Gallery: Wolverhampton Society of Artists exhibition showcases members' best work

A society dedicated to art in Wolverhampton has officially opened its centenary exhibition.

WOLVERHAMPTON PIC MNA PIC DAVID HAMILTON PIC EXPRESS AND STAR 14/12/2019 Attending the opening of Wolverhampton Society of Artists Centenary Exhibition, at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton..

The Wolverhampton Society of Artists (WSA) invited current and past members and other dignitaries to Wolverhampton Art Gallery to launch the exhibition.

Wolverhampton Council Arts and Culture manager Marguerite Nugent opened proceedings, with writer and journalist Sathnam Sanghera officially opening the exhibition.

Awards were presented by WSA chair Carol Widenbar and Wolverhampton Mayor Claire Darke to members of the society for their exceptional pieces.

Sathnam, who was born in the city and attended Wolverhampton Grammar school, spoke about how Wolverhampton can be a inspiration for creativity.

He said: "I definitely feel that Wolverhampton can be a city which inspires creativity. It's been amazing to watch the Wolverhampton Literature festival take off and every time I come to the gallery, it's a bit more vibrant and I feel a lot more optimistic.

"I loved the prize-winning Heath Town Cow by Ed Isaacs because I grew up around there and it's seen as an unrelentingly bleak urban setting.

Author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera helped to open the exhibition

Keith Oram shows Mayor of Wolverhampton Claire Darke some of the pieces at the exhibition

Wolverhampton Society of Artists secretary Rita Jukes and president Keith Oram enjoy some of the many pieces at the exhibition

Laura Page, Marketing officer for art and culture at Wolverhampton Council, looks at work included in The Bloomsbury Effect

Wolverhampton Society of Artists chair Carol Widenbar, of Wolverhampton, with a piece of her work, Brexit The Game

Members old and new attended the opening of Wolverhampton Society of Artists Centenary Exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Colette Phillips, of Wolverhampton, with one of her pieces on display at Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Peter Burt, aged 94, of Tettenhall, with his Elsie Holland Prize for outstanding work piece, The Squire's wife

Kate Banerjee, of Tettenhall, with her Chair's Choice Award work, Daffodils

"But, by putting animals and natural things in that setting, you realise that it's potentially a great frame for art and for beauty."

The exhibition will feature paintings, drawings and sculptures by some of WSA's alumni and current members, divided into three sections.

The first gallery, entitled The Early Years, features pieces from the society's alumni, while the middle gallery, Between Tradition and Modernity, highlights WSA's history and achievements against British Art in the inter-war period.

The third gallery showcases work from the current members of the society, with WSA president Keith Oram keen for people to see what artists in Wolverhampton can do.

He said: "I feel there's a great level of creativity in this city and there's always been a great level of creativity. It's just that it's been hidden from time to time, but it's nice to see it come back and start to flourish again.

"Wolverhampton is definitely a best kept secret when it comes to art. This gallery has the best collection of pop art outside of London, but it's not very well known and it ought to be well known."

The exhibition runs until February 16, 2020, at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, with free entry.

For further information, go to wolverhamptonart.org.uk