PRIVATE VIEW

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 199, 20 May 1944, Page 8

PRIVATE VIEW

Academy Autumn Exhibition Invitations to a private view and opening of the N.Z. Academy of Fine Arts autumn exhibition, drew a large crowd to the art' gallery in the D. 1.0. Building, Wellington, last night. _ The invitation bore the words “dress informal,” and this was followed to the letter, for women’s attire ranged from the very forma* to the most informal. There were elegant evening gowns, some sequin-trimmed, some covered with fox capes or elaborate jackets; pretty short aftei'noon frocks, tweed costumes and greatcoats; a few women still clung to their daytime hats; one girl wore a vivid green beret with her camel-hair coat and another had a jaunty yellow jumper" and a tartan skirt. The lofty room, with its velvet hangings, was pleasantly warm and many women disposed of their coats, revealing some attractive examples of jewelled dress ornaments and necklaces, that went equally well with long or short frocks. Quite a number of the older women adhered strictly to formal dressing and looked very well in their floor-length gowns and evening wraps. The official party included the president, Mr. G. G. Gibbe's Watson and Mrs. Watson, Sir Harry and Lady Batterbee, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Wauchop, and Mr. E. D. Gore, secretary Examples of craft work, in which many people today are showing much interest, ineluded book-bindings in leather, oxidized silver jewellery, pottery, Maori carving, a hand-tufted rug. and even a woven bodice and some knitted sleeves.