Friday 30 November 2018

Armistice commemorated

(11 11 2018 ... Kettering remembers)

November saw the centenary of the end of the Great War ... Armistice Day, the 11th day of the 11th month fell on Remembrance Day ... and there was a good and special turn out at the War Memorial outside the Art Gallery


Just over a week later, Phil gave the monthly talk at the Gallery on the theme of 'Armistice! 100 years on' and ga ve a brief account of what prompted the end of hostilities and how we have marked that (both then and now) ...

Members of the audience had been encouraged to bring in family objects special to them, and time was set aside at the end of the talk to enable people to come up and share a few thoughts related to their objects.


The Friends of the Art Gallery and Museum greatly appreciated people taking the time to support this, and thank them for bringing things along.

Tuesday 6 November 2018

Tuesday 18 September 2018

A Summer with the Friends of the Art Gallery and Museum


Well it has been a busy time ... some sunny times with the pop-up museum at Kettering By the Sea .. a new collaboration with KDAS bringing art to Sundays in the Market Place, three Cemetery walks - and an excursion to Nassington and Fotheringhay.

Here are some pictures from our Summer ...

(Kettering Market Place bathed in Sunshine: a Summer with the Friends of the Gallery and Museum)

(... and a little plug for them)

(Lego was the favourite activity for the youngsters)

(Kettering Cemetery ... people assemble for the first of this year's Graveyard Tours)

(Art sales at Kino Lounge: look out for these monthly events every 2nd Sunday)

The Friends Annual Summer Excursion was to the Prebendal Manor in Nassington and to Fotheringhay

(The Friends Summer Excursion: tea and a guided tour of the Prebendal Manor)

(The New Inn in Fotheringhay ... dating from the 15th Century for visitors to the castle)

(The Friends Summer Excursion: the view from the motte of Fotheringhay Castle)

(artist's impression: Fotheringhay Castle on the river Nene in its heyday)

Fotheringhay Castle: the execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587)

(back in Kettering for the 'War Graves' Cemetery tour ... ) ...

('Not' Saving Private Chapman ... the headstone to the 4 Chapman sons killed in the Great War)

(War Memorial ... the plaque outside the Art Gallery to Kettering's Cockleshell hero)

(London Road Cemetery: James Dray who died in Kettering Workhouse - but turned out to have been a veteran of the charge of the Light Brigade in 1854)

(Kettering's Blitz Cafe: a fitting place to end our tour of the town's war graves and memorials)

A busy summer ... it is now back to our Autumn schedule centred on monthly talks ...

19th September ... 7:30pm Tim Upton-Smith on local archaeology (Art Gallery)
22nd September ... 'Local Treasures' opens at the Museum
14th October ... Art at the Kino Lounge
17th October ... 7:30pm Anastasia Geyer on Samaitans founder, Chad Varah (Art Gallery)

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(A Busy Summer: thistles grow at Fotheringhay Castle on the site where Mary Queen of Scots lost her head)

Monday 3 September 2018

Archaeology talk coming up in September

Supporting the exhibition opening this month in the museum, the Friends' evening talk is about local archaeology and is by Tim Upton-Smith ... everyone's invited so do come along.

The usual arrangements apply.

It is September now so talks resume: every third Wednesday up to December, in the Art Gallery.


Saturday 21 July 2018

London Road Cemetery Guided Tour - 5th August 2018


Investigations of a Dog - Colin Smith - June/July 2018


Investigations of a Dog ran through June and July at the Alfred East Gallery in Kettering.

Ian Luck went along for a look ...

The title of this exhibition at the Alfred East Gallery is taken from a Kafka short story in which a dog tries to rationalise episodes from its past but sees misapprehension or confusion ...

Here the viewer is faced with a series of large works, all oils, all with vigorous brushwork.  Although the figurative paintings do seem to suggest anxiety, this is not a disturbing exhibition.


Only one portrait faces the viewer, even then the subject is wearing shades, giving a feel of detachment.  There are many questions among these works, as if time is captured, but not explained.

In 'the wardrobe' series, human contact has left, these are shapes hanging over each other, were they ever worn?  An empty jacket, a solitary overcoat, somehow just staring at the viewer.

Much of the subject matter has the distant feel of Edward Hooper, both in subject matter and pallet.  The viewer must add their own narrative - is there misapprehension or confusion?  This is precisely what the artist wishes.

An important exhibition for the Gallery, which should be viewed.  I hope it is.

Ian Luck

(photos supplied by Ian Luck)

Wednesday 6 June 2018

Some changes to the Friends Kagam Website

http://www.friendskagam.org/page2.htm

A couple of additions I have been asked to flag up for you ...

The Friends of Kettering Art Gallery and Museum (KAGAM) have published a new GDPR compliant Data Protection Policy ...

And have uploaded the PDF version of their Annual Report ...

Both can be accessed through the website or by the links above.

Monday 28 May 2018

The Friends of the Art Gallery and Museum

 Summer and Autumn events.  The list has just been updated. Everyone is welcome.

Wednesday 20th June

Mick Scrimshaw - The history of Banknotes 
and their use in WWII(7.30 pm, Alfred East Gallery)


Wednesday 18th July

Ian Luck - The Fine Arts Society
and its influence on the careers of notable artists
(7.30 pm, Alfred East Gallery)


Sunday 8th August

A graveyard walk in the London Rd Cemetery
(2.00 pm, London Road)


Sunday 19th August

A graveyard walk in the London Rd Cemetery
a 'war graves' special edition
(2.00 pm, London Road)


Wednesday 19th September

Tim Upton-Smith - Everyday Archaeology
(7.30 pm, Alfred East Gallery)


Wednesday 17th October

Anastasia Geyer - Chad Varah
(7.30 pm, Alfred East Gallery)

Thursday 24 May 2018

Tuesday 30 January 2018

Friends evening talks at the Alfred East Art Gallery

 

The Friends of Kettering Art Gallery and Museum hold regular evening speaker meetings at the Alfred East Gallery on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

The talks start at 7:30 but people start arriving for a chat and refreshments from 7.  All are welcome: there are small donations invited for drinks etc. and for the talk, there is no charge for members or £4 for others ... the talks are generally on a local history/art history theme and last about an hour plus variable Q&A.

Recent topics have included the Railways coming to Kettering, the Northampton based National Leather Collection and local composer Karl Ruetter's haunting work.


Most recently, Rachael Aldridge introduced her work and about developing a career in Stained Glass.


(a stained glass window by Rachael Aldridge for St Edwards School)

Fascinating stuff.

The next talk is on Feb 21st and is on Charles Rennie Mackintosh (famous locally, of course for 78 Derngate) ... why not join us?

Monday 29 January 2018

What's on ... Jan Feb?

Witch Hunt 
What's on at the Art Gallery and Museum?

Museum: Witch Hunt ... 27th Jan to 4th June ... a political and social look at the era of witchtrials and persecution.

Art Gallery: RA250 ... exhibitions and events to celebrate 250 years of the Royal Academy ... plus (Small Gallery, 20th Jan to 10th March) ... Charles Spencelayh: 60 years on.

Film Night: 9th Feb 7pm ... David Hockney (£10 admission includes a glass of wine)