Christmas Letter from David Jones Society.

Here is a Christmas Letter from Anne Price-Owen from the David Jones Society based in the UK.  Note that it includes information on subscribing to to the David Jones Society.  Thanks, Anne, for this comprehensive account of David Jones Society activities this past year.

Dear friends

It’s been a surprisingly busy year for the DJS, with all sorts of events going on in addition to all kind of plans being made to commemorate the centenary of the Great War, in 2014.

The first celebratory activity this year was the completion and showing of Derek Shiel’s second film concerning the life and work of DJ: David Jones Between the Wars: the years of achievement. Many members have had a chance to see the film when Derek toured it to a number of venues around the country: and indeed, there are more screenings scheduled into 2013. If anyone wishes to screen the film next year, then please contact the DJS. As has already been communicated, copies of this film cannot be distributed to members, although we have a few copies of Derek’s first film, In Search of David Jones: Artist, Soldier, Poet. However, thanks to the excellent website that our friends at foblc (see below), the first film can now be accessed from the foblc website: http://brockleycentral.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/david-jones-in-great-place.html http://www.foblc.org.uk/2012_10_01_archive.html

and:

Mike Guilfoyle (foblc), has contributed some very gratifying comments. Adam Alive, co-director of David Jones Between the Wars, kindly drew my attention to Foblc’s website, which includes more news on DJ celebrations in 2014.

   The highlight of the DJS was the 3-day international interdisciplinary conference, Culture and Artifice organized by Brad Hass and Kathleen Henderson Staudt, at Washington Adventist University, 28-20 March. Since then, Brad has found a publisher who is interested in publishing the papers from the Conference. This is good news, for although we try to publish papers in the DJJ, the circulation of the latter means that the wider public are often unaware of new and exciting discoveries concerning DJ, his life and work. Kathy has devised a DJS N.America website, and has been uploading material. http://www.poetproph.blogspot.com  http://davidjonesartistandpoet.blogspot.com/

Another event which bodes well for increasing scholarship related to DJ is the establishment of The David Jones Centre at Aberystwyth University. The Centre will provide a new arena for research in two interrelated domains: the relation between word and image, as well as modernism and its legacy in Wales. Two PhD students focused their presentations on DJ, with highly original material being brought to light for the first time.

We are grateful to the Friends (foblc) of Brockley & Ladywell Cemeteries who co-organized a one day seminar, the theme of which was Borders, in the Dissenters’ Chapel at Ladywell Cemetery where DJ is buried. Apart from showing sites of interest in the vicinity, the Friends, who provided refreshments, also gave us a tour of the graveyard.

The next day in nearby Rotherhithe, the DJ Walk, which took in a large numbers of sites that inspired place-names and other references in DJ’s poetry, was a great success and, despite the incessant rain, the walkers enjoyed societal camaraderie. We visited many of the places on the itinerary, taking account of DJ’s childhood haunts and early life, but abandoned our plans to take a ferry back to central London, in the rain! This walk was initially inspired by Martin Haggerty, who was responsible for the first walk in Rotherhithe, and we are also indebted to Juliet Johnston & Vivian Wright for their in-depth research and careful organization of this event.

Vivian Wright is well-known as the Leader of the DJ Harrow Walk, and is hoping to arrange another Harrow walk next year. This should prepare us for events that are currently in the pipeline for the anniversary of the Great War in Harrow, in 2014. Artist Jonathan Hutchins is spearheading this proposal, and has already gained support from the Leader of Harrow Council, Bill Stephenson, who has received a letter of support from one of The DJS’s most distinguished members, +Archbishop Rowan Williams.

As we are all aware, +Rowan will son be standing down from his arduous position as Head of the Church of England and the Anglican Church. His tenure has been anything but smooth, yet he has been a guide and a shepherd whose sincere integrity has been driven by godly wisdom. In following his conscience he has the courage to voice his convictions, in spite of turbulent opposition. We wish him every success, and a peaceful transition to his new appointment in Cambridge in 2013.

