SOCIETY OF ARTS'

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16155, 8 March 1918, Page 8

SOCIETY OF ARTS'

e ANNUAL EXHIBITION OPENED. In the presence of a large and fashionable assemblage the thirtyeighth exhibition of the Canterbury Society of Arts was formally opened last night by his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General,' the Earl of Liverpool, who was accompanied by her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool. Owing tf> the temporary failure of the lighting in the main hall, the preliminary proceedings toak place in the permanent collection section. Mr N. L. Macbeth, the president, in welcoming his Excellency, who patron of the Society, remarked that the present was the fourth occasion cn which the exhibition had been aeld under v.ar conditions, and he coti.M only reiterate the hopes expressed m previous occasions that the next exhibition would be hold when a poace had been arrived at that was satisfactory to all concerned. (Applause.) is to the possible suggestion that the exhibition ought not to be held during war time, he expressed his personal opinion that one of the things -„hey had to do was to "carry on." Furthermore. at no time in the world's history was the softening influence oi : art so necessary as at the present moment. Art in itself was a constructive faculty: war had ever been destructive, and. in modern times, with all the adventitious aids of science, it was anihilative. In the process of annihilation all works of art—those objects of art which were holy and reverent as well as those which purely decorative—were treated with ! the same impartial destruction. There must come a time when the war would cease, and a process of reconstruction would ensue, aqd in that process -irt had to play its part. Consequent's - , one of the most important things tvas the enecurKement and perpetuating -»f art. for without continuity them could be no progress. That was tlieir justification for continuing the Society's annual oxhibition. As regaras the students' work on exhibition, it was quite up to past standards and. as far as landscapes were concerned. it was better than usual. He regretted that owing to financial circumstances, the City Council had not made its vj»ry welcome and encouraging grant, but he hoped that m»xt. year circumstances would permit the Council to reinstate it. After toferring to the handsome 2] ft made hy Mr James Jamieson of h:s collectij-i of valuable objects of art to the Canterbury Mu-:eum. and expressing the hope that it would be the forerunner of similar f/ifes. Mr Macbeth spoka of the difficulties artists laboured tmder in present circumstances, and hopcd_ that those present would express their sympathy in a practical manner. He announced that the arrangements in connexion with afternoon tea and supper would be. this j year, in the hands of tho Red Cross Society, under the supervision of Mrs Blanch, and expressed the hope that they would do as well as the Lady Liverpool Fund did lost year. Ko then asked his Excollency to formally open the exhibition. His Excellency, who was received

'.viili appiaiue, said that when the pro* sident invited him to opon the exhibition ho had said that ho did not want any speech, anil therefore he (his Excellency) would follow the good example sot by tho gas and go out soon. (Laughter.) After referring to the previous on which he had been present at tho Society's exhibitions, liis Excellency said that ho most thoroughly endorsed the president's remarks as to tho necessity for encouraging art. At the opening of similar exhibitions in this and other parts of tho Dominion, he had been rush enough to say that he hoped that New Zealand artists would not forget the land in which they dwelt. There had been a tendency— and lie thought a groat number would bear him out—for the younger generation, at all events, to go to other v lands for their subjects. New Zealand had so many charms that were denied other parts of tho world, that visitors liked to see its scenic beauties depicted. Although two-thirds of.his audience * would thoroughly disagree wit-h.him in his preference for landscape, ho hoped that ho was candid enough to say what lie liked aud what he disliked. Both the Countess of Liverpool and himself were pleased to have tho opportunity to be present, and on his own behalf he desire:! to express his gratitude to tho president for th c opportunity given him to declare the exhibition open. (Applause.) Afterwards those present inspected , the pictures on exhibition and later partook of refreshments. To-day tho exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. till p.m., and from 7.30 p.m. till 9.30 p.m.