ART EXHIBITION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 57, 2 December 1946, Page 4

ART EXHIBITION

COMMUNITY SERVICE SERIES ,'' \ ■ • WHAKATANE’S FIRST DISPLAY •;s • • For the Exhibition of Arts to be shown at Whakatane on 4tn December under the auspices of the Corn- 1 munity Arts Service, the Auckland Society of Arts has assembled a collection of 65 representative works from leading Auckland artists. (They comprise oil-paintings, water-col-ours, tempera, lithographs, drawings in pencil, chalk aiid monochrome, lino-cuts and other graphic art. The range is comprehensive, not only in t the mediums, but also in subject matter and treatment. , Landscape, still-life, figure studies, decorative compositions, flower studies and interiors are included.

In style the works vary, from the most searching representational type to the bold, free style and strongly patterned design employed by contemporary painterg. The Auckland artists have sent examples of their best work, and the selection has been made expressly for the educational value of the exhibits. Although the number of works from each artist is of necessity restricted, it is sufficient to indicate clearly their individual capacities and outlook. For example, John Weeks, / probably New Zealand’s most accomplished painter, sends some most delicate and sensitive drawings, together with bold and colourful modernistic paintings. . Lois White, so well known for her delightful compositions, in'a preRaphaelite manner, shows her exquisite draughtmanship in a figure study for a larger work, as well as some decorative designs : in which the figures assume almost abstract shapes.

Bessie Christie displays her versatility in a particularly well painted head of a woman and an intriguing design based on birds. Ron Tizard includes water-colours, drawings and monochromes in his contribution. These and other artists afford interesting comparisons in style and approach, and demonstrate how the, modern outlook is the result of long and serious study. Among the oil-paintings, New Zealand landscape is represented in a purely literal aspect by K. Airini Vane, in excellent tonal painting by Ida G. Eise and in a broad, expres.sionist style by Vida Steinert. Landscapes are also exhibited by Ruth Coyle, Winifred Bodie and Mrs H. E. Reed. Joan Blomfield shows a very strong painting of a. group of buildings, and Alison Pickmere an Interior of a Casting Room, which is full of subtle tones and delicate colour. '

Jack Crippen sends ' a very rich and colourful still life.' One of the most striking paintings in this section is “Root Forms” by Eric Lee Johnson, a modernistic work ‘in,, which tree roots assume the form of birds and reptiles. “The Quarry”' and “Still Life” by Charles Tole show the mpdern trend in organising landscape and still life into pattern and colour. ; “Koromiko” by John Tole is more representational, yet has a distinct charm of arrangement and colour. * ' The water-colours are as varied as the oils. Delicate and free work is shown by Ron Tizard, Helen Brown, May Gilbert, Charles Gentil. Jagk Crippen and Harold Knight, both recently returned, from service overseas, show scenes ; in Italy and Egypt. With a free brush and deepcolour are landscapes by A. C. Hipwell Vida Steinert, Alison Pickmere and Lincoln Lee. Ella Spicer is represented in her well known style. There are landscapes also from H. Pattle, Frank Stevens and Fred Thorpe adding to the range of individual methods. Gwyneth Richardson is another well known water colour painter who has submitted examples of her best work. Of particular interest is the painting by Sina Woolcott, “The Victims.” This artist has a very distinctive .style, original in subject matter and treatment and unusual colouring. Decorative figure compositions are shown ’ in. this section by Margaret Thompson. In addition to those already mentioned, drawings are shown by Jean Farquhar, A.' C. Hipwell, Mrs H. E. Reed, Ron Stenberg and Margaret Thompson. Figures, head studies and landscapes in various treatments are included. All are of a high order, and illustrate the careful attention paid to good draughtmanship. The graphic arts are represented r by lino-cuts in black and white, also in colour by Peggy Spicer, Ron Tizard and Hilda Wiseman, * and a series of lithographs by Kathleen Browne, an Auckland artist, now working in London.