ART & ANTIQUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1941, Page 4

ART & ANTIQUES

MASTERTON CLUB EXHIBITION PREVIEW RECEPTION. OPENING CEREMONY LAST EVENING. ' The art and antique exhibition being held by the Masterton Art Club in the Municipal Hall this week was opened last evening in the presence of a large gathering, at a special preview reception, followed by supper. The speakers for the ' occasion were Mr A. E. Clemas, president of the club, the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, and the Director of the Dominion Museum, Dr W. R. B. Oliver.

Many beautiful works of art are included in the exhibition of pictures on loan from district residents. An outstanding picture is a “Norwegian Glacier,” a water colour by Fitzgerald, R.A., exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1928. “The Rock of Gibraltar,” by the same artist, was also shown at the Royal Academy. Both are owned by Mrs O. A. Bunny. Other notable artists whose work is included in the exhibition are Goldie, Gully, Nairn, Worsley and Lorna Birch. Many other art treasures include a hand-painted Minton fruit service set, exhibited by Miss C. M; Francis, beautiful examples of Staffordshire and Crown Derby china; Venetian chairs, and a complete cabinet of very beautiful old silver sideboard dishes, the latter being loaned by Mrs Clemas.

The exhibitors are: Mesdames O. A. Bunny, Hugh Morrison, F. C. Lewis, H. G. Moser, H. E. Pither, W. H. Cruickshank, G. G. Tolhurst, A. Clemas and A. Amundsen; Misses A. E. Booth, C. M. Francis and C. and K. Morrison; Messrs V. E. Donald, R. Gully, S. B. Maclennan, B. L. Clemas, A. W. Don, F. Maunsell and members of the Art Club.

Stating that it was a pleasure to welcome those present at the opening of the second art exhibition of 1941, Mr Clemas said on the first occasion the exhibition was limited to the work of -the Masterton Art Club. On this occasion, they had greatly widened the scope of the display, thanks to the generosity and self sacrifice of many friends. The splendid response made by residents showed the fine spirit which existed in the Wairarapa district. He thanked those residents who had come forward so willingly and generously and had loaned their art treasures, also kindred societies who had come forward to provide evening entertainments, especially Mrs Miller Hope, who had put in a lot of work and had made some valuable suggestions. Mr Clemas thanked also the committee and.the two secretaries (Mrs F. C. Brockett and Miss R. Lett) for ' carrying out theii’ arduous and exacting tasks. Mr Bennett had come forward at a moment’s notice to act as treasurer. There were so many helpers that he was afraid he might miss quite a lot. As regards the objects of the exhibition, Mr Clemas said firstly, it was endeavoured to create a cultural centre where kindred spirits could meet and renew old friendships and make new ones. The main idea of staging the exhibition was to raise a substantial sum to swell the local patriotic fund. The society invited all those who could to give something, as after all it was not asking much when their boys were at that moment fighting desperately for the security and safety of those at home. He announced that the society was offering season tickets for the eight sessions to be held this week for 2s 6d.

CULTURAL RELAXATION. On behalf of the public, Mr Jordan congratulated the club on its courage and enterprise in providing a week of cultural relaxation and spoke of the success which had followed its undertaking. He thanked also the chairman, Mr Clemas, and the society’s other officers for contributing such money as they received from the exhibition from the stoney-hearted public to the patriotic fund. There was an urgent need for those funds and the club’s effort was a fine gesture. It was good that they should have some such exhibition' to provide some relaxation in these critical days. He hoped the exhibition would have the support of the public that it so richly deserved. Mr Jordan recalled that 14 or 15 years ago a very fine exhibition indeed, including furniture, pictures, china and other art exhibits, had been organised by Mr Clemas and others with unequalled enthusiasm. The late Sir George Troup had played a big part in the establishment of the Dominion Art Gallery in Wellington and people in the Wairarapa were beginning to get a certain amount of benefit from the Art Gallery. During the last 12 months, two exhibitions of pictures had been held in Masterton, thanks to the Art Gallery in Wellington. He hoped that that would be' the beginning of a lasting contact between this district and Wellington. The Wairarapa, he pointed out, had contributed thousands of pounds towards the establishment of the Art Gallery. He would like to see similar exhibitions of furniture. Scattered throughout the district was a very fine collection of beautiful furniture. He was pleased to see present that evening the wife of the president of the Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, Mrs Gibbs Watson, and also Dr Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum. On behalf of the chairman and committee, he asked the public for its support of the exhibition, for the benefit of patriotic funds. EDUCATIONAL VALUE. Stating that he was very pleased to have the honour of addressing the gathering, Dr Oliver said Masterton was regarded as being in the Dominion Museum’s district. It also served Palmerston North and parts of the South Island. An exhibition like the one being held in Masterton, he said, had one or two features of interest which were worth underlining. First of all it was a community effort. Many people in Masterton must have contributed and contributed generously to make the exhibition possible. It was a big job but a lot of people giving their assistance created a wider interest in it. He knew how much work was involved in arranging such an exhibition. It was a good thing to get art treasures from private homes and bring them out on occasions for the community to see. The educational value of such exhibitions was very great. Art was the highest form of culture and exhibitions like that one helped to spread interest in art. It was a good thing for people to have some definite interests, as it made better citizens of them and exhibitions like the one arranged by the club perhaps helped to raise the general cultural level of the community, He

suggested that it might be possible to arrange an exchange of art exhibits with other centres, such as Palmerston North or Feilding, to the mutual advantage of those concerned. Referring to' the Dominion Museum and Art Gallery, Dr Oliver said it was felt that they had a duty to perform in Masterton and district, as that area contributed to the maintenance of those institutions. The museum had exhibits circulating among the schools of the district and elsewhere. An effort was being made to make use of museum exhibits in centres within a reasonable distance of Wellington. There seemed to be no reason why they could not lend exhibits for the benefit of other districts, though it might not be possible to do very much until after the war. The club’s exhibition was a creditable showing and, he had pleasure in declaring the exhibition open. Miss O’Donnell contributed two vocal solos. The supper tables were beautifully decorated with spring flowers. Mrs Eric Shaw, leader of the club’s social committee, was in charge of the supper arrangements. ONE-ACT COMEDY PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. ' A one-act comedy, “Love and Cousin Albert,” will be presented at this evening’s session of the exhibition, by 'members of the Little Theatre Society. The comedy, which will be produced by Mrs Robert Miller, will add considerably to the enjoyment of the evening,