Meath Arts Group extends its deepest sympathies to Rose Murray-Wills' family and friends following her recent passing. Rose had been a member of the Arts Group for a number of years and her friendliness, enthusiam and love of art will be sadly missed.

NEWS UPDATE

All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness.
                                                                                                                          --  Eckhart Tolle

Meeting Notes 6th September 2010

Welcome Back
It was lovely to see so many familiar faces at the start of our new season's meetings and a number of new faces too. There are plenty of exciting arts events happening in our 2010/2011 schedule which we hope you will all enjoy taking part in. Membership fees are due now and for those who couldn't make the September meeting we'll be happy to take your fees on October 11th at the next meeting.

Committee Nominations
Nominations for election to the group's Committee will be taken at the next meeting on October 11th. The Committee will then be electing a new chairperson from within the Committee. Please only nominate people with their approval. Thanks goes to the entire committee for their work over the past year and to Suella Holland for her hard work as Chairperson.

National Campaign for the Arts
Playwright Deirdre Kinehan (Tall Tales Theatre) addressed the group about the forthcoming National Campaign for the Arts day on Friday 17th September.
There are a number of events planned; the first of which is an photoshoot this Saturday 11th September 2010. All artists (from all arts backgrounds) are asked to bring an item which represents their art and to give 10 minutes of their time to appear in a photograph which will be sent out to all county newspapers and to local TDs in order to show how vibrant the arts scene is in Meath .http://ncfa.ie/

The countrywide National day for the Arts is Friday 17th September. Various artists from different backgrounds will be meeting with local TDs to highlight the importance of the arts to our country and our culture and to urge TDs to support the arts and continue funding this important sector. Solstice Arts Centre will be the venue for a music and painting event which will take place from 3.30 - 4.30pm on Friday 17th September. All are welcome to attend. Any artists wishing to create a painting on the day to the music that is being played please contact info@meathartsgroup.com for futher details.

The third item on the National Campaign for the Arts is an Artists Survey which is being compiled in order to get an idea of how many arts practitioners are out there and to present a collection of information to TDs to show them just how extensive and wide-ranging the arts in Meath are.
Click here to download a copy of the survey. Please fill this in and forward it.

Other activities taking place on or in the lead-up to Friday 17 Sept
Email your TDs On the ncfa website there is a simple way of emailing your local TD. Please ask all your friends and family to do so too.
Postcard Campaign - Available around the country over next two weeks – 40,000 cards asking members of the public to fill in the blank, ‘I believe the arts ……’ Cards are returned to NCFA and then sent to the appropriate constituencies/TDs.
Venue House Announcement – Actor/Comedian Pat Shortt will voiceover a venue house announcement which also highlights the NCFA. This will be available by the end of the week on mp3 for use in all venues across the country.
E-cards – Sent out on Friday 17 Sept by venues and arts organizations to their members, noting that this is the National Day of Action and thanking them for their support over the year(s).  Available for download on newly overhauled website www.ncfa.ie
Irish Times Advertising - The Irish Times will run ads in the week running up to the day of action.  Ads will run on Friday 10, Saturday 11, Tuesday 14, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 Sept.

Navan Town Council
Committee members, Kieran Darby and Jim O’Brien met with Navan Mayor, Cllr Phil Brennan  to discuss the possibility of acquiring premises/venue for the arts group. Cllr Brennan did some research on Meath Arts Group's behalf and the points below are an abridged version of his reply.
1. There is no space available in any of the town council premises for us to use .
2. There might be a grant available to us, if we were to organise an art event which would promote the town of Navan, or if we were to bring an art event to Navan , which would highlight the town.
3. Town council is open to Arts Group members hanging a painting a month in the town hall rooms, eg. the reception area , subject to everyone having their own insurance .

Christmas Art Sale
The committee has spoken with Newgrange Hotel about hiring the Russell Suite on either the 5th or 12th December for a Christmas Art Sale. All members are invited to attend but booking is essential. There will be a fee of approximately €20.00 per participant which will cover room hire and advertising. A list of names has been taken so if you're interested in adding your name to this list please email us at info@meathartsgroup.com

Midland Framing - Offaly
Group exhibition at Midland Framing, Offaly during 2011.  All promotion, invitations etc. at artists own expense. All paintings must be presentable for hanging, either framed by Midland Framing or stretched canvas. Sell prices must be agreed and displayed before hanging. 15% commission is charged on all sales. A list of names has been taken so if you're interested in adding your name to this list please email us at info@meathartsgroup.com

Books Ireland - Review
Hugh Oram in his recent review of Meath: The Royal County (Cottage Publications) by John Quinn and Gerry Flaherty stated: "Any text with John Quinn's imprint well deserves exploration ...The paintings by Gerry Flaherty deserve proper credit, too: very graphic and so well reproduced that they seem almost three-dimensional." Well done to John and Gerry on a beautiful publication!.

Idireadra (In Between)
Meath Arts Group's annual group exhibition will be held in January 2011 at Solstice Arts Centre. The theme/title chosen from a long list of suggestions is Idireadra (Between two worlds). Criteria for submission to the annual exhibition is as follows:
1.  Membership fees must be paid in full.
2.  Members must attend a minimum of two meetings during the year.
3.  Membership must be for at least two months before exhibiting.
4.  Pieces have to be new, original work.

