Memories of 2021 - Ann L Roe (Jones)
Some memories of the main SWAc events of 2021
“There will be light at the end of the tunnel” are the words of comfort, hope and encouragement often heard when life becomes unbearably difficult.
During 2021, despite the problems and sadness created by the Covid pandemic, the Academy and its members and friends have shown great resilience and positivity with many highly successful events planned and executed. Looking forward to 2022, may we just allow ourselves that glimmer of hope that the words will become reality.
On a sunny Sunday morning on 2nd May and following strict Covid guide lines, we gathered outside Kennaway House in Sidmouth to express our fond and heartfelt gratitude to our retiring Executive Director, Chris Mitchell. Jed Falby spoke sincerely and eloquently and on behalf of the Academy, Ken Cosgrove presented Chris with a signed card and a cheque as a token of our appreciation.
Jane Hodgson, Jan Phethean, and Ken were all instrumental in encouraging members to contribute financially and also in supplying the glasses and the wine for the occasion. Other members chose to make their own individual contribution to Chris. Glasses were raised to thank Chris for her sterling work for the academy over many years and to wish her every success and happiness for the future. Chris was later to accept honorary membership of the South West Academy.
Our new administrator, Vicky (Mrs Victoria Johns), was ready on the 10th of May to take up her duties. This she did with alacrity starting with the highly successful Art Auction Charity event held at Kennaway House, the result of which enabled the Academy to donate £5,000 to the South West Children’s Hospice in Barnstaple and also to assist with our long awaited move to Kennaway.
The instigation and much of the planning for this event was undertaken by founder member of the Academy Dr Alan Cotton and his wife Trish. Outstanding support was provided by Chairman of the Trustees Phil Creek, Vice Chair Sarah Huline-Dickens, Treasurer Mark Fielding and a host of other helpers and advisors who have already received our sincere thanks in a previous news article ‘Success at SWAc Art Auction’. Tom Fynn’s excellent involvement in the on-line catalogue and sale of work was worthy of special mention and we are deeply grateful to Tom for his expertise and all the time consuming work that involved.
Just a reminder that it was the Academicians Exhibition at Kennaway House in April that saw the launch of the academy’s brilliant new book ‘Light in the West’. Compiled and edited by Simon Butler, it is a true labour of love and still selling very well.
As a consequence of Covid, our exhibition timetable was affected. The Members Exhibition at Delamore House, normally held in May, was delayed until June. We are grateful to all those members who gave freely of their time to help with its stewarding and staging. It was sad that the popular end of exhibition party had to be cancelled due to Covid.
Back in pre-covid 2019, several of our members had been invited to design and decorate metre high fibre-glass models of an adult otter and pup with the aim of raising funds to assist with Dartmoor Conservation projects. Sadly, as a result of Covid, their auction had to be postponed and the already completed otters placed in storage. In 2021, encouraged by Alan Cotton and the marvellous folk at Jolly Roger in Bovey Tracy 81 otters were distributed to various venues throughout Devon and Otter Trails created on Dartmoor for visitors to follow throughout the summer holidays.
The majority of the otters were sold on line but 25, designated as ‘Golden Otters’ by a panel of judges, were eventually sold at a live auction held at Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood in Exeter on Saturday 2nd October. A staggering total of £70,000 was raised for Dartmoor conservation projects.
The Dartmoor Otter painted at a SWAc workshop by Honiton Memory Café was bought by the people of Honiton and is now on exhibition at The Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton. This is another fine example of SWAc’s involvement in community projects and the generosity of those members who give freely of their time and expertise, working quietly in the background, to make such events possible.
Our final ‘Hurrah’ for the year 2021 must be our Open Exhibition held at Kennaway House from the 2nd to the 13thNovember.
The upstairs and downstairs galleries were beautifully and professionally hung by our two Philips – Clayton and Creek with the assistance of their amazing team of volunteers. One of the comments in the Visitors Book read “I must say that the cellar room looked amazing and was transformed to what felt like a London Showcase Exhibition”.
High praise indeed and thoroughly justified as evidenced by the excellent sales of art works, books and cards and the truly excellent footfall of visitors throughout the week – some visiting more than once, despite the covid restrictions.
Our thanks for the marvellous help and good spirits of those members and friends who gave freely of their time erecting screens, and helping with advertising around the town. Also, the invaluable help of Kennaway’s own excellent support staff.
Although I suspect that he would prefer not to be mentioned, a very special thank you to our Chairman of Trustees Phil Creek for the enormous amount of work that he has quietly and steadily undertaken on behalf of the Academy to make all of our successes in 2021 possible.
Finally, one more happy event to record, our Dr Alan Cotton received an MBE in this New Year’s Honours list. Well done Alan for all the tireless work you have undertaken for the academy over many, many years – the backbone of our academy - but also for the very many charities to which you have voluntarily given your time and expertise.
Now, it’s upwards and onwards into the year 2022 and hopefully the realisation of that ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for the academy and for us all. We will all have a part to play in this.
My best wishes and personal thanks to you all for your friendship in art.
Ann
Ann. L. Roe (Jones) Hon.SWAc
Kennaway House, Sidmouth (Click to Enlarge)