Clinch The Artist at the Folie Bar, oil, 32x42in. (81x106cm)
In 1964 Beryl Mason organised an art exhibition as part of a rebellion against the changing world of automation and computers. Her aim was to show that people were above machines and that true artists could evoke an emotional response and interpret their viewpoint through their art. The first exhibition attracted 114 submissions by local artists of which 87 were selected and was opened by Dr Fredrick Konekamp, an internationally known artist.
The exhibition was held in a small room at Squibbs Studio, Cardigan. Dr Konekamp commented that it had more variety than many other exhibitions he had attended, some pictures were amateurish, but all had been done with integrity. The organising group commented that they had not realised that there was so many artists in the surrounding district and how much interest the exhibition had attracted, with 400 people coming to view the pictures. The exhibition was such a success that they decided to form the Cardigan and District Exhibiting Society and to look for larger premises so that sculpture, pottery and other forms of art could be included.