Appeal to art collectors
ARTISTS are appealing for art collectors to submit paintings to the Mid Argyll art exhibition.
MID ARGYLL Art Society is calling on Argyll art collectors to help with its 50th anniversary celebrations.
To mark half a century of activity, the society is inviting anyone who bought a painting from the exhibition between 1967 and 1992 to have it displayed at their annual exhibition in August.
With an increased availability of artwork online or in big cities, as well as the burgeoning number of professional artists living in the area with their own outlets, the Mid Argyll art exhibition is just about managing to continue.
Keen
The original aim remains the same, however, and the society is keen to let local painters have a place where their work can be exhibited.
The very first exhibition the society organised, back in 1967, arose out of a vision held by Dr MacDougal at the Argyll and Bute Hospital.
As part of the therapeutic care given at the hospital, art and crafts classes had produced some excellent pieces of artwork and Dr MacDougal felt that the public ought to benefit from seeing them.
Artists and contributors were then canvassed to help produce a full-scale exhibition in August of that year.
The society gained momentum and by 1973 the annual exhibition by 65 people made a total of 222 contributions of paintings, silverware and ceramics.
At that time the highest price paid was £45 while, at the other end of the scale, a small painting could be bought for £4.50. Compare that to what a fiver can buy in 2017.
Experience
In its 50-year history, however, the art society has been just as interested in giving people an artistic experience when visiting the exhibition as it has been in selling paintings.
The practice of donating a painting to either of the local hospitals, or to other service agencies within the community, started in the early years of the art society and committee members often appeared in the Argyllshire Advertiser handing over artwork picture to a representative of whichever body was receiving the painting. Not only that, but for a good number of years cheques were sent to a whole range of local charities to help boost funds.
Having flitted between the community centre, the Stag Hotel and the parish church hall in the past 50 years, the Mid Argyll art exhibition is now at home in the Army Drill Hall, where, in the past two years, the society has been jointly exhibiting with the Mid Argyll Camera Club.
This year’s exhibition will run from Monday to Saturday, August 7 to 12, in the Army Drill Hall in Lochgilphead.