ELIOTH GRUNER

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1931, Page 3

ELIOTH GRUNER

AUSTRALIAN ARTIST. A VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH. (Christchurch Times). One of Australia’s loremqst living artists, Elioth CruuAj-, arrived m Christchurch a.tor spending six months in the North Island. Mr Cruner is a New Zealander by birth and came over to work and to visit relations. He left his birthplace, Gisborne, he was a little over a year old, and since that time has risen to the top of his profession. Mr Cruner, has toured the Rotorua, Auckland, and:, Gisborne districts securing studies, and will spend a month in. the South Island before returning to his home. He lias not

made definite arrangements yet. Imt hopes to have an exhibition in Christchurch before lie leaves. From the earliest years Mr Cruner was devoted to art and played truant, from school in order to attend lessons in painting. He embarked on the study of painting, hut misfortune forced him to drop it for a number of years. At the age of twenty-nine lie decided to devote himself entirely to painting, but he underwent considerable hardship before he was recognised.

Romantic Recognition. His recognition was romantic. He was on a tram on his way to the gallery in which one os his pictures was being exhibited. The unknown young artist, glancing at a newspaper held by another passenger, saw his name featured and realised that success had come. This picture, a view of Sydney Harbour, sold for 100 guineas, and since then his work has been in great demand. “That first recognition is one of the thrills that comes in life once only,” lie said last evening. *♦

Mr Cruner has on four occasions won the Wynne Art Prize awarded l>y the National Art Gallery of Australia. He has also had successes at the Royal Academy, and the Paris Salon. (Pie of his pictures “Valley of the Tweed,” attracted the attention of Lord Northclifl'e during his tour of Australia, Lord Northcliffe declared that a picture such as that would hotter advertise Australia than thousands of pounds spent in other ways, and suggested that with his backing, an exhibition should he held in London. With Mr Cruner as organiser, this exhibition of Australian painters’ work was held, and was a" immediate success.

Art in Australia. According to Mr Cruner, the artistic appreciation of the people o' Australia has gone ahead greatly in the last fifteen years. “Very many people have now a really intelligent appreciation of pictures,” he said. “They have studied the technique of painting, and have developed a really sound and discriminating' appreciation.” The" hills in ;.the Gisborne district appealed strongly to Mr Grtiner. His theme is to take a simple scene and develop the light and colonf he finds in it. “One canvas I got is of a patch of dried up thistles. The material does not sound striking, but these thistles, with a couple of cows and a few trees, made one of the prettiest scenes T have come across,” he said. “Most of the famous scenic places I find are unpaintable.” Melba Reminiscences,

Mr Gfnnier has many stories of Dame Nellie Melba. He was introduced by Mr J. F. Archibald., famous as the founder of the Sydney ‘‘Bulletin,’ and an old friend, Mr Gruner was particularly impressed with the enthusiasm of Melba, and during Ids friendship with her never lost this depression. On one occasion he was asked by Melba to buy for her four examples of Australian art and have them sent to Government House where she was then staying. Mr Gruner later went to Government House to inspect the purchases with the Dame and during bis conversation he told her how much lie had enjoyed her singing in ‘‘La Boheme.” “She was as pleased as a girl of fourteen, land immediately wont to th© piano and sang her part through,” said Mr Gruner. Some years later, Mr Gruner went to hear Melba in a ; concert in Loudon, and co.uld only get seats on the platform'. Melba, saw him and, turning towards him, -sang “La. Bolieme” again. “1 went often to Melba's bouse in London, and met many, people who were very useful to me,” lie said.

New Zeaafhd Lacking. Speaking of artistic appreciation in New Zealand, Mr Gruner mentioned that very few of the few people he had met seemed to understand painting thoroughly. “That is probably because it is a small country,” lie said. “And of till mass of people I have met there are very few who have got that parrot talk, indulged in hv people who have picked up a few technical terms, and are anxious to impress. People here say frankly that they do or do not have that. appreciation, or else that they have no interest.” Mr Gruner is an extremely modest man and will only with ,a great deal of persuasion talk of hjs.own work'. He paints in oils and has done a little etching.