LINDSAY ETCHINGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4733, 4 August 1924, Page 3

LINDSAY ETCHINGS.

BANNED BY ABT SOCIETY. ARTISTS INDIGNANT. The action of the South Australia* Society of Arts in banning Mr Norman Lindsay’s etchings frpm the exhibition of Australian art which ushered in Artists’ Week, on July 29, has raised a chorus of protest in Sydney (says the “Daily Telegraph”). Dame Nellie Melba is among those championing the cause of Mr Lindsay, whose home at Springwood she visited recently. Dame Nellie expressed the greatest admiration for Mr Lindsay’s work, and added that she fully appreciated his keenness as- a student of music by what she saw in his work. The exhibition was arranged by Mr John L. Preece, of Adelaide, who visited Sydney a few months ago, and invited Mr Norman Lindsay and other leading artists to send of their work, the selection of which was left to themselves. The artists who were invited readily responded to the invitation. Mr G. W. Lambert, A.R.A., sent over a portrait of a well-known society lady, • which he regarded as one 01 his best works; and Mr Norman Lindsay, who was keenly interested in the project, sent a set of his etchings. The opening of the exhibition was to be one of a series of functions, which included a concert at the Conservator ium, a special performance by the Adelaide Repertory Society, and a mask ball, for which special ballets had been arranged. Artists from other States were invited to attend the festivities, and Messrs Sydney Ure Smith Lionel Lindsay; Harold Herbert, and Charles Wheeler had stated their intention of being present at the opening of the exhibition. ARTISTS WILL WITHDRAW. Mr Sydney Ure Smith, the president of the Society of Artists, sent a letter of protest to the president of the South Australian Society of Artists, but received no reply. He has since telegraphed to Mr Preece, the organiser, that, .unless the Lindsay etch-' ings are restored, all the members of the Society of Artists would withdraw their works. He remarked that he was reluctant to take this course, but unless they treated such a distinguished member, of the society as Mr Lindsay in a proper way there was no alternative. Mr Smith and Mr Lionel Lindsay, who were to be the guests (along with the other artists from other States) at a dinner in the evening of the opening day decided to cancel* their .visit unless the position was altered. ADELAIDE MODESTY. Thic is not the first sensation of the kind which has occurred in Adelaide. The controversy over Orpen’s "Sowing Ne.w Seed” when it was pur-' chased for the local gallery, resulted in the attendance being so rapidly increased that over 60,000 people visited the gallery in one day. Finally the picture, after being defaced by someindignant visitor, was withdrawn from the collection. It was eventually exchanged for turn other works by the same artist, and now hangs in the permanent collection at the Carnegie Institute, P.ittsburg.