Jonathan Hutchins would welcome any proposals that might advance the commemorations in Harrow, which include obtaining a DJ blue plaque in 2014. If you would like to contribute to the think tank, then you can contact Jonathan at jonathan.hutchins@harrow.ac.uk.

With 2014 in mind, it is hoped to re-publish David Jones: A Fusilier at the Front (formerly published by Seren in 1995). The 1995 edition is incomplete in the number of drawings in this volume, and Derek Shiel has been asked to write a new commentary on the 2013-14 edition which will consist of all 86 sketches. We also hope to exhibit these works in total, and if anyone can suggest a gallery which might hang this exhibition, then please contact the DJS.

As Christmas is almost upon us, I can recommend some cards and presents you may wish to consider. The first is Thomas Dilworth’s latest well-informed contribution to DJ studies, David Jones in the Great War (Enitharmon, 2012), £15.00, ISBN: 978 1 907587-24-5. It’s a wonderful complement to what we already know of DJ’s situation in the Great War. Apart from offering us new perspectives on DJ, the text is lavishly illustrated with photographs of DJ, as well as artworks, including an endpaper with a reproduction of early drafts from In Parenthesis. What’s more, among the people to whom Tom dedicates his book is our enthusiastic, erstwhile honorary president, Prof William Blissett. But don’t just take my word for it – get a copy for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Monnow Valley Arts has added a number of new greetings cards to its portfolio, and you will doubtless find some of interest by going to www.monnowvalleyarts.org.

If anyone is in the vicinity of Cardiff over the next season, then visit the National Museum of Wales to see the Artist in Focus show featuring Jonah Jones(1919-2004). He was a great admirer of DJ, and his lettering in particular, may be viewed almost as a tribute to our poet-painter. 7 Dec – 4 April 2013. And in Chapter Arts Centre, the intriguing exhibition of Joanne Tatham & Tom O’Sullivan, A Tool for the Making of Signs, features two pieces by David Jones: the watercolour, Chalice with Flowers & Seal(1950), and artist Kathryn Ashill reciting The Hunt(1965), 7 Dec- 24 Feb., 2013.

Finally, some exciting news concerning the David Jones Society: its website and Journal.

I am indebted to ‘Jason And Becky’ who are currently orchestrating the DJS website. I shall take great delight in informing you all as soon as we go live. The website domain has been purchased: thedavidjonessociety.org. I am supplying the designers with material, but also welcome any ideas you may have that will enhance the website.

And finally, we have another co-editor for the Journal. Sarah Williams prompted me to fast-forward the next DJJ, and offered to help edit and collate the contributions I’ve received over the last 4 years! (Frightening, isn’t it!) I am deeply grateful to Sarah and have pleasure in reporting that the next Journal should be with you in March 2013. Following on from the Spring issue, the following journal will be devoted to War, as we have plenty of material on the subject. Given the fact that 2014 is almost in sight, that issue will be on the topic of War. Accordingly, we welcome further contributions on the subject for consideration in the 2013-14 edition.

As you are aware, requests for subscriptions to the DJS have been put on hold owing to the fact that I haven’t published a journal since 2007!  (However, I trust you will be grateful for the ‘extras’ I have included in your postbags when I have sent out the DJ Xmas newsletters.) Accordingly, I now put out a call for subscriptions to the DJS to cover 2012-13. The cost of joining the DJS remains a paltry £20.00pp, corporate membership is £40.00. For that, members will receive a copy of the Journal and hard copies of newsletters and any other material about events and activities relating to the DJS. If you do not join the DJS, you will still be informed of DJS activities by email, but will not receive the Journals, or any hard copy. For anyone paying in Euros, please pay E36 & make your cheques out to Anne Price-Owen, so that there will be no bank charges on changing currency. For those living elsewhere, may I suggest you change your own currency into £pounds sterling and post the cash to the DJS. Alternatively, if you are paying in $US, then the cost is 45$US, which should cover bank charges. For anyone insisting on paying by Visa, then please contact me so that we may come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.

