembered as the creator of Strawberry Hill by the Thames at Twickenham, which we shall be visiting later in the year. 

In April, to complement the February Dickens lecture, we shall be visiting the Dickens Museum in Broadstairs, going on to Pugin’s House in Ramsgate. Further visits in May to Slyfield House are planned. The June tour to Holland takes members to the 2012 World Horticultural Expo – Floridae, a once in 10 year experience of the natural world. Later in the year in September, a tour to Yorkshire is planned based at Harrogate where we will visit houses and exhibitions over three days.

An innovation for this year is a Special Interest Day on the 9th March at the Pastoral Hall, Great Bookham, from 10.30am to 3.30pm with coffee at 10.00am and lunch provided.  The speaker will be Jan Jefferson who will be talking about the Amish people, their way of life and their quilts. Her lecture will be an introduction to the Amish people, discussing clothes, houses, farms and history and, after a short break she will talk about Amish religious services and hierarchy, weddings and their education. .  We will be able to look at a number of real Amish quilts, which Jan will be bringing with her.  Those attending will be welcome to bring their own quilts for others to see and join in the discussion time with questions and answers.  The charge will be £22 per person and is open to all in the area with an interest in the subject; please contact Pam Wilson via the events section of our website www. bookham-dfas.org.uk.

John Cook