SOCIETY OF ARTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 9, 5 October 1918, Page 8

SOCIETY OF ARTS

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OPENED,

ihe annual exhibition cf tho Wellington Academy ofi Fine Arts was opened publicly last night. Jir H to. Gore, president of the academy! presided, and Sir R/jbert Stout, Chief Justice, declared the exhibition open Inero was a good attendance of membsrs in spite of the wet weather. Mr. Goro said that it was a pleasure to welcome fair Robert Stout, who had taken, more than a casual interest in the work of the academy. The majority of the members of the council were or opinion that the quality o f the work done by this year's exhibitors was ahead of ast year's .standard. 'He himself believed that tho 'exhibition was the best tho'academy had ever nad. Artists in all parts of New Zealand were represented. « Thero wero also pictures horn Australian artists, and the academy had been fortunate m securing the loan of three pictures by great masters,. a Baeburn lent by Mrs. Holmes, and a Turner and More and lent by Colonel Purdv The modelling work, taken all round, was good, and provided proof of the' steady progress that was being made in that branch of art in Now Zealand. Ho was pleased to be able to announce that the academy had purchased for the permanent collection a very fine picture by Mr A. F. Nichol who mlist bo congratulated on his success. Mr bore mentioned that on other occasions private donors had added pictures to tho permanent collection, and he hoped that this would happen again. It was pleasing to know that art was not languishing in Now Zealand during the war period, and that the dawn of peace would find New Zealand artists ready to contmuo their work with increased hope and enthusiasm Sir Robert Stout, in the course of a short address, emphasised the importance of the development of art and the inculcation.of sound culture in Now Zealand. There was much to be clone. Ihe Dominion had poor streets, poor buildings, and ugliness where it might have beauty at small expense. It needed higher ideals. Tho nation could not live by bread alone. It had much economic trouble ahead of it. It would have to struggle to produeo more wealth, but it should not be allowed to believo that tho production of wealth was its wholo aim and duty .The spiritual side of life required development as well as the material, and art was a channel for the expression of tile spiritual. Sir Robert Stout declared the oxhibition open. Mr. Gore, in moving a vote, of thanks to Sir Robert Stout, mentioned •that three important works by French artists had been added to rim collection through the. generosity of Messrs J. Kirkoaldie, 0. ShirtcliJTe, and T. bhailcr Weston. '

The members of the academy and their friends enjoyed tho pictures at leisure, and wo provided with supper before the gallery closed.