September 2004 Page 8

News from Tony Hogan Art Centre Gallery

October and November have been busy times for the gallery and the artists who work there.

In October, a group of five (three painters and two photographers) went off to Venice for a hard week’s work. Dawn to dusk painting, drawing and photography followed by evenings spent uploading the days work onto laptops to bring home safely. Not too much wine ???, but a great time which will result in a Venetian exhibition in February next year. Something really exciting to look forward to. The actual dates for the exhibition will be announced later.

In October and through most of November, a one man show of paintings of the Wolds by Tony took place at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. Some works from that show are now back in the Rudston gallery for your delight. The gallery is open seven days a week, from early morning to late afternoon, for you to come along and enjoy. You do not have to buy (although it helps) but the gallery is there for your enjoyment, a place for you to see original top art work on your doorstep.

Also now available in the gallery is a selection of artist’s materials at ridiculously low prices. Following the folding of a major art mail order company, I was able to purchase supplies at advantageous prices. These goods are now available in the gallery, but stock is limited and going fast. It will not be repeated, so if you want materials at the best price ever, now is your chance.

Just in time for Christmas, a new batch of handmade Christmas cards have arrived to supplement the existing selection of Birthday and general-purpose handmade cards always available in the gallery.

Tony Hogan

"The Night Before Christmas"

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

~~Clement Clarke Moore