Patrons of the Arts

New Zealand Listener, Volume 25, Issue 629, 20 July 1951, Page 7

Patrons of the Arts

OPES and princes were once the patrons of the arts, but new the ordinary citizen fills that role, and however much he may deny it the artist does not really want to, be alone, says W. A. G. Penlington, who will be heard from 1YC at 8.0 pm. on Thursday, July 26, in Art and John Citizen, a talk given in the Auckland Art Gallery during the recent annual exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts and recorded then by the NZBS; "Almost everything I said is open to:reasonable argument for. so much depends on one’s .own.' point of view, but I tried: to indicate some of »the considerations the ordinary ‘citizen might>bear in mind. if he wants to get what-art can give him," Mr. Penlington said. He thought.that the duty ‘of ‘the vartist was neither to the’ intellect "nor ‘to- the emotions, but to temperamentan inborn gift which could: not*be ac‘quired ‘by learning but which could ‘be improved . by: *constant ‘contact with beauty. "This sensitivity, which enables the possessor to appreciate and to enjoy ‘art, lis ‘a gift -of the’ gods and some ‘people:'go «short. * Many do, however, ‘possess the’ beginnings of it." Mr. Penlington did not advocate "adopting the Opinions of the so-called experts who are supposed to know what we ought to like," but knowing about art was something that could be acquired from the experts, from reading and from study, and "it is a nice interest for cultured people, but do not mistake it for real appreciation." The speaker went on to present some general principles which he said would help "those who know about art. I don’t want to encourage a critical attitude, however, and I am not offering a score card for judging the merits of’ a picture. There couldn’t be such a thing."