Wed. 8^th November – 7.30 – 9 pm in Solstice  (BRING ALL WORK)  Last meeting before exhibition.

“Ebb and Flow” will open at the Toradh Gallery on Tuesday 5^th December.  

For the meeting on 8^th November please bring your finished art work.  All work should be 40x40cm or 40x30cm as framed or unframed size.  We will be photographing work for posters/invites that night so if you are putting glass on your piece please photograph yourself before it is framed.

We hope to be able to fit in 2 pieces from each member – one is guaranteed.

Peter requested that someone step up to take over PR for the group to advertise ourselves better.

Larry took part in People’s Art Fair in Lucan in Church of Ireland Parish Centre.  If anyone is interested for next year email peoplesartlucan@gmail.com or talk to Larry.  Stands were €40 each and 10% of sales went to the one of the homeless charities.

The Connolly Collective are exhibiting in the Administration building in Connolly Hospital. 20% of sales will be going to the hospital charity.

Annabel and Dorothy (along with Aileen Malone and Sue Reid) will be exhibiting in The Athena Room in The Sol Gallery, 8 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.  Exhibition continues until Thursday November 2^nd 10am-5pm every day.  Closed Sunday but open Bank Holiday Monday. 20% of profits to go to the Peter McVerry Trust.

Carol O’Connor is running classes in Claremont Stadium, Commons Road in Navan on a Monday morning from 10.30am.  €40 for six classes.  Ring Carol on 086 327 4962 for more information.

PLEASE NOTE NO MEETING ON FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

Wednesday 11 th October – 8 – 9.30 pm in Solstice.
(Show and Tell including the usual arts group meeting. Committee meeting at 7.30)
Wed. 25 th October – 8 – 9.30 pm in Solstice (Show and Tell)
Wed. 8 th November – 8 – 9.30 pm in Solstice
(Show and Tell including the usual arts group meeting. Committee meeting at 7.30)
For this last Show & Tell before the exhibition in December please bring your finished art work so that we can assess the sizes (remember 40×40 or 40×30 (finished edge).

We hope to be able to fit in 2 pieces from each member – one is guaranteed.

VAI artists Get Together at IMMA – 15.09.17
Members of VAI: €25 – non-members €50
Booking is recommended on VAI website.

Meath Arts Group Website
We ask members – again – to send updated bio/profile/statements and
images (700 -800 Kb) to Suella for the website: suellahllnd@gmail.com
Check the website if you are unsure of what to write.

PR-person:
The group needs a member to look after PR for the group – particularly in relation to marketing of exhibitions and managing the website. Volunteers or nominations welcome.

Good attendance at opening.  Members questioned the lack of publicity material for the exhibition in Trim.  Peter mentioned the need for someone in the group to take charge of publicity material and press coverage at every exhibition.

Exhibition at Toradh – EBB AND FLOW – December 2017

Unfortunately, due to a staffing situation, there will be no opening night at our Ebb and Flow exhibition in December.  An “informal opening” between the hours of 9.30-5 was discussed.  Peter suggested 4.00pm on a week day as a solution.  A grant application was submitted to Meath County Council Arts office for money to run workshops.  We will know if we have this by the end of July.

Next monthly meeting will be combined with a show and tell – Wednesday 30^th August in Solstice 7.30-9pm.  (Committee meet at 7pm)
Spend the summer developing ideas and bring along to this meeting.  A request was made for everyone to write a few sentences about their work (around 50 words) and bring it along to the meeting or email it to Annabel (annabelpotterton@hotmail.com).  We will need this information to put together a submission to Solstice for a curated exhibition in 2018.  If we get the space we will be exhibiting a new body of work that has not been used in the Toradgh exhibition and will be called “Phase II”.

Bective Mill Art weekend
9^th and 10^th September.  Sharon to confirm dates.  A weekend of plein-air painting, workshops, BBQ.  Informal.  Bring a tent or stay in the accommodation.

Colour Mixing Talk
Peter will be painting in Solstice on Wednesday 19^th July from 7-9.30pm if anyone would like to come along and work as well.  If anyone is interested he will be doing a talk on colour mixing.

No meeting in September because of Bective weekend.  

October’s meeting will be on Wednesday October 4^th.

