Like us on Facebook
Find out all the latest news and keep in contact with other members. Search for:
‘Blue Mountains Creative Arts Centre Inc.’
Come to our next Committee Meeting
Committee meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month. All members are welcome to attend. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how to improve the BMCAC please come along and bring your creativity!
Our next meeting is on 4th of April at 7:30pm.
The Centre’s AGM was held on the 23rd of February in conjunction with the Committee meeting. Tabled reports as well as results of Committee elections were as follows.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2013
|
||
President
|
Richard Cutler
|
47391129
|
Vice President
|
Helen Christof
|
47395470
0400691057
|
Secretary
Librarian
|
Bronwyn Campbell
|
47353608
0411041054
|
Treasurer
|
David Atwood
|
0402810295
|
Class Co-ordinator
|
Ingrid Russell
|
0247391118
|
Creations Editor
|
Matthias Zierholz
|
0451965785
|
Publicity Officer
|
Elizabeth Bryden
|
96787549
|
Workshop
Co-ordinator
|
Vicki Hersey
|
47395891
|
Committee member
|
Wendy Field
|
0247392243
|
Committee
member
|
47392413
|
|
President’s Report:
In my overview of the year I want to bring up certain distinctions that might make things clear. The first distinction is between a manager and an artist. This came up when one of our committee members left with letters to us all complaining I was not computer savvy and basically not a good manager.
Managers usually don’t want to live with the uncertainty principal that is inherent in art.
If you are going to go for originality for you, then to make breakthroughs, one must accept a fair amount of freedom and uncertainty. This is the difference in attitude between an artist and a manager I believe.
Now I don’t know what sort of president you want – one whose main thrust is seeing or one whose main thrust in managing.
I am not really a good manger. I like people too much. Managers stick to their rules and often sacrifice people. I have experienced the difference between craft and an Art. I was a tailor for 25 years in a family firm lasting 130 years from father to son. We made $6,000 suits. The difference I believe is that craft is usable. It has much more management in it. One can guarantee the product more because of the rules, like commercial Art. But real Art is found on the wing so to speak, one sees it is good, the rules are found for that particular painting only – maybe some of you have witnessed this when I draw portraits of the people at the Rotary Markets. Now both are good - craft and Art, but they are different and in a place like this each should have their own dignity. The line between craft and Art can be hazy, but essentially they are different and this should be recognised openly. So much for that.
Now to other matters: We have had two major deaths in our family. One Lyndal Walsh to cancer– what a dynamo! Everyone who knew her will miss her terribly. The other, our guardian angel who lived directly over the road and oversaw the centre intimately.
Highlights of this last year: Our wonderful pottery exhibitions and our much talked about life drawing exhibition. To get regional councillors and politicians to open these are a bonus, as Wendy can witness, as she approached them with our immediate concerns.
Our main room has been beautifully painted. We had 30 school children do the first coat and Wendy with Helen’s support did a great job completing the task.
I thank David for such sterling work organising the Rotary market stall. This advertises our centre. Also, I would like to thank him for his great contribution as Vice Treasurer working with Ned. Ned wishes to step down after 9 productive years. We wish Jan well too with all her health troubles - and thank her for Oh! so many years –it is hard for a newcomer to imagine it.
There are many many more of you who do great work for the good of the centre- thank you one and all.
Some problems, like what to do with the Gallery, will come up with the new committee, but I step down with a light heart to await your decision as to our next committee’s make up.
Richard
Treasurer’s Report:
Notes on Accounts and Comments in the Auditors Statements
Final Result
|
2012
|
2011
|
Gallery
|
202.58
surplus
|
464.75
surplus
|
Potters
|
635.45
surplus
|
262.32
surplus
|
General Centre
|
-2,836.18
deficit
|
-10,043.54
deficit
|
Total Consolidated
|
-1,998.15
deficit
|
-9,316.57
deficit
|
It should be noted the Auditor’s comments based on the last 7 years results were:
Based on the average loss, in 6 to 6.5 years the Centre will be broke.
Over the last 3 to 4 years, this has been brought to the Committee’s attention. The result for 2012 is very good, i.e. $1,998.15 deficit. Take out the non cash item of depreciation $1,648.17 and the result is $346.98 cash deficit for the year.
