Marie-Hélène Talaya Schmid
My daughter-the-artist's home page
Talaya is a member of
The Chelsea Arts Club
, a private members club located in London at no. 143 Old Church Street. In 1933 the club's premises, which had an acre of garden, were remodeled. The clubhouse includes a snooker room, bedrooms, dining room, former 'ladies bar' turned private party room, and a garden. The club was established on 21 March 1891 (in Chelsea), as a rival to the older Arts Club in Mayfair on the instigation of the artist James Abbot McNeill Whistler who had been a (sometimes controversial) member of the older club. From 1908 to 1958 the club held a series of public fancy dress balls at the Albert Hall, latterly on New Year's Eve, which raised funds for artists' charities, but they ceased owing to their notoriety and rowdiness, and private functions with lavish decorations and themes were held at the club instead. In 1966 the club was redecorated, a new bar was opened, and membership was opened to women artists. Although normally a plain white building, the club exterior is occasionally painted to coincide with a themed event. In 2010 it was painted bright colours with images of circus performers affixed to the exterior, and in 2011 was painted to appear as if it had been bombed in order to coincide with celebrations marking 70 years since the end of The Blitz.
During its primary season from September–June the Chelsea Arts Club serves as a host for many functions, from instrumental and choral performances to visual arts exhibitions, literary talks, and weekend artist lunches. The club has a waiting list for new applicants, who have to be sponsored by current members. Present membership encompasses over 2,400, including artists, poets, architects, writers, dancers, actors, musicians, photographers, and filmmakers.