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Exhibition at Toradh – EBB AND FLOW – December 2017
A grant application was submitted to Meath County Council Arts office for money to run workshops. Peter hasn’t heard back yet. If we get it the workshops will be free; if not they will be €10-€15 per person. Workshops to be decided.
Workshops:
Wednesday 21st June in Solstice 6.30-9pm Show and Tell
Wednesday 5th July in Solstice 6.30-9pm – to combine with monthly meeting
Wednesday 19th July in Solstice 6.30-9pm
Wednesday 30th August in Solstice 6.30-9pm
Peter will confirm sessions a few days before

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Bective Mill get-together weekend
Possibly end of August. Sharon to ring Bective and find out which dates are available. Looking at 8/9/10 September. Might run a skills workshop on the Saturday or Sunday to generate work for Toradh Exhibition.

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Opportunities
Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast – Open Submission exhibition similar to RHA – check on their website. Deadline extended until June 30th.
It’s an online submission and if you get shortlisted you then take the work up to Belfast or send it by courier.

Surveyor – deadline has been extended until June 9th.
Dublin plein air – dublinpleinair.ie 19th – 25th June Painting outside in Skerries, Howth, Balbriggan etc. Workshops with Blaise Smith, John Dinan and others.
Wexford Plein Air – 30th July – 7th August. Website – artintheopen.org

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Members Exhibitions
Mette exhibited with INEX in the Sol Gallery, Dublin at the end of May.
Annabel and Dorothy exhibited with FREERANGE in the Sol Gallery at the beginning of May.
Anne Marie had a solo in Navan Library.
Some members had work in the Toradh Gallery for the Bealtaine Festival in May.
Well done to Cosette and Miriam for selling at the Group’s Newgrange Exhibition.

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Next meeting will be in Solstice. Wednesday 5th July 6.30-9pm

Future Workshops/Show and Tells to prepare for Toradh exhibition in December
Possible dates in Solstice which are free:
10th June, 5th July, 19th July, 2nd August, 16th August, 30th August.
Please let Peter know by email petermario50@gmail.com if you can do all or any of these dates so that we can organise workshops when the maximum number of members can attend. On Tuesday 16th May in Solstice 6.30-9pm bring anything that you are working on or want to work on and come along to the Solstice to work and chat. Wednesday 21st June in Solstice 6.30-9pm Show and Tell on EBB and FLOW theme.
Will also have a skills workshop in June depending on how many can attend.

Newgrange Exhibition
Closing on May 12th. Pick up work anytime that day. Congratulations to Cosette and Miriam for sales!

Surveyor
This is an open submission exhibition organised by Solstice for artists living in Meath. If you want to submit email Solstice now at gallery@solsticeartscentre.ie requesting further information and application procedure.

Bective Mill get-together
Possibly end of August. Sharon to ring Bective and find out which dates are available. Might run a skills workshop on the Saturday or Sunday to generate work for Toradh Exhibition.

Royal Ulster Academy Open Submission is open – check on their website.

Members Exhibitions
Mette Roche: Sol Gallery opening Friday 28th May 6pm-8pm. Closes Thursday 1st June 5.30pm.
Anna Marie Murray  is having a solo in Navan Library opening on 9th May at 7pm. On for two weeks.
Bealtaine Festival exhibition is on in Toradh Gallery from May 3rd to June 6th.
Next meeting Wednesday June 7th at 8pm.

Meath County Council Arts Grants
Currently open for 2017 with a closing date of 31st March 2017.

Kennedys art supplies workshops

11th March – introduction to watercolour Sean Molloy 10.15-4.15
25th March – drawing the figure Teresa McAllister
1st April – Seascapes Brenda Molloy
8th April – Still Life Teresa McAllister
15th April – Painting the nude figure Will Nathans

Bealtaine Festival workshops

Thursday March 9th – Thursday April 13th 2pm – 4pm Navan Library
Tuesday March 14th- Tuesday April 11th 6.30pm -8.30pm Kells Resource Centre

Carlow Arts Festival 
“Visual” in Carlow have an open submission on at the moment.  Deadline March 10^th.
Exhibition will run from June to September.

Aesthetica Art Prize
The 11th Aesthetica Art Prize is now open for entries, presenting a fantastic
opportunity for artists, both established and emerging, to further their
career in the art world and showcase their work to a wider audience.

