The Artists’ Corner

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 157, 23 September 1927, Page 12

The Artists’ Corner

SOCIETY OF ARTS MEETING .NEARLY LAPSED LAST NIGHT FOR LACK OF A QUORUM

MUST LOOK TO LAURELS With a steady decline in membership and a truly lamentable decrease in sales, the Auckland Society of Arts will have to look to its laurels. So little interest was manifested in the annual meeting last night that it almost lapsed for want of a quorum. 'p'NERGETIC scouting and telephoning on the part of the secretary, Mr. W. J. A. Thomson, ultimately secured the remnsite

cured the requisite 20. This was not accomplished, however, before half an hour had elapsed. Mr. A. S. Boyd, who is now in his second term as president, has a difficult year ahead. If we in Auckland are to assume the place

uummiuu wmch should rightfully be ours, the new council must, for instance, make a bold bid for more honorary members. An honorary and working membership of 374 is no credit to a city of the size and importance of Auckland. Even Wellington can call upon at least 500. LOSS ON EXHIBITION The last year has been anything but successful. Unfortunate judgment was shown by the reduction of admission and catalogue prices, representing a loss under this head of at least £SO. The loss on the exhibition totalled £l5O. It is quite evident, therefore, that the new council will revert to the old charges for next year’s show. The president could give no indication as to where the exhibition will be held, for the simple reason that he did not know. If the Kitchener gallery is available it will be applied for; otherwise, the council will have to look round for suitable premises. Some indication of the appalling fall in sales will be gained from these figures:—

1921 £667. 1922 £939. 1923 £1,024. 1924 £634. 1925 £933. 1926 £537. 1927 £3OO. So last year’s show represented less than half the proceeds from the 1921 exhibition. New members of the council are Miss Ivy Copeland, whose experience with the Sketch Club should be of assistance, and Mr. R. A. Abbott. Mr. Walter Wright and Mr. F. L. Moodie did not seek re-election. There were no other changes. The only subject for discussion was whether the minimum of exhibits for each exhibitor should be eight instead of six. The meeting agreed to an increase, but the final say rests with the new council. MR. BOYD’S PRESIDENCY Mr. Boyd, who is entering upon his second year as president, had a distinguished career in the art world of the Homeland before coming to New Zealand. Illustrations by Alexander Stuart Boyd have appeared in “Punch,” the “Graphic” and the “Daily Graphic.” He also illustrated Lowden Sabbath Morn (Stevenson), Wee Macgreegor and Jass and Co. (Bell), Rabbi Saunderson (Maclaren) and the literary work of his wife, Mary Stuart Boyd. As “Twym” he was the author of humorous drawings in “Quiz” and the "Bailie,” of Glasgow. Since laying aside his pencil, Mr. Boyd has resided at Takapuna, Auckland. It is indeed difficult to realise that the Scottish illustrator has passed the allotted three score and ten. In February he will enter upon his 74th year. —ERIC RAMSDEN. BOOKS IN DEMAND AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FICTION "HOW THE OLD WOMAN GOT HOME" by M. P. Shiel. " CRESSAGE ” bv A. G. Benson. “WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS ” by NaomA Mitchison. "AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY " by T. Dreiser. “WHAT MAISIE KNEW " by Henry James. "PARNASSUS ON WHEELS" by Christopher Morley. "GROWTH OF THE SOIL” by Knut Hamsun. "DANGEROUS AGES” by Rose Macaulay. "THE EXQUISITE PERDITA" by E. Barrington. "DAVID COPPERFIELD" by Charles Dickens. NON-FICTION "TRISTAN AND ISOLT” by John Masefield. "AMERICA THE GOLDEN" by R. Muir. "THE SEA AND THE JUNGLE " by H. M. Tomlinson. "WHY WE BEHAVE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS" bv G. A. Dorsey. "THAT BODY OF YOURS” by J. W. Barton. "KAISER WILLIAM 11." by E. Ludwig. "EUROPE IN THE LOOKING GLASS” by R Byron. "WIDE SEAS AND MANY LANDS" by Arthur Mason. "THE VENTURESOME VOYAGES OF CAPTAIN VOSS." "WANDERINGS IN ROMAN BRITAIN" bv Arthur Weiaall.