ART STIMULUS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 29, 27 April 1927, Page 1

ART STIMULUS

A SERIES OF EXHIBITIONS OF LOANED ART WILL BE HELD IN AUCKLAND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE ART GALLERY (MR. JOHN BARR).

AUSTRALIANS INVITED A beginning will be made with an etchers’ exhibition. It will be held in June or July. Already some excellent material is offered, which should do much to stimulate interest in an interesting branch of art not by any means as popular in New Zealand as it should be. Representative works of prominent Australians will be included in these exhibitions. The promoters are wise in making them as representative as possible. TOO LITTLE KNOWN Too little is known of the work of New Zealand painters in Australia. With the exception of one or two, generally resident in Sydney, the works of New Zealanders are seldom seen at the Australian exhibitions. W. A. Bowring, R. 0.1., formerly of Wellington, is one New Zealander who is attracting notice. He was an entrant

for the Archibald Prize this year. An excellent portrait of the Rev. H. Van Staveren, also attracted attention when exhibited by Air. Bowring in Sydney. Like a meteor in the artistic firmament was the one exhibition held by Sydney Thompson, ex-Christchurch painter. He is now back in Concarneau, on the Brittany coast, painting his beloved fisher-folk. Elioth Gruner, too, just back from Europe, is a New Zealander. Gruner’s work is commanding splendid prices. He was born, I believe, in the Gisborne district. Air. Barr’s suggestion that the works of Australians will be included in his exhibitions is, therefore, exceedingly gratifying. Lambert, Streeton, Longstaff and Heysen, should all be represented. It would be possible to obtain their co-operation. AUSTRALIAN ETCHERS Bruce Robertson, whose lakeside trees, and general treatment of waterfront studies, have brought him to the forefront of Australian etchers, is, I know, anxious that New Zealanders should know something more of his work. Van Raalte, from Adelaide, and Squire Morgan, of Sydney, are other prominent Australians who should not be omitted from the Auckland exhibition of etchings. The exhibition will be open for a period of three or four weeks. It has been arranged to have one of the rooms in the gallery cleared of pictures for the time being. The walls will be used for the display of the loaned e^phings. Later in the year another exhibition is contemplated to deal with engravings and drawings. If the inaugural efforts meet with the success anticipated loan exhibitions will become a permanent part of the activities of the gallery. Congratulations to Auckland’s Art Director in his effort to stimulate interest. Alay his venture meet with the success it deserves. Here is an opportunity for art lovers to co-operate. —E.R.