TALENTED YOUNG SCULPTOR

Evening Star, Issue 24280, 22 August 1942, Page 8

TALENTED YOUNG SCULPTOR

AT WORK ON MUSEUM EXHIBITS At work in a studio fitted out in (lie basement of the Otago Museum is Miss Molly Macalister, talented young Invercargill sculptor, at present engaged in the modelling of animals for the Museum’s agricultural exhibit, which came from the Glasgow 'Exhibition through the efforts of Lord Blcdisloe. It consisted of models of British thoroughbred stock, but did not contain those of New Zealand stud stock, the completion of the exhibit in this respect. being tbe work at present occupying Miss Macaiister's attention. This section will comprise two Clydesdales and four different breeds of sheep. Miss Macalister, a daughter of Mr and Mrs S. M. Macalister, of Invercargill, had three years at the Canterbury College School *of Art, where she took sculpture under Mr F. A. Shurrock, regarded as New Zealand's most able sculptor. She began with clay modelling and carving from stone, and was fortunate in being able to gain further experience as an assistant to Mr Shurrock in connection with the sculpture work bo did for the education court at the Wellington Exhibition. Incidentally, some of Mr Shurrock’s .work is displayed in the Dunedin Art Gallery. There followed a year spent in the teaching of art at St. John’s Girls’ School, Invercargill, and Miss Macalister and another voung Invercargill girl, Miss Monica Ford, did nursery rhyme and Walt Disney murals respectively for the Roxburgh health camp. The same girls were responsible for the sand-blasted glass partitions depicting nursery rhymes in the Children’s Ward of the Gore Hospital, these being sent to Wanganui subsequently to he executed. In the Maori section of the Fels Wing at the Otago Museum siands an imposing exhibit—the head of a Maori chief —and completed only recently. This was modelled by the young' Invercargill sculptor, whose work already is indicative of a very bright future” .Such work as the modelling of a Clvdesdale takes about a fortnight to complete, but the Maori chief was a iob extending over two and a-half months. Plans are in hand for a magnificent diorama for which Miss Macalister made a special trip to Mauapouri to study the beech forest for the. location of the rare New Zealand parrot. This exhibit will consist of a hush scone typical of the Manapouri district, where the parrots were to be seen in their natural homes in (ho roots of trees. This will be the final diorama, completing the splendid display of New Zealand birds —moas, keas, and kakapo—the first two Of which are already displayed in the Museum. Miss Macalister has also done a. number of works in oil, pencil, and lino cuts, these revealing her versatility as an artist.