SOCIETY OF ARTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 98, 16 July 1927, Page 9

SOCIETY OF ARTS

THERE WILL BE NO PURCHASES THIS YEAR FOR THE AUCKLAND GALLERY FROM THE ANNUAL SHOW

SMALL SALES TO DATE THE fact that there will be no j purchases from the Society of Arts 1927 shows for the Auckland Gallery will not come as a great surprise. The trustees have acted with discretion. The oils were distinctly disappointing on the whole, and although one had to search for the bright spots in the water-colour section there was little which could really commend itself for purchase by a permanent collection. One noteworthy exception was the Australian farmland bathed in that golden glow which is the peculiar afternoon perquisite of our cousins across the Tasman. The work of O. Savage. a young New Zealander who originally hailed from Christchurch, it is intensely interesting. THE AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL

To my mind at least it was probably the most welcome overseas contribution. The so-called Australian school —George Lambert says that his fellow Australians have achieved nothing of the kind —is extremely poorly represented in our gallery. Still, Mr. Savage, who is imbued with an artistic ideal which has permitted him to engage in actual manual lal>our when necessary so that he might continue his studies in {Sydney, will undoubtedly show greater progress as time goes on. The occupation of a plasterer’s mixer, or something of the sort, was the medium which assisted him along for at least a time. A hard school, however, seldom does any harm, and Mr. Savage’s art will not suffer on that account. All credit to him. PARTING WITH OLD HALL Sales have not been altogether the order of the day in Auckland. When fiast viewing the exhibition I made so bold as to say that this water-colour of Mr. Savage’s was the cheapest ten guineas’ worth in the show. lam surprised to find that it has not yet found a purchaser. The only recent sale lias been another of J. L. Palethorpe’s water-col-ours. "Near the Links, Herotuungu.” Is its title. The purchase price was eight guineas. The stiles generally have not been up to the standard of exhibitions. The show will be closed on Wedncs day. Members are taking the opportunity of severing their connection with the old hall which has .served so useful a purpose for many years, by holding a “farewell” social the following evening. Mr. R. Proctor, a member of the council, will speak. An impromptu dance has also been arranged. ERIC RAM SDKX.