There will be a brainstorming workshop held at the October meeting to assist the progress of work for the exhibition. Bring sketch pad and pencil(s).

Artist's Insurance
If you would like to be included in the arts groups discounted rate public liability insurance scheme for artists please let us know at  info@meathartsgroup.com. We will be collecting fees for this insurance scheme at the next meeting on October 11th. We currently have 9 people interested so the current fee will be approximately €110. Please do not make cheques out until we see how many people are interested. The more people interested then cheaper the insurance. The policy runs for the year and covers a public liability up to €6,500,000 euros. Policy details are available on request.

Exhibitions

Lost and Found
Solstice Arts Centre, Navan
Exhibition continues until Thursday 23rd September
The Bend of the Boyne, or Brú na Bóinne is internationally renowned for its elaborate Neolithic passage tombs, containing the largest assemblage of megalithic art in Europe.  Lost and Found explores the Megalithic Art of County Meath by connecting investigative practices of archaeologist and artist.

Hazel Marcus
Exhibition of Paintings
Ashtown Visitor Centre & Castle
Phoenix Park, Dublin
Exhibition runs until end September

Martina Auzzi
Exhibition of Paintings
Chekhov's Café
Bakery Lane, Navan
Exhibition runs until end September

Patsy Reel
Solstice Arts Centre, Navan
Exhibition runs from 30th September - 22nd October
This exhibition demonstrates a range of painting techniques that Patsy Reel has employed through his career; from the detailed layered abstractions, to his current colour based atmospheric compositions. Reel’s work reflects an ongoing absorption with stone of both city and country, particularly that of Megalithic Meath.

Classes/Opportunities

Stained Glass for Beginners 
Tutor: John McCarthy
Evening & Time: Mondays 7.30 – 9.30pm
Duration: 8 weeks
Commencement: Monday 20th Sept
Enrolment dates & Times:
Monday 13th Sept 7.00 – 8.30pm
Venue:Dunshaughlin Community College,
Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath
Contact & Course Enquiries: Select www.meathvec.ie Select (Schools and Colleges)-Select venue as above-select Adult education- select Adult Education Classes- Select Hobbies and Leisure- view more courses and select Evening or Saturday Stained Glass course.
Telephone 01 825 9137 or e-mail - mbyrne@dcc.meathvec.ie 

Stained Glass for Beginners 
Tutor: John McCarthy
Evening & Time: Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm
Duration: 10 Weeks
Commencement: Wednesday 22nd September
Enrolment dates & Times: From Thurs 2nd Sept 12-1 & 4-5 pm daily.
Final enrolment Weds 8th Sept 7-8.30pm
Venue: Boyne Community School, Trim, Co. Meath
Contact & Course Enquiries: Select www.boyneadulteducation.com   
Telephone 046 9438000 Adult Education inquiries.

Saturday (Stained Glass Course)
Tutor: John McCarthy
Venue & Contact Details: Dunshaughlin Community College Contact as above
Date & Times: 9th Oct. 10.00am – 4.00pm Day Course
Any queries regarding above: Text or phone John McCarthy 087 6782332

Art Workshops for Children (9-13 YRS)
Painting/Drawing from Observation
Starting Saturday 2nd October
12-2pm
Workshops will run every two weeks:
2^nd /16^th /30^th October/ 13^th/27^th November
Cost €80 euro all materials included

Contact: Michelle Boyle,Whitethorn Studios, Garryross School,Virginia
Tel:  087 2199245/049 8542379 email: michellegarryross@eircom.net

Art Classes for Adults
Thursday Painting/Drawing Classes
Starting Thursday 23rd September
€140 euro / 8 sessions
Morning Class; 10.30am-1.00 pm
Evening Class  : 7.00pm- 9.30pm

Contact: Michelle Boyle,Whitethorn Studios, Garryross School,Virginia
Tel:  087 2199245/049 8542379 email: michellegarryross@eircom.net

Life Drawing Sessions
Dates: Saturdays 11th September, 30th October, 11th December
Sessions are aimed at Artists/Third Level Art students who wish to develop their life drawing skills or further their own artistic practice.  The sessions are untutored and participants should bring their own art materials including easels.
Price €60 per session (includes tea/coffee- lunch not included). As places are limited advance booking is required. Contact Solstice box office for more information on 046 909 2300
www.solsticeartscentre.com

Craft Council of Ireland Workshops
Click here to see list of forthcoming workshops.

Job Opportunites

The Art and Hobby Shop are seeking suitable applicants for the following positions in soon to open Navan store:
Full & Part-Time Sales Assistants
Assistant Manager
Retail Manager
Retail experience essential and ideally a reasonableknowledge of Art Materials.
Training will be provided.

Please send your CV by post to:
Attention of: Susan, Art & Hobby,
Scotch Hall SC, Drogheda, Co.Louth
Or email to: drogheda@artnhobby.ie
Closing Date for applications: Friday 10th September 2010
http://www.thejobsection.com/cgi-bin/vacdetails.pl?selection=936622559&src=search

Grants/Awards
Meath Arts Office Bursaries and Awards - various awards and deadlines.
Arts Council of Ireland

Log on to www.creativecareers.ie for details of numerous submissions and opportunities.
See below for a list of just a few of them: Click on the links for further information.