BAFM MEMBERS NEWS - 7
THE FRIENDS OF THE LAING ART GALLERY
TURNER AT THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY, SCOTLAND
The Friends of the Laing Art Gallery have had something of a Turner theme recently. In January a number of Friends went to the National Art Gallery of Scotland, on what has become an annual pilgrimage, to see the selection of Turner’s watercolours which are put on display only in January.
Turner was one of four 19th century artists, the others being John Martin, Daniel Maclise and Alma-Tadema, who were the subjects of a series of stimulating and entertaining study afternoons by Dr Gail-Nina Anderson. These were complemented by a viewing of the small exhibition gallery at the Laing, which had on display John Martin’s ‘Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah’ and Turner’s ‘Snowstorm: Hannibal Crossing the Alps’. They are placed together as part of the Great British Art Debate: Turner v Martin.
The Friends made a grant towards expenses incurred in securing the loan of the Turner from Tate Britain. A lecture by the author Max Adams on John Martin, the local artist, was warmly received – so much so that Max has been invited to give a talk on another local hero, Admiral Collingwood, as part of the evening of activities accompanying FLAG’s AGM in June.
THE FRIENDS OF WITNEY & DISTRICT MUSEUM
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION
The Friends of Witney and District Museum along with Management Committee members, Trustees and volunteer stewards were invited to a preview of the special exhibition of a Victorian Christmas. The local MP, David Cameron, had a look round before he switched on the Christmas lights in Witney. He took away a clothes peg dressed as a fairy for his daughter, and a DVD of the history of Witney. He emphasised the importance of volunteers, without whom the museum could not remain open.
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