1987 saw the BSOE being asked to put on exhibitions at the prestigious Electrum Gallery, South Molton Street, and at the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects at 66 Portland Place.
The Selection Committee met on the 2nd March at 30 Kensington Square, with Barbara Cartlidge of Electrum and Lady Gibberd of RIBA. As a result work from 24 members was selected for the Electrum exhibition and from 8 members for the RIBA exhibition. Both Barbara and Lady Gibberd were very pleased with the quality and range of work submitted.
The Executive agreed a format with Barbara for a publicity leaflet-poster to be produced by Electrum. It was a single sided poster, which folded down to fit into a foolscap-sized envelope. It contained general information about enamels, the exhibition and the Society. There was a colour reproduction of one piece for each participating member alongside their C.V.
The Selection Committee met on the 2nd March at 30 Kensington Square, with Barbara Cartlidge of Electrum and Lady Gibberd of RIBA. As a result work from 24 members was selected for the Electrum exhibition and from 8 members for the RIBA exhibition. Both Barbara and Lady Gibberd were very pleased with the quality and range of work submitted.
The Executive agreed a format with Barbara for a publicity leaflet-poster to be produced by Electrum. It was a single sided poster, which folded down to fit into a foolscap-sized envelope. It contained general information about enamels, the exhibition and the Society. There was a colour reproduction of one piece for each participating member alongside their C.V.
Additionally, the Society was awarded a grant by the Crafts Council towards the cost of publicity for these exhibitions, which included photography and printing of an A3 poster of all Society members’ work. The Electrum exhibition ran from 6 – 23 May 1987, and was successful enough for Barbara Cartlidge to invite the Society to exhibit again in November 1988.
The RIBA exhibition took place in the Sculpture Court from 10 June – 31 August, the large panels being displayed on the walls, the floor space displaying sculptural pieces by a Gloucestershire artist. The Society was also offered the second floor gallery at RIBA for smaller work and panels not suitable for outside display. This took place from 10 – 26 June
‘In looking through photos, I came across the ones of the BSOE exhibition at the RIBA headquarters in London in 1987. We were able to arrange this at about the same time as one of the Electrum Gallery exhibitions. This was because the Electrum Gallery was mostly for small work and jewellery (although there were some wall pieces), and this enabled large work to be shown, including some architectural work shown outside. - very impressive building, past the BBC, off Oxford St.
We shared the outside part of the exhibition with a sculptor from Gloucestershire. Princess Michael of Kent knew him and came to the private view! I did speak to her and tried to push the BSOE work, don't think it lead to anything!’
© 2009 Maureen Carswell.
Additionally in 1987 The American Enamelist Society held its first international conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, which was attended by Society members: Maureen Carswell, Joan MacKarell, Alex Placzek (Raphael), Gudde Skyrme and Elizabeth Turrell.
