The purpose of the group is to participate in learning more about art in all its forms. We do this in the following ways –

Gallery Visits  We visit galleries where, if possible, we are accompanied by someone who knows the exhibition that then enhances our understanding of the painter, sculptor or photographer.

Study Hour  Members of the group are asked to research a topic. This could take the form of searching the internet or looking at books. The topic could be an artist or an artistic movement. At the study hour members will be asked to share what they have found with the group.

Members of the group are notified about events by email.

Some of our recent visits ...

In late November 2024 our group visited the Ulster Museum to see the Royal Ulster Academy’s 143^rd Exhibition.  The group was delighted to be accompanied by Dan Dowling, President of the Academy, who spoke about some of the paintings, ceramics and bronzes.  

2025

January 2025 saw us enjoying a talk about paintings of winter scenes.  Artists that we looked at included Pieter Bruegal (the elder), Sir Henry Raeburn, J M W Turner, John Nash and David Hockney.The group visted the MAC in March to see the exhibition 'I see his blood upon the rose'. It traced the history of the flower in art. Of particular interest were pictures of flowers by Mrs Mary Delany (1700 to 1788) created from hundreds of pieces of coloured paper.

In March the group visited the MAC to see the exhibition 'I see the blood upon the rose '. It traced the history of the flower in art. Of particular interest were pictures by Mrs Mary Delany (1700 to 1788) created from hundreds of pieces of coloured paper.

In April we visited the F E McWilliam Gallery to see the exhibition 'As Far As The Eye Can See: Contemporary Paintings From ABC '. This was an opportunity to see paintings from up and coming artists. We also had the pleasure of seeing some clay heads made by pupils at a local primary school.

June saw the group visiting the Ulster Museum to see the exhibition 'Wild Ireland: Past, Present, Future'. Renowned wildlife painter, Julian Friers, has collaborated with the Ulster Museum Natural Sciences curator, Dr Mike Simms, to create over 50 remarkable paintings of our flora and fauna, past and present.

In October Mary McFadden made a presentation to the group about 'Women Artists in the Renaissance and Baroque Periods'. These artists were mostly overlooked in their lifetimes.

In December the group visited the Ulster Museum to see the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 144th annual exhibition. We were delighted to be accompanied by Dan Dowling, President of the Academy, who talked to us about many of the exhibits.

2026

In early February the group enjoyed an study hour in which we looked at Dutch artists such as Pieter Bruegel (the elder), Pieter de Hooch and Piet Mondrian.

Below you will see a link to guidelines – Looking at Art. These were produced by a small number of members of the group and the Ulster Museum.

Links

• Looking at Art 1 Introduction
• Looking at Art 2 Portraits
• Looking at Art 3. Landscapes
• Looking at Art 4 Abstract Paintings