RHA Open Submission
Deadline is March 23^rd.
Forms online from RHA website.
This year they are taking 40% commission on sales.

MEATH ARTS GROUP WORKSHOPS FOR TORADH EXHIBITION

6.30-9pm  
Wednesday 15^th March
Solstice Arts Centre, Navan
Show and Tell on Ebb and Flow 
Bring anything that you have started or thought about.  This is just to get the process rolling.

A discussion followed on the size of work for the Toradh exhibition.  Work including frame is to be 40 x 40 cm or 30 x 40 cm so as to unify exhibition.  If artists want to create smaller pieces these will then go on a separate wall.   If exhibiting 3D pieces these can only be displayed on the opening night.  Anything freestanding has to be taken down after that.

LIFE DRAWING

Peter keen to start this up again if a venue can be found as he has a model.  Peter to get in touch with Newgrange Lodge for one or two day workshops. Other venues suggested were Navan Rugby Club, GAA in Ratoath, Dunboyne Parish Centre, The Venue in Ratoath.  If anyone has any information on these or other venues on how much venue costs and what are coverings on windows then please send to Peter.

THE ATRIUM

Jim O’Brien has approached The Atrium, an OPW building in Trim, on behalf of the group to have an exhibition there.  Exhibition boards are freestanding in the huge reception area.  They have their own hanging system.  They request that no prices are to be put on labels, just telephone numbers of artists for sales.  No invigilation will be required although a list of works can be left at the reception desk if anyone has a query on sales.  There will be no commission charged.  Exhibition will start on June 28^th and finish on July 28^th, 2017 inclusive of hanging and take-down. Opening night would be from 6-7.30 and if we want to open later we pay for staff.  No theme but use your ‘best’ pieces!  Further info to follow.

Next Meeting  Wednesday 5^th April, 8pm.

Toradh Exhibition

A workshop took place on 18^th January to have a further brainstorm about the theme for this exhibition.  Thanks to Sharon and Theresa for leading the workshop. “Ebb and Flow” was voted in as the theme.  We will now have further workshops to help with ideas as well as show and tells.

Bearing in mind the limited wall space at Toradh, Annabel suggested limiting the size of work, or maybe getting all artists to work on 30 x 40 cm as we did for the portraits in Solstice “reflections” exhibition.  Peter talked about double layering of works and possibly no framing. Further discussion needed on this.

Workshops organised as follows:

Tuesday 7^th February 7-8.30/9 pm   Solstice  – To investigate and explore the theme of Ebb and Flow.  Mette said she would lead this.

Saturday 18^th February 11am – 1pm   Solstice – Peter requested that people come up with some ideas, sketchbook work, for this first ‘Show and Tell’.

Wednesday 15^th March 6.30 – 9pm   Solstice – Show and Tell

New Treasurer

Larry Steen has agreed to be our new treasurer. Congratultions on your new job Larry.

Bru na Boinne Exhibition – Newgrange Visitor Centre

Bring paintings on April 22^nd between 10 am and 12 noon.  Each artist will need to bring their own typed up labels with the following information on:  artist, title, medium, price and mobile phone number.  Peter will design and print a poster for the exhibition.

New Exhibition with Two-year Lead-in 

Peter keen to start working on a new exhibition with a two year lead in hoping that we would have some really interesting work at the end.  Submissions could be sent to Droichead arts centre in Drogheda and Solstice.  Mette suggested working on a collaborative piece.  Suella suggested everybody making work on postcard size and putting it together to make a bigger image.

Peter has a video of the collaborative piece previously made for Toradgh which he will put on facebook.

Website 

Suella said she had had new work from one member for the website but that was all.  There seemed to be an issue with the drop down names which she would look at.  Please send 12-15 images photographed unframed preferable, to Suella at suellahllnd@gmail.com or meathartsgroup@gmail.com Also information about yourself, recent exhibitions, any awards and possibly a photo of yourself.  Look on the meath arts group website for current layout.

Exhibitions on at the Moment 

The Connolly Collective continues its run at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.

Anna Marie Murray will be exhibiting in the library in Navan in May.

Seven women from the Sculpture degree at NCAD who graduated last year are opening in the Chocolate Factory, 26 Kings Inn Street, Dublin 1, on Thursday 2^nd February.  Show continues until February 11^th.