Ned
Gallery Report:
We began the year with a new roster and timetable in place i.e. opening only on a Saturday from 9:30am until 4:30pm with people rostered on, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. I hoped that the new opening times would boost sales. It was not to be, our sales remained low.
With declining exhibitors, members were rostered on more frequently. Many found it disheartening to sit for three and a half hours and have few or as was sometimes the case, no customers at all. The inevitable happened and we were all very sorry to have to make the decision to close the gallery in its present form, in December.
Exhibitors were requested to remove any stock they wished to retain. Anything left behind was offered for sale at discount prices along with remaining goods from our April garage sale. A profit of about $200 was put into the BMCAC account.
I have enjoyed being a member of the Blue Mountains Creative Centre having experienced it under various hats over the last ten years and would like to thank the committee, the members and especially the gallery committee for their continued support. I will especially miss the friendship of the potters group and my long standing involvement as the gallery co-ordinator, but personal circumstances demand that I resign. I wish you all the best for the future.
Jan Needham
Life Drawing Monthly Report
Our group has started well this year and we all look forward to the time ahead. Members reported how much they missed the activity and thought that the break was a bit long. There were others who enjoyed the break and I was one of them.
I’ve had some enquiries from interested people wanting to draw who have seen us on our web page. I’ve also had 2 new models wanting work, phone up and give me their phone numbers.
Our numbers fluctuate widely, there was 5 one week and then 11 the following week. Sometimes after a full week people stay away thinking the space is too restricted and so for a few weeks after that the numbers are down. I’m mentioning this here so that some will understand the problem and it may not happen as often.
It’s encouraging to see the drawing group has 4 members taking an active role in helping to run the art center. Richard Cutler is the President, Liz Bryden and Colin Brest are on the committee and I am the life drawing facilitator. The Art Centre needs more active members. Please consider volunteering.
We need additional committed people who could attend monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month. We would welcome new input and support. So come along to our next meeting on April 4th at 7:30pm and see how things work.
Joy Myers Creed Ph: (02) 4739 2413
Joy.myers.creed@bigpond.com
Potters Group Report:
Blue Mountains Potters once again had a very successful year in 2013. Our membership has increased considerably and our new members are very keen. Many of these new members come from the Monday night group who meet weekly at 6-30pm.
We had an enjoyable and informative sawdust firing at Wendy’s in September where results were both interesting and surprising! Many of these pots then became part of the annual Clay Creations exhibition held in October in the Glenbrook Hall, an event which draws plenty of visitors and lots of positive praise.
Our Christmas party was once again held at the Lapstone Hotel (on a quieter night!) and was a very enjoyable evening. We again collected a large box of “goodies” for the Lower Blue Mountains Family Support service, which distributes Christmas hampers to needy families.
With the Centre’s classes growing ---a big thank you to Carolyn Eadie---we welcome prospective members to join our group.
Wendy Field
Library Report:
During to the room rearrangement a number of pottery library books were culled and books rearranged.
Vicki Hersey
Life drawers Group Report:
The Life Drawing Group has had a successful year with an amazing Annual Exhibition at the local community hall beside the picture theatre.
We have, as usual, continued meeting with unbroken sessions except for our so called Christmas break. We continue to welcome new members and new models on a regular basis, so we are indeed a dynamic group, but retaining a nucleus of steadfast dedicated drawers.
Our Christmas get together was very well attended. It was a festive last meet together.
It is a rewarding task for me to continue to facilitate this family of drawers who openly welcome new people of any persuasion with enthusiasm and warmth.
Joy
Class co-ordinator’s Report:
A warm welcome to all new and returning students to BMCAC. Hopefully we can keep the classes going all year, so please spread the word or bring a friend or two. All the pottery classes, both for adults and children, are full and a new class on Friday evening has had to be formed. Thank you to Carolyn for all her efforts last year and we look forward to another busy pottery studio this year. The children’s painting class on Thursday afternoon went ahead. Unfortunately Hilary will be finishing up at the end of this term and we thank her for her time with us. We will need a new teacher for the children’s classes in art, so if anyone is interested in applying for that position, please email me at bmcac.mail@gmail.com or ring me on 47391118.
