President Ron chaired today's evening club meeting at Cilantro where club members, partners and guests enjoyed a lovely buffet dinner prepared by students in the Cordon Bleu Cooking School. Julie Reid performed Invocation and the Rotary Toast to Rotary and Australia. President Ron welcomed all club members and partners, with a special welcome to Madeleine Popper and Ron Popper , AG Les Martin, Louise Godfrey - Yoga teacher and last week's guest speaker, and Jinyola Blanco - houseguest/student of Larry Green and Sarah.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS - President Ron
Ron presented Kevin Egan with his new club member badge, and June Egan with her partner badge.
GUEST SPEAKER - Madeleine Popper
Madeleine is an artist who arrived in Australia 50 years ago. She was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration 23 years ago, that has slowly impeded her eyesight over time. Madeleine described the effect of macular degeneration and the limitations she experiences as a result. Her eyesight has deteriorated to the degree that she is now termed as legally blind. At the time of her diagnosis, Madeleine had taken up oil painting, but with failing eyesight, today she can no longer see the end of a brush. However, this has not diminished her determination to continue to find a way to display her artistic talents. Her style is very instinctive and sensual - using her fingers and other tools such as sponges, balloons etc to apply paint. Madeleine displayed a slide show of her recent works - and these were truly magnificent with an explosion of colour using light and dark contrasts in an impressionistic style. Move over Monet and Van Gogh!
13 years ago, Madeleine became involved with people with different visual disabilities who came together to use art as a way of self expression. Today the group is known as "My Vision Works" and they exhibit regularly and offer support to artists with low vision. Their next exhibition will be held at the home of Guide Dogs Victoria, 2-7 Chandler Highway, Kew on display from 10 - 17 May with opening night on Friday 10 May from 6-8pm. The exhibition is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
As a side note - Linda and Peter O'Brien, Gary and I attended the opening on Friday and the artwork on display was remarkable with many works sold on the night. 3 of the artists attended and provided personal insights to their work and source of inspiration. They were nothing short of inspirational themselves in the telling of their stories and their source of motivation. We can only commend anyone with an interest in art to attend and be amazed. Below are images of some of her work.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sam reminded everyone of the After Tea Fundraiser in the club rooms of Kings Park Tennis Club in East Boundary Road on Sunday 26/5 from 3-5pm. Details are on the club website, with bookings via TryBooking. Attendees are invited to bring a plate.
President Ron reminded everyone of the District Changeover on 2/6. It would be good to put a couple of tables together with attendees from our club.
