ART.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 38, 21 March 1914, Page 8

ART.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL

POSITION OF OR HUNTER. In an interview to-„day Gr H. Hurite* stated to a SUN representative that he first moved his motion in favour of a contribution being made to the Art Society after consultation with the late Mr T. E.- Taylor.- He (Cr Hunter) was disappointed at the selection made last year, for Repairs.'' He contended that the • choice was unjustifiable in the first place because it w.as not the work of a Neiy Zealand; artist, and in the second place that it should not have been selected from the-Tartist's point of view. He eontended that the Mayor's criticisms that the figures are not in due proportion is supported by the majority of artists. He was given to understand that the picture was selected by a committee of laymen on the Art Council, who elected themselves, excluding all the artists. Cr Hunter wished to ensure that the | New Zealand artists get their due, and that local art was encouraged and developed. No country could develop art by importing works of art. The Art Council recently spent £SOO of public money in purchasing English pictures, arid had spent .thousands in past years. Now it grudged £SO per year to encourage local artists. Many New Zealand, artists had been systematically discouraged by the local Art Council, but the works of soma of them had received high praise in the Old Land. Local artists .might not publicly uphold his statements, because they had to lite, and those Vho Wished to sell their pictures must not offend the* members of the Art Council, who were buyers and influencers of buyers- at the annual exhibitions. ......

The intention of the City Council was to co-operate with twoexperts from the Art Society in selecting the--picture, and so long as the choice was xonfin,ed tpfthe work of New Zealand-Artists the council 'a representatives would r be guided: bj' the experts. As the Art Council was clearly opposed to Zealand art, the City Council should make provision in the new Town Hair for New Zealand art. It would not cost a, great deal to provide a suitable and properly lighted room> the present Art Gallery;-;being notoriously badly lighted; A Cr Hunter concluded that he might not know much abxmt art,, but. he reckons he does know wha,t constitutes a Ndor Zea land artist, which evidently the'Art'Coun cil does not. C