In the cold days of winter, Accendat in Nobis Dominvs Ignem svi Amoris [may the Lord enkindle in us the fire of His love …]

And all best wishes for a Happy and Blessed Christmas, and a peaceful 2013.

Anne

I wish to join/continue membership of The David Jones Society 2012-13, and enclose a cheque/cash for £20.00, payable to the DJS.

NAME________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS____________________________________________________________

Email:_______________________________________________________________

Telephone:____________________________________________________________

Update on Armistice Day

Dear friends I have been very slow in updating this website and as a result have much to report. I intended to post on November 1 in honor of David Jones's birthday but now we are at November 11, Armistice Day, and another day important to Jones. I will begin with the most recent information and work my way back.

 1. Derek Shiel's first film is now available for viewing through a weblink. I have this email from Adam Alive, Derek Shiel's collaborator on the first and second films.   The first documentary film in a trilogy commissioned by the David Jones Society, In Search of David Jones: Artist, Soldier, Poet can be viewed, freely, online at: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xu9moy_in-search-of-david-jones-artist-soldier-poet_creation (or you can try googling 'dailymotion' and then enter 'in search of david jones'). Images of David Jones, his numerous war drawings and other works are interwoven with footage of First World War battle-sites as we hear about his time in the trenches, his work with the artist Eric Gill, his spiritual development and the writing of his epic war poem 'In Parenthesis'. Contributors include Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, Gillian Clarke, National Poet of Wales, art critic Richard Cork and writer Owen Sheers. Running time 49 minutes. The second film, David Jones Between the Wars: The Years of Achievement celebrates his artistic and literary achievements during the interwar years and, again, includes Rowan Williams along with art historians Paul Hills and Frances Spalding. Screening at arts and cultural venues in the UK until March 2013, it should then be available online by the early summer, subject to finance for reproduction licences. The third film David Jones: Innovation and Consolidation is currently in production.

 2. David Jones: Culture and Artifice, the conference last April in Washington,, was a great success. We heard talks from Bill Blissett, Anne Price-Owen, Tom Dilworth, Paul Robichaud, Kathleen Staudt, Jasmine Hunter-Evans, Nora Delaney, Tom Durham, and Fr. Johhn David Ramsey. Brad Haas, who directs the Honors Program at Washington Adventist University, worked to organize the conference, in some consultation with me as the other local Washington person. A highlight was an evening of jazz and reading that featured a fabulous reading by Tom Durham. A gallery show featuring book illustrations from Brad's (and some from John David Ramsey's) collections gave many of us a chance to see works we hadn't seen firsthand before. And we were blessed with the attendance of a number of very engaged undergraduate students from the University. We are hoping to publish some of the papers from the conference in the future and I've been in touch with people individually about that. More soon!

3. Anne Price-Owen reports on a number of gatherings of the David Jones society in the UK this past fall, with a few members of the North American branch in attendance. I was sorry to miss the Inaugural conference launching the David Jones Center at the University of Wales Aberystwyth. See more on this at http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/english/conferences/david-jones-centre/ The David Jones Society in the UK also hosted a walk through Rotherhithe in late September.

 4.Facebook Group: "Venator Formarum" I want to make sure everyone is aware of the facebook page, "Venator Formarum, the David Jones exchange. Available here if you're on facebook. Tom Goldpaugh reports in that thread that he has posted on academia.edu an expanded version of his Washington paper, "David Jones: Toward a Eucharistic Theory of Art." Read it here.

David Jones: Culture and Artifice --Conference Information

All the important information about the upcoming conference on David Jones:Culture and Artifice is now available online at http://www.wauhonorsprogram.org/davidjones2012.html. The conference, to be held at Washington Adventist Uniiversity March 29-30, will include an art exhibit, academic papers and discussions, a poetry reading, and the North American premiere of the film "David Jones between the Wars: The Years of Achievement" a new feature length documentary by Derek Shiel and Adam Alive.

