PROGRAMME FOR 2012

(Details of the following will be mailed to members)

*  Council Meeting     25th February, 2012, St. Nicholas Church Hall, South Gosforth.

* One Day School   24th March, 2012, Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle upon Tyne.

‘NORTH EAST HISTORY THROUGH ART’

A substantial audience of over 70 assembled on Saturday 24th March at the Newcastle upon Tyne Literary & Philosophical Society to hear a variety of speakers on the theme of ‘North East History through Art’. The purpose of the event was to explore the various ways in which the history of the region has been interpreted and represented through the medium of art.

The session began with Chris Kilkenny from the Northumbrian Association talking on “Picturing St. Cuthbert and his role in Northern History”.  Not content with simply describing the extant imagery specific to the time of St. Cuthbert, Chris brought his story right up to the present. His talk traced the spatial and temporal pattern of the growth and expansion of St. Cuthbert iconography, noting the various transitions the representations passed through in different periods as different groups sought to lay ‘ownership’ to the saint.   Marie-Therese Mayne from the Laing Gallery, Newcastle then spoke on “ A Place for Painters: Cullercoats and the Phenomenon of the Artists’ Colony”, describing the characteristics of artists’ colonies and explaining how Cullercoats emerged as such a location.  Marie-Therese drew attention to the techniques used by the artists to represent the different moods of the sea and weather.  She then went on to trace the contributions of various artists to representing the social and family conditions of the village’s fisherfolk and how these representations changed in response to the changing nature of the village and its local economy.

The afternoon session began with Douglas Glendinning discussing “The Art of Mining: Thomas Hair’s watercolour sketches of the Great Northern Coalfield”. Using Hair’s illustrations, Douglas took us on an early nineteenth century journey from the coal face, through the mine shafts to the surface and then onwards through the loading arrangements, transport to the loading staithes and then downriver in the keels.  His lecture mixed detailed knowledge of the changing technology of mining with explanations of the working and social conditions experienced by miners in the first half of the nineteenth century.  Totally unfazed by the failings of the technology Michael Thomson (National Trust, Wallington) presented a fascinating account of the artistic origins and influences of William Scott-Bell.  Arguing that, although influenced by various groups (notably the pre-Raphaelites), Scott-Bell represented a totally unique and individual artist, Michael examined in detail each of the representations of Northumbrian history in the large murals at Wallington.  These images were related to the changing socio-political environment of late nineteenth century Britain, in particular the liberal ideologies held by his patrons in reaction to the predominant jingoistic and imperialist view of Britain’s role.

There is no doubt that this was a successful event, enormously enjoyed by the majority of those present, but this was entirely due to the outstanding quality of each of the four speakers who judged their lectures to perfection in terms of detail and generality, humour and serious intent and, above all, the depth of knowledge and enthusiasm for their various subjects. 

* Round the County  30th June, 2012 Alston.
Click Here for Round the County Booking Form

* Annual General Meeting   10th November, 2012, Mitford.

                                             PROGRAMME FOR 2011 AND REPORTS

*  The One Day School, on the subject of Women's Work, was held on 26th March in Glendale.

     The event was well attended and the talks received with enthusiasm, resulting in positive,       

      appreciative remarks.

*  Round the County was hosted by Corbridge Village Trust, and took place on 18th June.  Sadly,

    weather conditions were very poor, but members nevertheless enjoyed various visits. 

    Thanks are extended to all involved in organising the events, which included a visit to Dilston.

                          Members on a Visit to Corbridge Church during Round the County

The A.G.M. was held in Longhorsley Village Hall on Saturday, 22nd October.   The business meeting was preceded by a talk from Dr. Chris Burgess on the Battle of Flodden, 1513, where it was outlined how one could become involved with current activities - for more details, see his article in Tyne and Tweed, October, 2011, Vol. 65.