Exhibition on Papercuts and Quilling in the library starting on March 17^th.

Lucien Freud exhibition – IMMA as well as an interesting exhibition in the Main Gallery on colonialism and modernism.

Simone suggested that some members got together and submitted to the library to have small group exhibitions which would still be covered by the Meath Arts Group insurance.

Request from Peter

If anyone has any skills to run a workshop and/or if anyone has any requests/ideas for future workshops then please email Peter on petermario50@gmail.com.

Ideas from the meeting:  Mette could run a workshop on felting, colour or critical thinking.  Simone could run a workshop on jewellery making.  Peter could run a workshop on calligraphy.  Need to consider what workshops would be appropriate to enhance the work specifically for the Toradh exhibition.

Credit Union

Final decision to be made as to whether or not we will be allowed to exhibit a painting each month on the premises.  Agreement on collection and drop off of each piece is needed.  Jim suggested that out-going artist picks up early in the morning so space is free for incoming artist in the afternoon.  If this isn’t possible incoming artist takes the previous piece home and brings it to the next meeting.  Size is limited to 2 foot square.  When agreed by the Credit Union, a list will be made of participating artists and their mobile numbers.

Next Meeting

Wednesday March 1^st 8pm in Fitzsimons Pub, Trimgate Street, Navan

Our meetings are now being held in Fitzsimons Pub on Trimgate Street opposite Geoghegans outfitters for the foreseeable future.

We will meet up in the Stonehouse again for the purpose of ensuring those who have not been to the new location and proceed from there. You can still park in the parking lot outside the Stonehouse and access Fitzsimons through the Stonehouse.

Toradh Exhibition

Workshops will be organised to work towards the exhibition. All members wishing to participate in this exhibition need to attend a minimum of two workshops and three meetings throughout the year.

A brainstorm followed in groups to consider a theme for the exhibition.
The following ideas were then shortlisted by members. Number of votes in brackets.
Emerging (1), Tied up in knots (1), Good vibration (2)
Contrast (4), Tripping the light (1), Through the prism (8)
Renewal (3) Freshly painted (2), Light burst (1)
B in clover (1), Out of the darkness (1), Into the light (3)
Borders and boundaries (1), Drawing a blank (1),
Good vibrations (1), Coming and going (6), Joyful revelation (2)
Ledwidge (1), Out of the darkness (2), Essence (1)
Awakening (1), Joy to the world (1), Hibernation (1)
Inner self (2), Coming home (2)

The first workshop will be to work on and finalise the theme. Peter asked Sharon and Theresa to oversee this workshop which will be either Saturday 21st Jan at 11am or Wednesday 18th January at 6.30pm. Peter to confirm once he has spoken to Solstice. 11 members said that they could come on the Wednesday and 9 members on the Saturday.
There will possibly be another workshop on Tuesday 7th February in the evening.

Exhibition at Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre, Newgrange
2-3 pieces each. Hanging on Saturday April 22nd. Take down on May 12th. Work to be related to Newgrange. Name of artist, title, price, medium and phone number to go on typed labels.

Credit Union, Navan
Credit Union in Navan had discussed with Jim that we could have a space to hang one picture which will change each month. Jim/Peter to see whether this deal is still on. Jim stressed that if it is going ahead, he will not be organising the changeover of pictures; that will be up to the outgoing /incoming artists.

Grants
Applications need to be in before the end of March. Peter to ask Cathy Martin from Meath Co Council Arts Office to come in and give us a talk on applying for grants.

Committee
Peter happy to stay on as chair. Annabel agreed to be secretary. Other members are Jim, Sharon, Anna, Frances and Mette. Annabel to contact Larry Steen to see if he would be interested in taking over as treasurer. Committee will meet before the monthly meetings, which are the first Wednesday in the month, and decide on agenda.

Website
If you are a member and are not on the website or want to change your profile and/or images please send the following to Suella at meathartsgroup@gmail.com
12-15 images as jpegs 1-2mb size If you want a watermark on the images it can be done with Picasa or tell Suella in your email to her and she will do. A watermark helps identify ownership of image and can help protect copyright.
Biography – this can be a few sentences about yourself and your work. If you want some ideas go to the website to see what people have written.

Next meeting
8.00pm
Wednesday 1st February in the room at the back of Stonehouse pub, Navan.