David Jones: Culture and Artifice: Conference in Washington DC March 30-31, 2012

Brad Haas sent out this note on 1 November 2011

The birthday of David Jones seems an appropriate time to announce an exhibition and a conference devoted to his work taking place at Washington Adventist University on March 30-31, 2012.
The conference, sponsored by the WAU Honors Program, is titled “David Jones: Culture & Artifice,” seeks to explore DJ’s cultural theory, and how he uses artifice to confront the issues of modern culture. This should allow for a wide range of paper topics. A “Call For Papers” sheet is attached (please feel free to distribute this to those who would find it of interest).
In addition to the conference, there will be an exhibition of DJ’s major book illustrations, by chance coinciding with an exhibition of similar works at the National Library of Wales. The WAU exhibition will feature over fifty items, with many lifetime proofs of engravings, including complete illustrations from:
* A Child’s Rosary Book (from the Rosary Calendar, 1931)
* The Book of Jonah
* The Chester Play of the Deluge
* The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
There will also be some early rarities and stand-alone prints. In all roughly one quarter of DJ’s entire output of engravings will be on display.
It is hoped that this event will bring together a number of DJ experts to present an array of interesting papers, and that this will bring DJ to the attention of a wider audience. Students, faculty, and community members will be attending.
As a bonus, all conference members are invited to stay through Saturday to attend the annual Keough Lectures, presented by the WAU Theology Department. This year Professor Leland Ryken from the English Department at Wheaton College has been invited to speak on the Bible as Literature. Professor Ryken has an impressive list of over thirty publications, and in addition to his expertise on the Bible, he is also a recognized C.S. Lewis scholar. We intend to ask Professor Ryken to join us for at least part of the DJ conference, and it seems that there could be some interesting crossover between the two events.
Spring is an excellent time of year to visit the Washington, D.C. area. The WAU campus is conveniently located for relatively easy access to the city and its cultural treasures.
On behalf of Kathy Staudt and myself, I hope that many of you are able to attend this event, and we look forward to reading your proposals.

Best wishes,

Bradford Haas
Director, Honors Program
Assistant Professor, English
Washington Adventist University
E-mail: bhaas@wau.edu

David Jones: Culture and Artifice: Conference in Washington DC March 30-31, 2012

Everyone -- somewhat belatedly I'm posting this news from Anne Price-Owen, who edits the newsletter for the DJ Society in the UK: Here's the full newsletter.

23 May 2011

Dear Friends

This letter has a double function. Firstly, it contains a summary of news which members who receive emails should have seen over the past 5 months. Those friends who don’t access a computer now have the chance of catching up with information which most of you have received. I apologize for the delay in sending news of the DJS to you; I realize that some of you may feel rather compromised by this, but I trust you will forgive my lack of correspondence. I hope very much to remedy this in the late Summer when I shall have officially retired from my academic duties at Swansea Met. I’m hoping by that time that I’ll have the DJS website up and running, so that all members will have the opportunity of accessing news online, provided our libraries aren’t closed down! (Can’t think what David Jones would have said about that.) Of course, I shall also find time to write more frequently than I have over the past couple of years. For similar reasons, I also apologize for not sending out a journal – I haven’t time to proof it and select & insert images that complement the text pieces.

Donald Allchin and Anne Morris
The year commenced on a sad note when we learned of the death of Canon A.M. (Donald) Allchin who died in Oxford on 23 Dec. 2010. He was a tremendous scholar, and an informed writer, and a man who greatly admired poetry. Many of you will have met him at conferences and seminars, and on our pilgrimage to N.Wales. He was 80 years old, and since its inception was an inspiration and wonderful support to the DJS. I also have to report the sad passing of Anne Morris, who was a little younger than Donald when she died on 21 March. Anne was another indefatigable supporter of the DJS who lived close to me in Sketty, and will also be severely missed by all who knew her. (I have no-one to help me with the envelope-stuffing, and to advise me of art sales where DJ works were going up for auction. Where is my Friend?) Anne was a collector of art, and was delighted to show her works off. The fact that she bought so much art – even though at times we wondered where she’d put it all (her final purchase was a tapestry by Muriel Clements which she commissioned for a particular space in her hall! – meant that she gave artists financial help as well as much encouragement.