Shane Hersey’s Visualisation class proved to be very popular and has good numbers in it. We offered a number of courses, which did not go ahead due to lack of numbers.
I encourage all teachers to do some advertising to help bring in the students and keep their classes going or get them started. A short editorial with a photo to the Gazette works wonders – and it’s free.
Also, if you email me an updated class information sheet and materials list, I can put it on the website and have copies to hand out on enrolment days and at the markets.
If anyone has any ideas or contacts for possible new classes, or suggestions to improve our class numbers, please email me. I am open to suggestions and offers of help.
A big thank you to Vicki Hersey for helping to run enrolment days - much appreciated.
If someone would like to volunteer to put the enrolment day sign on the oval fence for next term, that would be great.
Term dates for this year are as follows:
Term 1 – Feb 4 – Feb 28. (Enrolment day Feb 2)
Term 2 – May 6 – June 28 (Enrolment day May 4)
Term 3 – July 22 – Sept 13 (Enrolment day July 20)
Term 4 – Oct 14 – Dec 6 (Enrolment day Oct 12)
Cheers,
Ingrid
Editor’s Report
The meetings in February (AGM and general) were productive and various other general business items such as a new cartridge for the photocopier and the possibility of buying a printer to save the ongoing high cost of the photocopier were discussed.
Also, in light of the treasurer’s report with the ongoing need to raise revenue, it was suggested that amongst the other budget measures, such as applying for Club grants for 2013, the main building should be advertised for meetings.
The committee was informed there were numerous class enquiries as a result of the last Glenbrook Stall day indicating the importance of having the stall. (Photos from the stall are shown at the end of the newsletter).
Wendy reminded us that due to Jan’s retirement we need a new exhibitions sub-committee to organise the exhibitions. Action: Helen, Wendy and Bronwyn will be the new sub-committee and will meet to organise the next exhibition.
The cleaning contract arrangements are to be clarified with details to be supplied to the committee for consideration and negotiation with the contractor
A reminder was issued, that the meeting room should be returned to its original state after each use, including taking down backdrops from the wall. Also, members should be mindful of community property so that items not in use currently but are intended to be used in the future do not get thrown out. An organised clean out of property will be conducted at the next council clean up.
The possibility of running children’s classes during school holidays will be discussed at next meeting. Wendy, Bronwyn and Helen have volunteered to run classes.
Farewell presents were given to Jan and Ned Needham. Richard thanked them on behalf of all of us for their long years of service to the Centre.
Matt
Hot Topics:
A possible name change from “Blue Mountains Creative Arts Centre” to “Glenbrook Creative Arts Centre” will be discussed. Any such change will of course need to go to a vote by all member first but a move for a vote is likely to happen at the next committee meeting on the 4th of April. Any members who wish to show support for or against this motion are strongly encouraged to come along and join in the discussion. If you have strong views regarding this change and can’t make the meeting, you may wish to contact one of the Committee members to have your view represented and considered at the meeting.
Advertisment of Gallery use as studio space will also be considered and discussed at the next meeting. It has been suggested that if this was to occur,
- A legal document be signed
- Bond paid
- Rent paid a month in advance
Other uses for the Gallery which were suggested were a reading room/weekly get together.
If you have support or objections or alternate options for these possibilities, the committee is interested in hearing from you either before or at the next meeting.
Art Supplies/Equipment:
Vicki Marshall 0448410135 has Venco wheel and potting accessories for sale.
If YOU need paint for any job around the house, big or small, we ask that you show your appreciation by purchasing at
INSPIRATIONS Paint & Colour, Shop 5/6, 109 Batt St South Penrith. Tel 4732 5903
Upcoming Events of Interest:
Woodfire 2013
In memory of Janet Mansfield
21 June – 19 July
kerrie lowe gallery
49 – 51 King Street, Newtown 2042
Phone 9550 4433
Glenbrook Market Stall
On the 3rd Saturday of each month.
Members are reminded that if their membership fees are not paid, they will be removed from the mailing list of Creations for future editions.
Photos from our stall at the markets:
No comments:
Post a Comment