The Arts Society Cranleigh is pleased to offer the following talks over the coming months.

Wednesday 22nd March 2023: ‘IN PAYNTED POTS IS HIDDEN THE DEADLIEST POYSON’: ENGLISH DELFTWARE DRUG JARS with Briony Hudson at 2.00 pm

Blue and white tin-glazed earthenware has long been admired and collected for its attractive appearance, but this lecture goes further by examining English delftware with a pharmaceutical purpose. Drawing on examples from collections at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, this talk will provide a beginner’s guide to these beautiful yet practical vessels. By placing them in their wider historical context, Briony will also demonstrate that delftware drug jars have an undervalued role to play in understanding medical practices in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Wednesday 26th April 2023: LAND OF THE MONKEY GOD – THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF SRI LANKA with Georgina Bexon at 2.00 pm.

Shrines, stupas, cave temples, colonial grandeur and modernist architecture – a look at the history of this beautiful island through its intriguing art and culture. For much of Sri Lanka’s past Buddhist and Hindu have lived alongside each other peaceably and much of its culture is evidence of this spirit of tolerance and generosity. This talk examines the fascinating story of Sri Lankan art and the original minds, talents and spirits that created this unique visual world.

Wednesday 24th May 2023: CINEMA FROM THE RUBBLE – THE POSTWAR POLITICS OF EALING STUDIOS – with Benedict Morrison at 2.00 pm

Ealing Studios is often hailed as the most quintessentially English of all film studios. Run by Sir Michael Balcon for decades, the studio reached its zenith in 1949, its annus mirabilis, releasing Passport to Pimlico, Whisky Galore!, and Kind Hearts and Coronets. Now most celebrated for these and the similarly magnificent comedies that followed, Ealing’s films have a reputation for cosiness, whimsicality, and an ever-so gentle subversiveness. This talk revisits these films and reads them again, this time in the light of the post-war new waves that were beginning to emerge across Europe.

Meetings are held at Cranleigh Arts Centre. Non-members are welcome to join us at a talk as a guest. No commitment, but a donation is appreciated!

Please contact: membership@theartssocietycranleigh.org or see the website at www.theartssocietycranleigh.org

While writing, The Arts Society Cranleigh is looking for a new Treasurer. Do get in touch with them if you are interested in this role.