Don has posted a selection of images framed by the Watford setting of the show on You Tube.

Take a seat, relax and enjoy the show with gentle background music. Click here to view.

Young artists put on a good face for the opening of Art Invasion.

Students from Watford Grammar School for Girls devoted their official winter break to stage a full-scale exhibition of paintings and photographs in the gallery, where young members of the art department have already made a mark with guest appearances at the Watford Area Arts Forum’s summer and autumn shows.

This time, head of arts, Georgie Wheeler had accepted an invitation for students to “do their own thing” under the auspices of the Arts Forum.

Head of Art, Georgie Wheeler proudly presents.

As well as overall impact, the show demanded attention and drew in the viewer by dramatic and innovative detail as well as skilfully executed often mould-breaking, individual ideas.

Some works of art translate superbly into print, but the first reaction to Ross Ashmore’s Going Underground, now showing at Watersmeet in Rickmansworth, is sheer joy at having made the effort to see the real thing after being beguiled by the (printed) object and the object of the exercise.

The Rickmansworth based artist has set himself the task of painting all London Underground stations! So far he has done Zone 1 (64 stations) and is nearly half way through Zone 2 (100 stations). In all there are 270.

“A bit more ambitious than I imagined,” admits Ross. But having said, he will do it, he is jolly well going to, he adds with a smile.

If he continues in the bold, atmospheric manner now on show in the Artistsmeet gallery at the civic centre, the result is likely to be as atmospheric and varied an impression of London and its Underground serviced surroundings as you will ever get.

The individual pictures are literally dripping with atmosphere and texture, from a colourful, crowded Arsenal on matchday to the almost rustic reflection of the approach to Parsons Green station.

Knightsbridge Station

The show continues until Friday, March 2.

The Olympic theme for the Watford Live! Richard Harrington challenge cup art competition has been expanded to: Beautiful Britain – postcard pictures for the Olympics 2012.

The Richard Harrington Challenge Cup

The “Olympic” theme announced in the Autumn/Winter issue of the WAAF magazine still stands, but feedback from local artists suggests the choice is too limiting for most.

So we decided to embrace the theme in a way that will hopefully meet with a more enthusiastic response from artists, who can now enter work of favourite topics from anywhere in the country in the quest for adding their name to the coveted Art Deco vase currently held by last year’s winner, Bob Wallace.

Deadline for entries is the end of May. The show will again be staged at Watford Museum foyer, who jointly host this Watford Live! event with Watford Area Arts Forum.

Entry details will appear in the Spring/Summer issue of the magazine with forms and rules posted on the website.

So museum staff are to be congratulated on all the effort that has gone into staging a spectacular gallery show that not only displays 37 works of art by famous British sculptors including Ronald Pope and Sir Jacob Epstein but also proves Watford is the proud owner of a significant collection.

Most of the works (31) were donated by one collector, Arnold Thompson, who grew up in Watford and decided to leave the result of a life-long passion for sculpture to the town, he loved, even though he had moved to Nottingham.

“Watford is honoured to have been the recipient,” says art historian Dr Laurie B. Harwood in the impressive catalogue published for the exhibition, which she both curated and catalogued.

Also on show are two bronze busts by local sculptor Mary Pownall Bromet of former Freemen of the Borough of Watford, The Sixth Earl of Clarendon and Alderman Ralph Alfred Thorpe.

• “Sculpture from the Watford Museum Collection” continues until Saturday, February 25, during opening hours, Thursday to Saturday, 10am-5pm.

• Free gallery talks have been organised to coincide with the exhibition. The talks will be given by Annette Kendall on Saturday, January 28, Saturday, February 11 and Saturday, February 2012, at 11am.

Booking is essential.
Tel. 01923 232297.

Girl in a Hurry by Ronald Pope

Olive by Sir Jacob Epstein

• Hanging Day: 11th February
• Exhibition open for public viewing from 12th February until 19th February
• 19th February: Close and Collection

Jessica Rannachan Exhibition

• Hanging Day: 6th April
• Exhibition open for public viewing from 7th April until 22nd April
• 22nd April Close and Collection

Toulla Hadjigeorgio. David Latham. Denise Butler Joint Exhibition

• Hanging Day: 27th April
• Exhibition open for public viewing from 28th April until 7th May
• Collection: 8th May

WAAF Summer Exhibition

• Hanging Day: 6th July
• Exhibition open for public viewing from 7th July until 15th July
• Collection day: 16th July

WAAF Autumn Exhibition

• Hanging Day:  9th November
• Exhibition open for public viewing from 10th November until 18th November
• Collection day: 19th November

The Exhibition will run from 8th February to 7th March 2012 and will be open during normal Cafe opening hours.

Time: Sunday 30th October, 5pm -7.30pm
Tickets: £5 (Seven Dials Members £3)

Future Watford Dates:

• Sunday 4^th December: The Dial Up Christmas Special!
• Sunday 8^th January: Bring in the New Year with a song!
• Sunday 5^th February: Love songs for the month of romance!

Planning a party or event?
Email contactalex@thedialup.co.uk
Phone 07763 695 481