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Alton DFAS school mosaic is a welcome projectDorset County lecture gives a taste for sculptureA colourful lecture for Dorking DFAS In September 2015, Alton DFAS helped fund the making of a wall mosaic at Rowledge Primary School. The project was led by David Bowers, a community artist with much experience of working with schools and community groups. Every child in the school contributed: fi rst pupils and staff Dorking DFAS chose to complete its 2014–2015 season with the AGM and a fascinating lecture by Vivien Heffernan about the Scottish Colourists, so full of life and movement – and colour. Members were fascinated by the simple vibrant paintings that linked to the Impressionists and contemporary French painting. To fi nish, the group dined at a local vineyard underneath a mural painted by a local artist – a colourful take on Surrey’s lovely countryside. Below: Lunch with the local muralSt Petersburg reveals its treasures to Lomond & Argyll DFASA party of 27 members from Lomond & Argyll DFAS enjoyed a six-day trip to St Petersburg in late October. The knowledgeable guide brought the Romanoff history to life, taking the group to the Hermitage Museum, the Yusupov Palace, the Catherine Palace, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the new Fabergé Museum, the Pushkin Palace, the Peterhof and the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. There was also time for an instructive insight into Russian artists in the Russian Museum.Left: The Winter PalaceSt Petersburg: Shutterstock.were involved in the design, and then the mosaic was constructed in the school hall with each child and teacher placing a piece. The result is located on an outside wall where it provides a colourful welcome for children, staff and visitors to the school. Right: Unveiling the mosaic at Rowledge Primary SchoolAs part of its Young Arts activities, Dorset County DFAS has once again sponsored a talk by NADFAS-accredited Lecturer Linda Smith to the Sixth-form art group at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester. This year Linda’s talk was on 20th-century sculpture and was received with enthusiasm by the pupils. For many students it was their fi rst formal art lecture.In previous years, students have found that they have been able to draw on the talk at their Foundation interviews. One student commented:“I thoroughly enjoyed Linda Smith’s 20th-century sculpture talk. It was full to the brim with information on very important and signifi cant details within the history of sculpture. I really feel this talk will help me with my future studies and understanding.”Above left: Linda Smith with the studentsSOCIETIES NEWSwww.nadfas.org.uk NADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER 2016 61