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LECTURES
During my first year that in America, I gave over 50 lectures in 35 weeks; what is amazing about this number is that I organized the lectures myself. Before leaving England, I had decided to get in touch with the English Speaking Union. Originally founded in London in 1918 “to promote international understanding and friendship through use of the English language”, the English Speaking Union of the United States is headquartered in New York City with over seventy branches throughout the country. I gave lectures at eighteen of these branches throughout the country. The remaining lectures were given for educational institutions: art schools and university art departments.
I thought that as I was visiting America I could talk on British art and art education. I was put in contact with the ESU New York office and the executive director was most interested in me lecturing in the USA. Accordingly, I was put in contact with member clubs throughout the country. The honorarium was modest but travel expenses and accommodations were covered, offering a wonderful opportunity to travel, talk and meet people throughout the country. Travel and talk is what I do best.
In England, I had applied for and been awarded a Fulbright Hays travel scholarship which paid my airfare between UK and USA, much appreciated. I did have to attend an orientation meeting for Fulbright Hays scholars at Columbia University. Having spent six weeks staying with friends on Long Island commuting daily to the city and walking the streets of Manhattan, I thought that I was thoroughly orientated and assimilated into the Yankee way of life. However, my travels for the English Speaking Union opened up another world, the continental United States, populated with a rich diversity of different people, language and culture.
My first talk ever in this country was given in Petersburg, Virginia. Immediately, I realized that people in Virginia were more English than those living in England. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Queen still seemed to rule; fox hunts with the hounds took place amongst the woods and the greenery; and where afternoon tea and scones were served politely. Here, for the first time, I was to hear of the Episcopalian Church.
A reception was generously given, following my lecture, by my elderly hostess at her home. I noticed that members of the English Speaking Union, here and elsewhere, were elderly and of a world of yesteryear. Everyone was courteous and curious, particularly after my lecture which was a shock and surprise to those that attended. My audience had expected a talk on castles and churches with royal portraits and religious paintings of a polite and pleasant land, the old country.
 With long black hair and beard, my appearance must have shocked them as did my presentation as I talked on British contemporary art. A few slides were shown of landscape paintings by John Constable and JMW Turner, then came images from “Op to Pop”, work by Bridget Riley and David Hockney. Even the sculptures of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth were too modern for this audience, who sat silent and stoic throughout, although a few gasps came as slides appeared of the more avante garde work of my students. Nevertheless, my Welsh accent, loquaciousness, language and enthusiasm appeared to enthrall and entertain.
With Barbara Hepworth at her studio in St Ives Cornwall 1966. English Speaking Union thought "too modern"? At the reception, one lady said, “I did not understand what you said but I loved the way you said it.” Another dowager came to hear me as she was an Episcopalian. I did not know what that was and told her so. She was most put out and said, “You must know, it’s our version of the Anglican Church?” To her relief, I replied, “I did not know that and I’m a member of the Church of England in Wales.” I explained that is what the Anglican Church was called in my native land and went gabbling on, a fatal error, facetiously saying, “Yes, I became an Anglican because the religion is founded on the love of women”.
The distressed dowager squeaked that was terribly wrong to which I responded, “Well, Henry VIII loved women, had many wives, alienated the Pope, split from the Catholic church and founded his own church, the Church of England.” Jokingly I said, “To me, that’s a church founded on the love of ladies”.
Obviously upset and offended, the elderly and suffering supplicant stuttered, “You are very wrong and cruel” and went on spluttering that, “The Church of England was founded by William the Conqueror.” She stormed off and I realized that although she was wrong, I should not offend her further.
Later that evening, after the guests left, my kindly hostess was bidding me good night, when the phone rang. She took the call, surprised, and handed the phone to me, saying, “The call is for you”. I answered to find the hysterical dowager howling over the phone, “You are wrong and I can not sleep until I correct you and say that the Episcopalian Church was founded before Christ, I know that is true, before Christ.” With that, she slammed the phone down and I never talked about religion again but I continued my talks on art.
From Fall 1967 thru late Spring1968, I gave eighteen lectures for the ESU in different states throughout the country: Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington DC. In some states, I lectured in different cities. In Alabama, I talked in Montgomery and Mobile. I visited the state capital and governor’s office. I was the fascinated that in the office was the official and resplendent state flag, divided into five flags under which the state had served. The four quarter and biggest sections were the flags of France, Spain, Great Britain and the Confederacy. In the middle, almost overwhelmed, was a small ‘Stars and Stripes’.
The influence of Britain was even more evident in Mobile where the top half of the city shield was dominated by the Union Jack. These signs of love and gratitude for the Britain’s support during the Civil War were evident through out the South. I was warmly welcomed. The expectation was that I would be talking on medieval castles and portraits of royalty. As I have said earlier, this was not the case yet people were fascinated to hear me, particularly my Welsh accident.
In California, I gave two lectures for the English Speaking Union. I was warmly received in San Francisco as this city was yet another British outpost. The city became one of my favorites with its trolley cars, waterfront, hills, architecture, museums, diversity, vibrancy and vitality. Los Angeles was totally different being a flat, endless metropolis, sprawling from the Pacific coast to the mountains and blanketed in smog; a city of freeways and endless traffic.
My ‘LA’ host was an Anglophile with an impressive house and great collection of contemporary British sculpture shown outside by the pool and among the bushes and palms. Of all the English-speaking Union hosts, I felt that he was the one most sympathetic and supportive of my presentation on contemporary British art. In fact, he had work in his collection by some of the contemporary artists of whom I spoke; most unusual and admirable.
The visit with him was also memorable because after my lecture, he took me to the Magic Castle that Hollywood club for magicians, conjurers and those involved with magic. A fun place of secret doors, talking parrots and magical paraphernalia seemed a suitable place for me, magically weaving my way through America with stories of art and artists from the old country.
Charleston with it’s elegant architecture, beautiful plantations, Spanish moss on the avenues of trees, stately homes with colonnades and the lush and lovely landscape. At that time, the South was still of yesteryear with gentry and servants. At one dinner party, I noticed with curiosity how the servants always appeared at exactly the right moment to clear of the table of one course and serve another. In the way of English aristocracy, the genteel manners of the South seemed of another era. The service was impeccable and timely; then I noticed that my hostess had a buzzer at her foot which she would push so that the servants would hear in the kitchen to know their service and attention was required. The days of that era were fading and now seem ‘gone with the wind’. Travel During that first year, as I lectured, I travelled across America; I realized that this land was a continent of contrasts..... RS 1967/68 USA. |
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