Crowborough Arts

Crowborough Arts supports the arts, and arts practitioners in our area.

During the current COVID-19 outbreak, like so many other organisations, we have had to suspend our programme for the time being. However, we've decided to use this website to keep in touch, and to create a space for use as a showcase for our members' work. So we're inviting you to contribute - perhaps a new painting or photograph you'd like to share, a poem or maybe a short story.

Please email Gaye with your suggestions and ideas. In particular, if you'd like to be featured as an artist, with a picture of you or your work, and would be willing to give a short telephone interview, we'd love to hear from you.

Now see what we've put together so far, and make sure to scroll all the way down!

The King Lear Prize: Mary Makes the Short List!

We're delighted to announce that Mary Harris has been shortlisted for the King Lear Prize for Art. Her self-portrait is one of just 16 to be selected, out of 4,000 entries. Mary writes: "At the beginning of lock-down, Gyles Brandreth was inviting applications for the King Lear Prize Challenge. Named because Shakespeare wrote King Lear through a time of plagues in this country. Applicants needed to be over 70 yrs. I was feeling very despondent with anxiety, disappointment and enforced isolation and this is how the self portrait came out. So it seemed to be the best image to include."

Another CA member, Stella Mance was also recognised in the competition: Stella Mance was awarded a Highly Commended for her painting 'Bee Heaven'. She says, "I did this painting during lock-down to cheer me up. It has been such a beautiful summer, weather-wise, and I felt the painting was a sunny memory."

Many congratulations to both Mary and Stella. It's lovely to know that the talent of CA members is justly appreciated!

Gong Therapy with Angela Mason

On her 'Touched by Sound' website, Gong Master Angela Mason writes, "The Gongs bring many people a sense of deep relaxation, rest and renewal when they relax into the sounds, let go, and allow their soundscape to unfold." I knew immediately that this was something I had to experience!

Angela, a CA member, welcomed me into the soft golden glow of her treatment room. Lining the walls were about a dozen large gongs; countless other percussive instruments stood on shelves and tables.

I was invited to lie on a heated couch in the centre of the room and close my eyes. Angela began with light strokes on a selection of Tibetan singing bowls, before moving onto the deeper, more sonorous resonances of the gongs. Very quickly I was immersed in a blissful connection with the sound and was enjoying the variety of the different instruments, some of which had sweet, plangent notes that lasted only for a moment, and others whose resonance lasted for many seconds. I lost all sense of the passing of time and it was only when Angela returned to the lighter sounds of the singing bowls, sea-sounds and tiny five note tunes on thumb pianos that my eyes opened. I was amazed to realise that the whole experience had lasted well over an hour.

Afterwards I felt refreshed and peaceful, but the real effect of the gong bath took some hours to manifest itself. I became aware that the knot of anxiety I’d been holding in the pit of my stomach for months – at least since the beginning of the pandemic – had completely dissolved. By 10 pm I felt exhausted, but in a good way, and I knew I would sleep well (usually a challenge for me). This morning I still feel grounded and peaceful, and a little light-headed. The gong bath experience is not one that can adequately be described; all I can say, is try it for yourself. I shall certainly be returning!

We are hoping to invite Angela to demonstrate the gongs and talk about her work at a CA evening as soon as possible.
You can contact Angela at www.touchedwithsound.co.uk

Gaye Jee

Click through to ...

Because we've been unable to go ahead with our plans for Open Studios this year, our visual arts members have been invited to display their work via an online exhibition. Each artist has their own page with pictures for sale. Click here to go the site. A selection of member's work is also on display at The Courtyard Cafe in Rotherfield.

The online exhibition was due to finish on 7th September, but as The Courtyard was closed unavoidably for some weeks, the display there is only now being changed. We've therefore decided to extend the exhibition for a couple of weeks to coincide with the cafe's display.
Do pop in for a drink and something to eat, and browse the works for real!

Booklovers Update

Reminding Us All of Holidays ...

As physical meetings are not possible at the moment, members have been meeting via Zoom, Click here for the latest titles and to find out what they thought!

... this lovely view of Lindisfarne by Jeannette Towey

Rewind ...

We're getting so many contributions, we've set up an archive for earlier items. Click here!

Turn Your Memories into Memoirs ...

Some years ago when I was studying for my MA, I wrote down a series of family stories - stories I'd grown up with from my grand parents and parents. Some were funny, some recalled their childhoods and some brought home their experiences in the East End of London during WWII. What I found repeatedly was that as we spoke about the past, more and more memories would emerge. Reminiscing unlocked a past that would otherwise have been lost forever.

Now I want to help others preserve their own stories for their families and friends. During a series of relaxed, informal interviews, we will capture the stories and periods of your life that you want to preserve.

If any members are interested in being a 'guinea pig' for my new memoir-writing service, I'd be happy to offer a low, one-off fee for the first booking! Interviews can take place remotely, or in your own home.

Gaye Jee

Pat Maurice

I am sorry to report the death of one of our oldest members, Pat Maurice who has died at the age of 97.

Pat was always interested in the theatre and was a great supporter of Crowborough Arts, especially the talks and music events at Green Cottage. I will remember her, sitting on the end of the front row, a glass of red wine in her hand, smiling with pleasure at whatever event was taking place just a metre in front of her.

This seat was reserved this seat for her, as it was easy for her to get to and there was room for her to park her trike walker at the side. I shall always think of this as “Pat’s seat” and shall miss watching her genuine pleasure and delight in all that was going on.

Angela Vernon Bates (Quinn)