ART EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2332, 14 December 1914, Page 7

ART EXHIBITION

NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY THE OPENING CEREMONY. 1 The wild weather was probably partly responsible for the limited attendance at the twenty-sixth' annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, which was formally opened by the president, Mr. H. M. Gore, on Saturday evening. If the number of those present was small, they consisted of the right class, made up of our local connoisseurs and artists, competing and otherwise, who pronounced the show a very interesting one all round, with a larger proportion of really desirable brushwork than is usually the case. Amongst the water colours and pastels there is some oxcellent work by such artists as C. N. Worsley, Nugent Welch, Ina Lee, M. 0. Stoddart, D. K. Richmond,, Owen Merton,- Mrs. J. A. Tripe, W. R. Wallwork, R. HerdmanSmith, W. A. Bowring, Sybil Hannah, M. Dupertal (whose work is notably good and repays close inspection) K. M. Ballantyne, and Menzies Gibb, whilst in the oil section there are distinguished canvasses by A. F. Nicol, M.S.S.A., W. Hounsom Byles, R.8.A., W. A. Bowring, A. S. AVood, W. Menzies Gibb, R. Proctor, C. H. Howorth (who produces some of the products of Ins recont European tour), K. M. Ballantyne (whose brushwork steadily improves), _C. F. Kelly, E. M. Gore, Mrs. J. A. Tripe, Nugent Welch, Vica Cole, R.A., and others too numerous to particularise here, 1 but whose work will bo dealt with in detail in subsequent artiThe presidont 'drew particular attention to a small but good exhibition of modelling, mostly by Mr. J. Ellis and his_ pupils. The black and white section is meagre, and architectural designs are submitted by,.. Messrs.. J. S. Swan and J. Gray Young, but there is a particularly interesting exhibit of metal work made by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Atkinson, which Bhould help to en-' courage- endeavour in that neglected de-1 partment of art. The exhibition ib enriched by three paintingß presented to the Academy by the late Mr. John New•ton, who was an art lover of discrimination. These are a notably good study in oils of an old monk's- head, by Dattilo Rubbo, clever in its treatment of the rugged puffy facial flesh of old age; "We Two," a very fine delineation of a young Maori carrying her baby on her hack showing Miss F.'M. Hodgkins at her best; and "The Adjutants," a bird sketch by H. Garlick, of Sj'dney. ■ After a little preliminary music the president, Mr. H. M. Gore, 6tated that as His Excellency tho Governor had intimated that he could not attend owing to a previous engagement, and that moat of their public''men were suffering, a recovery from a very strenuous political campaign, the task of opening the academy's show this year, had fallen to the lot of the president. In, apologising for inviting the public to once more come to a building that was too small for their present needs, Mr. Gore said that it was not their fault, but rather their misfortune. He explained tho movemont which had for its object the erection of an addition to the present building, that tho Government had ■offered a grant of £600, and that sum of money had actually been voted by Parliament; the plans had been reviewed, and finally approved when a bolt from the. blue came in the war. The council met and decided not to draw the money from tho Government until after the termination of tho |war. (Applause.) Though their need was great, there wero other • needs that were greater. Among them were those' of gallant little Belgium, whom they were glad to call their ally. To help .them the academy was giving the whole of the commissions on pictures sold, and also the whole of the receipts at the door, and for that reason he hoped that the show would be a good one. As to the art union, an innovation had been made this year. The main art union would be the members, which would be drawn that evening, and the winners would be able to select their prizes from tho wall that night. There would also bo a 6ocond art union for members and the public, the tickets for which would be one shilling, and this would be drawn in about ten or twelve days. Mr. Gore drew attention to tho exhibit of modelling, and congratulated Mr. Ellis and his pupils on their work. As for the dillettanto artiste, their lot was made easier by the fact that they invariably painted the obvious, and found little difficulty in ploasing the public. The riddlo for the real artist was —How shall I paint tho picture and give the eyes to see? The president drew attention to the three pictures that have been prosentd to tho gallery by the late Mr. John Newton, who was, ho said, one of tho best friends tho academy had. (Applause.) The 6how was then declared open. Refreshments wero served at 9 p.m., when the gathering partook of the genial atmosphere of an art conversazione, and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present. The members' art union was drawn under the superintendence of Messrs. Malcolm Ross and H. l'limmor, and the results were announced by the secretary, Mr. E. A. S. Kiilick. They were as follow:—1, Mr. L. H. 15. Wilson; 2, Mr. W. Gray Young; 3, Mr. G. B. Dall; .4, Mr. J. W. Jack; 5. Mr. A. Roberts; 0, Mr. W. L. Meek; 7, Mr. R. Bacon; 8, Mrs. Algar Williams; 9 Mr. P. Levi; 10, Mr. E. D. Boll; 11, Mrs. W. Turnbull ; 12, Mr. C. Wilson; 13, Mrs. Walter G. Johnston; 14, Mr. W. S. Moorehouse; 15, Mr. W. E. Bethuns. -Tho exhibition will remain open from 11 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., and from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. daily in tho Academy, Whitniorc Street.