JULY 2007

ART TREASURES OF BARCELONA

The Society’s last session of the season on Tuesday 17 July was a lecture and visual tour by Frank Woodgate on the “Art Treasures of Barcelona”, the city named after Hannibal’s father. Barcelona is a city to be viewed from the outside and unlike Madrid with its famous art galleries; Barcelona’s whole town is an art gallery. Gaudi’s architecture is art in its own right. In 1929 the National Exhibition was held and in 1992 the Olympic Games were staged in Parc de Montjuic. In the old town there is the colourful and picturesque harbour area with its many cafés and restaurants. At the end of the wharf is pop artist Roy Lichtenstein’s “Barcelona Head” with its dots and ceramic tiles on a concrete base. Pop art took the seriousness out of art with its cartoons, comic strips; abstract impressionism.

Rebecca Horn’s “Wounded Star” is on the beach with its four crooked rusting blocks and glass, depicting homage to the knocked down cafes.  Juan Muñoz’s “Room where it always Rains” has five small figures with a ball at the base rather than legs inside a strutted structure. One lonely figure is looking out signifying alienation and being trapped inside but close to the sea and unable to get away.

Frank Woodgate showed many slides such as Joan Miro’s “Hair pursued by two planets” surrealist painting from the unconscious mind and Dali’s picture of his hated father contrasting with 14 year old Picasso’s sketch of his father.

He also covered Antoni Gaudi’s modernist works throughout the city, the Casa Mila a revolutionary building with the first underground car park and roof top of sculptured chimneys like soldiers’ helmets and his great unfinished project, the Sagrada Familia, which would take 200 years to build.

Members much enjoyed Frank Woodgate’s light hearted ditty on the Duchess of Alba and his knowledge of Barcelona’s Catalan culture, art and architecture.

Chairman Frances Ashworth thanked the retiring members of the Committee for their hard work, in particular Robert Burder who was Visits Secretary for four years and Vice Chairman, Ellis Smith for her support the last two years. Ellis will continue as Membership Secretary.   The Chairman reminded members that Carole Stone would be taking bookings for the Tour to Romania next spring and that Farnham Garden Recorders Group has also contributed material towards “Down the Garden Path” a small Exhibition on the history of gardens and gardening at the Farnham Museum from Tuesday to Saturday from now until 15th September, with free admission.

The Watts Gallery will be displaying, during the summer holidays, the two collages done by local school children through our Young Arts Group (details HERE). Frances Ashworth finally wished everyone a good summer holiday.