celebrating 25 years of creativity
BILL LAZARD, Early Member
18
I was originally introduced to the SSS by the sculptor Neil Godfrey who was successful in selling his work. The prospect of exhibiting my sculpture was a strong motivation to get involved, as well as the opportunity to meet other artists to explore and develop sculptural ideas.
During those early years we met and displayed our work at Chilworth Manor, where our founder member Crispin Rayner was Head Gardener at the glorious 16th century house near Guildford.
These were exciting times, meeting other sculptors and formulating procedures for exhibiting and expanding the reach of the group.
My wife, Ursula Lazard, designed the striking logo that is still used and recognised. In those days everybody had the right to showcase their work and in the (almost) pre-digital era there was rarely much need for forms and selection processes.
The accessibility of the Society meant that sculptors of all calibres could come together which lead to a sense of learning and shared experience.
One of the early aims of the Society was for it to have an educational role. We achieved this by visiting each other’s studios, we gave talks on artists inspirational to us. - for example, I gave one on Eric Gill - and we also attended larger, famous exhibitions together as a group.
We were privileged to be able to display our pieces at some popular venues: RHS Wisley and Borde Hill amongst others.
For my part, it did at times become a logistical exercise and I always wish that there would have been more time to be able to get together to establish some deep, creative discussion on our aims and motivations for our work.
I do remember some heated debates on figurative vs non-figurative sculpture which I relished. I hope that this type of discussion has been revived amongst the newer society members!
Hands and Baby by Bill Lazard
Bill Lazard with Landscape of Myth and Memory
Text and photos supplied by Bill Lazard