Our late April visit to Thirsk to explore Yorkshire furniture making didn’t go at all as planned but turned out to be an unexpectedly enjoyable event.
Dr Suzanne Fagence Cooper discussed the designs created by William Morris with his wife Jane and daughter May, inspired by plant patterns in nature together with their commitment to protecting and preserving their environment.
Our Members had a very special private visit to Calverley Old Hall on 12th February, led by Alastair Dick-Cleland, Project Development Manager and Vicky Thompson, Engagement Manager, of The Landmark Trust.
Made by artists, for artists….
Following the warm reception of the new Ilkley Fountain in April, LAF board members Ann Sumner and Gerry Coughlan organised a visit to two artists and their studios in Ilkley.
Not to be confused with Wentworth Castle, Wentworth Woodhouse is a Yorkshire Palace with a Jacobean foundation, greatly enlarged in the 18th Century and now saved for the Nation by a charitable trust.
The Great Hall at Temple Newsam, flooded by sun and warmth, was a fittingly grand setting for the launch of James Lomax’s latest book, “Objects of Greatest Desire: A Curator’s Memoir”. Lord Halifax and over 70 guests from the Leeds Art Fund, the Chippendale Society and James’s own guests had gathered to mark the occasion.
It was such a privilege to hear from the Artist and two of his subjects about the portrait-process and afterwards to visit the Exhibition with Curtis, Carmen and Tyvin. This was an opportunity to hear more from all three about the portraits, their feelings and experiences. Members had many questions.
A dark threatening sky did not stop twenty LAF members’ visit to Lotherton Hall.
We explored the newly-catalogued archive of the artist, educator and writer Maurice de Sausmarez (1915-1969) with Dr Rebecca Wade.
Leeds Art Fund’s AGM took place at Temple Newsam
Anyone for tennis! LAF members and potential newbies such as myself visited a different venue to the usual museums and galleries – the Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club.
LAF patrons and 1912 Group members spent a wonderful day in Upper Wensleydale as guests of artist Graeme Black and interior designer Jonathan Reed.
Leeds Art Fund members enjoyed a brunch with Peter Mitchell and an animated talk about his work and Leeds experiences before walking round his exhibition, Nothing Last Forever at Leeds Art Gallery.
Clare Nadal’s talk provided an update on her current research project, investigating the extraordinary range of exhibitions which drew crowds to Temple Newsam during the war years when Leeds Art Gallery was closed and the collections safely away in storage.
Several members from Richard Eurich’s extended family came along to our event about Richard Eurich in March.
What a treat for members! A lovely introduction by Olivia, our Events organiser, to Caroline Krzesinska, our speaker, and an exciting giant screen ready for our audience.
We arrived at the University of Huddersfield under sunny skies and the attractive campus looked very striking. White walls, blue skies, a burst of pink blossom and Lemm Sissay’s apposite poem Let there be Peace gave a very cheery welcome to the campus.
This is one of several drawings by the artist relating to Praxitella, a painting which is among the masterpieces of the Leeds twentieth century collection.
The visit to the Lord Mayor’s Parlour at the Civic Hall on February 22nd was a truly illuminating event. The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite entertained us in the HMS Ark Royal room with tea and scones.
The northern section of Temple Newsam’s Domestic Corridor has recently undergone restoration work.
This fine example of work by the Japanese silversmith Hiroshi Suzuki has been acquired for the collection at Temple Newsam.
Leeds Art Fund members gathered in Thirsk at the Zillah Bell Gallery to enjoy the work of leading contemporary visual artists and to meet John Bell for an insight into the challenges and pleasures of creating top-quality gallery space in seemingly unlikely ancient buildings, in a rural market town.