www.nadfas.org.ukNADFAS REVIEW / WINTER 2010 61SOCIETIES NEWS?PERTH DFASPerth DFAS celebrated its21st anniversary with a lunchat Fingask Castle Pavilion inMay. Over 150 members werejoined by the Society's pastand current Chairmen. Thecake was cut by PresidentMrs David (Sonja) Arbuthnott.?NEW MILTON DFAS New Milton DFAS welcomedNADFAS National ChairmanGri Harrison to its 20thanniversary lecture and lunch.The Guest Lecturer was PeterMedhurst. Pictured are: BettyHarvey; Ann Clegg (currentChairman); Eileen Dixon(original Society Chairman);Thelma Whittaker; RosemaryWallis; NADFAS NationalChairman Gri Harrison andPeter Medhurst.?MIDHURST DFAS Midhurst DFAS celebrated its 20th anniversary atChamps Hill on 9 June 2010.Champs Hill is the home ofMary and David Bowerman.The property is well knownlocally for the wonderfulconcerts that it hosts, not tomention for its extensive artcollection.ANNIVERSARIESFunding from NADFAS, LovelaceDFAS and the Raleigh PrimarySchool allowed professional artistChristy Avraam to share hertalents with schoolchildren. Christyhelped the children to create large,richly coloured mosaics from theirown unique designs. They alsolearned about how mosaics havebeen designed from Greek andRoman times to Gaudi's Spain.Headteacher Fiona O'Neil, andLovelace DFAS puts mosaicsponsorship in place arts co-ordinators, Jo Conisbeeand Fiona Moldon, launched acompetition in which all children atthe primary school were invited touse their eco-garden as a sourceof inspiration for the mosaicdesigns. The school council drewup a shortlist of the best entriesfrom which Christy was asked toselect the winner but the standardwas so high that she decided thatan amalgamation of the three bestdesigns would make twocomplementary mosaics. The threewinners were Tallulah McKinlay(aged nine), Ollie Lintott andCharlotte Ellis (both six).The finishing touch was addedby local carpenter Jonathan Nex,who carefully framed and hung theheavy mosaics on an outside walloverlooking the children's eco-garden, and put the NADFAScommemorative plaque in place.Below: Details from the mosaic Bottom:The competition winners

62NADFAS REVIEW / WINTER 2010www.nadfas.org.ukSOCIETIES NEWS?WENSLEYDALE DFAS Wensleydale DFAS wasdelighted to welcomeNADFAS PresidentChristopher Lloyd to its 10thanniversary celebratory lunchin April. The anniversarylecture in July was aboutVenice, chosen because thecity was the subject of theSociety's inaugural lecture 10years earlier. ?HAMBLETONDFAS Members of Hambleton(Thirsk) DFAS (some of whomare seen in the picture above)marked the very specialoccasion of the Society's 20thanniversary with a wonderfullunch at The Solberge HallHotel in June. The Society's President andFounder Chairman, PennyRedding, extended acharacteristically warmwelcome to guest speakersNADFAS PresidentChristopher Lloyd (who ispictured fourth from left in thephotograph above) and LordSt Oswald. Also in attendance at theevent was North East AreaChairman Anne Palmer. ANNIVERSARIESNorwich DFAS takes a Broad tripMembers of Norwich DFASenjoyed a relaxing boat trip on theNorfolk Broads during their fund-raising Summer Garden Party inJuly. The boat, Damselfly, waselectrically powered to ensure thatthe cruise was as peaceful for localwildlife as it was for the DFASmembers. Norwich DFAS kindlymade a donation to the NorfolkWildlife Trust, which supplied the boat and a staff member toprovide commentary during the trip.Right: Norwich DFAS membersenjoy a day on the BroadsDuring 2010 RTWDFAS hascontributed towards a projectorganised annually by theCommunity Curators at TunbridgeWells Museum and Art Gallery. Thisis a co-ordinated outreach artist-in-residence project involving threedifferent local community groupsand three professional local artistseach year, working towards aunified display for a publicexhibition. It was on display thisyear for two months at TrinityTheatre Gallery space in the town.The aim of the project is toencourage greater awareness andunderstanding of the Museumitself - its site and its collections -as well as giving communitymembers an opportunity to learnabout contemporary art and craftthrough hands-on experienceworking with practising artists. Themuseum and its collectionsprovide an initial inspiration fornew artwork, and for 2010 thetheme was 'Textiles Old and New'.The three groups taking part thisyear were a local primary school, aBarnardos school for teenagerswith emotional and behaviouralneeds and adult communitygroups from two local estates.Each artist worked with theirgroup for five days and RoyalTunbridge Wells DFAS contributedtowards the primary school,providing one extra day of theartist's residency plus materials.We were most impressed by thequality of work produced by all thegroups, and the primary schoolartist reported particularly on theenthusiasm of her young students.From Years 1 and 2 makingbuttons in clay, using ideas theywere shown from the Museumcollection, through Years 3 and 4making outsize tassels from otheritems explored by them to Years 5and 6 designing shoes and bootsfrom collection models, the workwas vibrant and unique. The miniature items of clothingmade by the community groupsand the butterfly designsproduced by the teenagers wereof equal inspiration. The exhibitionwas well presented and displayedby the curators in collaborationwith the artists, with lots ofclassroom back-up work also ondisplay. RTWDFAS is delighted tohave been part of this event.Royal Tunbridge Wells backs Community Curators Project