Walk at Capel-y-ffin
Anne had already told me she would be attending this year’s DJS event. After taking account of the preferences of the DJS Friends, a Walk is confirmed. The Walk at Capel-y-ffin will take place on Saturday 24 September. We shall meet at 11.30am at the little church, (not the monastery on the adjacent hill where DJ lived: that is private property). David Alston, Head of Visual Arts, Arts Council of Wales, will lead the Walk. David is an expert on the locale and I’ve had the privilege of being on his walks in the past. They are inspirational, and we shall see the places where DJ stood in order to create some of his great landscapes in the area. Moreover, the grazing ponies on these Welsh hill-slopes usually oblige us with a pose typical of DJ’s view of them! We shall have a break for lunch during the walk, and the pace will be determined by the slowest walker. It’s advisable to be prepared for cool weather – let’s hope it’s not wet, bur as we’ll be doing a bit of slow hill climbing where the winds usually whirl about – remember all those scurrying clouds enthusiastically articulated by DJ? Well, you’ll probably experience them! The walk is free, but lunch will be supplied at a cost of £5.00.

May I recommend that you may wish to stay in Hay-on-Wye, where there is plenty of accommodation, from first-rate hotels to pleasant B&B houses. After the walk and on our return to Hay, it would be good to meet up at a restaurant for dinner. I can book one for us, if that’s what you’d like – but you must let me know. I shall be spending the week-end in Hay and will have my car there. Other friends will also be driving. There should be enough cars for everyone to get to Capel. (There is no point in organizing coach transport owing to the narrow, winding lanes that lead to the Honddu valley.) If you have a car, you may be asked to take extra passengers, but you will not be obliged to do so.

Those members who saw Framing Wales, a series of 4 programmes broadcast on BBC Wales TV in February & March, where David Jones was featured in the first two programmes, will have the opportunity of seeing some reproductions of his works which were shown to the nation.

The following day, 25 September, one of the friends local to the area, William Gibbs, has very kindly invited DJS friends to his house near Abergavenny, where he has a wonderful collection of art. William is a stalwart of the Brecknock Museum in Brecon, and was instrumental in collecting some works of David Jones for the art gallery. We shall leave Hay at 2.00pm on Sunday to drive to William’s house. For anyone staying in the area for several days, Abergavenny may be an alternative town that you might wish to make your base. Pauline Griffiths runs ‘The Art Shop’ on Cross Street and offers an enormous amount of artists’ materials for sale. She also curates the exhibitions in one of the most charming galleries you’re likely to encounter, which is above the shop. T Fenni Castle is nearby, as well as other historic buildings, among them St Mary’s Church (founded in 1087), which has a wealth of history displayed in carvings and tombs, and especially the ‘Tree of Jesse’, a monolithic carving from oak, which
dates back to the C15th. The Tithe Barn is also worth a visit. And Brecon, with its
medieval history, Cathedral, river and canal, is not far away.

Likewise, Monnow Valley Arts is close to Abergavenny. When Rupert Otten relocated his gallery, Wolseley Fine Arts, he selected on of the most tranquil valleys on the borders! Monnow Valley Arts includes a sculpture park with permanent and temporary displays, beautiful gardens and a delightful split level gallery. Rupert specialises in works on paper, and frequently features shows of image and text, in keeping with David Jones. Apart from hosting day symposia on specific topics, he keeps a good stock of David Jones’ and Eric Gill’s works. His current exhibition, ‘The Romantic Landscape in Wales’ includes works by John Piper, Graham Sutherland & Ralph Maynard Smith, together with ‘Images of Herefordshire’ by Reg Boulton. Rupert has a very wide range of works on paper for his 2011 showcase portfolio, and these can be purchased from him: ph.01873 860525 or email, info@wolseleyfinearts.com

