ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 12, 9 October 1943, Page 6

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

Annual Exhibition Opened ADDRESSES AT PRIVATE VIEW Last night’s gathering at the private view of the 55th annual exhibition ot the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, in the Wellington D.I.C. building, was the largest for years. Not only that, ..nit under the happier’conditions prevai.ing. in comparison with those of a year there was a pleasant buoyancy and feeling of cameradcrie among art-lovers ami members present. In introducing the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, the president ot the Academy, Mr. G. G. Gibbes Watson, said that the standard of work represented on the walls was well up to the average. In the exhibition was work ot artists in all parts of New Zealand. Both in oils and water colours he saw no reason why they should feel ashamed ot the standard, more particularly as that standard was all the more difficult to maintain as so many artists were engaged either with the armed forces or. were participating, one way or another, m the war effort. It behoved them to preserve and foster an interest in art and culture at the present time, when in some par..s of the war zone all that. was precious in art was being trampled into the .mire. His Excellency congratulated all concerned in the exhibition, and for die effort that was required m making the show an annual one in face ot the racr that the National Gallery had been taken over by other authorities. It was very difficult to arrange such exhibitions m borrowed prtmises, and it was to the credit of the Academy that it did <>G,aniz exhibitions under such conditions, He hoped that not one picture on the wa Is would remain unsold. His Excellency said that, while his opinion m'«ht. not be worth much, he knew what he liked, and he had seen no picture m the exhibition that he did not like. What had struck him was the paucity in sculpture. There were only two exhibits, both very good. He hoped hat in future, attention would be. given to forms of art other than painting, forafter all, this was an Academy of cine Arts, and not one of painting only. A majority of the paintings were of the scenery of the country, which was very beautiful, but it would be m the mteresof art if artists essayed portraiture and interiors, which seemed neglected. Artists deserved encouragement, for even these who had experienced the horrors of war had a desire for the beautiful. I< or that reason be thought the public should do all they could to encourage and support artists who could supply that desideratum. One way of doing that was to> suipport these exhibitions. lie had very much pleasure in declaring the exhibition of 10 Afte? e thanking his Excellency for his encouraging address the president. Mr Watson, announced the winners of the members’ art union (whose names appear elsewhere in this issue).