Traces from 3 centuries of seaside holidays are still present in our historic coastal towns, their architecture and environments. Mass transport contributed to their development but later drew people away with cheap flights abroad. The opening of new galleries and public art works are reviving their fortunes.

Many of us find contemporary art challenging, strange, provocative or downright silly. This lecture unravels the step changes in art since the 1870s, exploring how we got from impressionist paintings to the interactive, immersive, ephemeral and “post- medium” art of today.

The four elements of this lecture are: the emergence of the North (A Taste of Honey etc) ; Swinging Britain (Alfie etc); Last days of Empire (Zulu etc) and finally the drastic change in the depiction of sex, from Victim in 1961 to Women in Love, 1969.

The life of Lee Miller, told with reference to those with whom she exchanged creative inspiration – Man Ray, Roland Penrose, Pablo Picasso, David E. Scherman, her father Theodore Miller and her son Antony Penrose. A definitive view by her son and biographer, this presentation has been acclaimed for its ability to embrace many different levels of the history of art and photography, social commentary and emotional connection with the subject.

*Contains some wartime images which may be disturbing*

Wool, silk and cotton have each played a part in the fortunes of Central Asia. Silk was more valuable than gold and used as currency, creating a network of trading routes that led to globalisation. Silk Road products stratified wealth, displayed religious and political entrenchments and changed the fortunes of this part of the world.

Murano Glass, the Jewel of Venice CANCELLED, rescheduled to 2027

Followed by

GET TOGETHER FOR RECENT MEMBERS

TS Eliot was indebted to, and himself inspired by some of the 20th Century’s greatest artists. He influenced his counterparts in the visual arts. Edward McKnight Kauffer and David Jones illustrated his work, Patrick Heron and Wyndham Lewis painted him and Jacob Epstein sculpted him. There are paintings and compositions inspired by him and the reverse is also true.

The Waste Land employs techniques borrowed from modern art.