There is just one publication that you may wish to source: Tom Dilworth’s article appeared in the TLS, 4 February, about DJ’s very first poem complete poem. It demonstrates DJ’s sense of humour and fun. Tom have it the working title of ‘Lecher Hague’, and the TLS title to Tom’s commentary is ‘Under Arrest’. You’ll enjoy it…

Many of you will be familiar with Brenda Chamberlain’s work, especially those who visited Bardsey Island on the NWales tour in 2005, where we saw her mural on the house she lived in, memories of which are recorded in her first autobiographical novel Tide Race. I attach information concerning her works on Bardsey, in the likelihood that you will support the enthusiasts who are determined to preserve her works on the island. I know the sum of £1000 is beyond the reach of many of you, but you may wish to pledge some money – however small – to ensure that her work is preserved for future generations of admirers of the visual (& literary) arts. The DJS is also pledging money on its members’ behalf.

Dates for the Diary: A celebration of David Jones’s visual art will be hung at the National Gallery and Museum of Wales, Cardiff, from 5 Nov 2011 – 4 March 2012. This should give many of you an opportunity to visit the gallery and see the Museum’s collection of David’s visual work. Oliver Fairclough,
the curator of the show has offered to give guided tours to the DJS, and I would be happy to liaise with Oliver to offer a date(s), which Friends might like to consider. We could see the show early in November, or alternatively in February (as well?). Perhaps you can make suggestions as to your preference and Oliver & I shall do our best to accommodate you.

Opportunities:
For all interested in literature in Wales and walking, Llenyddiaeth Cymru/ Literature Wales have organized alternative tours as follows: Sat 11 June: Idris Davies in the Rhymney Valley; Sat 18 June: Owen Sheers, Resistence in the Olchon Valley; Sat 30 June: J.R.R. Tolkein’s Wales in the Black Mountains; Sat 24 Sept – oops! Clash!! – T. Harri Jones in Llanafan Fawr. Prices vary for these tours, so contact: ph.029 20472266, or email, post@literaturewales.org

As if that isn’t enough literature to be going on with, The Manchester Fiction Prize 2011, is £10.000, for the best new short story of up to 3,000 words in length. Contact James Draper for more details/application form: ph:0161
2471787, or j.draper@mmu.ac.uk

Film: David Jones Between the Wars on David Jones
I would like to thank personally, together with Derek Shiel and Adam Alive, those friends who have contributed funds for the final stages of Derek’s new film, David Jones Between the Wars. We are all very grateful, and look forward to seeing the film.

Finally, please let me know if you wish to join is on 24 September. I trust this
letter finds you all well.

With every good wish for the Summer,

Anne

NB If you have an email address, please let me have it to add to the e-version,
and you will receive DJS news before it goes out of date! Thanks!

Poetry reading and a recent video on David Jones

I saw Carlo Parcelli, editor of the Flashpoint special issue on David Jones (read it here), last night at Kensington Row Bookstore in Kensington, Maryland, where he gave a performance of selections from his sequence of poems called "The Canaanite Gospel" -- an unapologetically revisionist (not to say irreverent: but I'll OK, I'll say it. . . ) telling of scenes around the gospel stories, with a "passover plot" premise. Most interesting were the voices inspired by David Jones's Roman poems -- Carlo performed part of "The Fatigue" in cockney voice, per David Jones's suggestion in the preface to In Parenthesis, to set up the voice of his own Roman captain, one Severinus. A terrific performance. Read more here on Carlo's one-man show. It was good to meet up with Carlo, as well as Rosalie, and Brad Haas and Jack Foley, all from the Flashpoint team.


Anne Price-Owen was interviewed for a BBC segment on David Jones, in a series they're doing on the art of Wales. The interview takes place at Capel y ffin - great images here.

A few updates

I ran across a nice website from someone at Case Western that provides bibliography and some good introductory information on Jones's work: It's Called Artist/poet David Jones


Also noteworthy: A new essay on David Jones by Paul Stanbridge. Read it here


Anne Price-Owen has sent news from the British DJ society - I will post that soon, but wanted to get these two items up as they've come across my screen just lately. Enjoy!