Dear Member,

You will be surprised by this newsletter coming to you earlier than usual.

This is due to the fact that the whole membership present at the last meeting decided that it would be a good idea to go back to 6 meetings a year.

In the January newsletter I gave the dates for all of this year's meetings, so that , should I not be able to send you a newsletter, you still know when to come.

However, this meeting is different.

At the same that our meeting will be taking place, an important exhibition is opening at the Chinese Cultural Centre.

Our President feels that it would be to the members' advantage to view these painting, especially as he could point out to us the salient points in the two artists' work.

We have decided therefore, to start our meeting at 2pm and then proceed to the Centre where we could view the exhibition.

Remember that our meeting will be dedicated to the discussion of rocks.

As you know, rocks are very much embedded in the Chinese psyche. They represent the male or positive element and are regarded by some as representing mountains - thus the dwelling of the immortals. So, great attention should be paid in painting them.

However, we are also very interested in the technical side of the depiction of rocks and mountains and I am sure that quite a few of you will come up with very interesting ways of painting them.

The lunchtime lectures have started again at the

Art Gallery of New South Wales.

These are held on Tuesday from 1pm-2pm. This year's theme is THE ARTS OF BUDDHISM.

I have attended a few on previous years and found them extremely interesting. The cost is $16.00 for members of the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales and $22 for non-members. You can attend individual lectures, one term or the full year's lectures.

For bookings, ring 9225 1893.

With a major exhibition coming - BUDDHA: TRANSCENDING SPACE AND TIME, later in the year, this could be a fitting introduction to the subject.

During our last meeting we implemented the suggestion made by our President, Andrew Lo, of discussing one particular subject, its problems, techniques, etc.

As suggested, many of you brought your work and the meeting became one of full participation by all members. Most of you expressed the opinion that the meeting had been a great success and it was decided that the next topic should be rocks.

While the discussions were going on it was suggested that we should organize some workshops with Andrew whose creativity seems to have no bounds.

Two workshops were held, on 4th March and 18th. I only took part in the last one and I came home full of new ideas as well as having spent a very fulfilling day.

It seems a shame that many of you did not have a chance to participate, but it is very difficult to let everyone know privately about Society activities and the newsletter is not published often enough to cover every bit of information. So please, make an effort and come as often as you can.

I hope I shall see as many of you as possible on Saturday 7th, at 2pm, with your latest efforts.

Your Secretary,

Mirra Hainsworth.

The Australian Chinese Painting Society

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