IN ART GALLERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 120, 24 May 1939, Page 13

IN ART GALLERY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

MANY GOOD PICTURES HUNG.

For the first time in the history of the Auckland Society of Arts, tile animal exhibition, which opens tomorrow afternoon, is being held in the Auckland Art ("iallory. Hitherto it has I'ocii held in the rooms of the anck-ty in the Victoria Arcade.

Over 3.50 pictures, comprisiii" oils water colours and black and whites, are being htinjr, and they represent the work of artists from all over the Dominion. A considerable number of pictures come from the South Island. The standard generally this year is considered to he Bn advance on last year, though there are a few works which are definitely of inferior quality. There is a preat variety of styles and subjects, particularly in the oil paintmps. Some ire ultramodern, both in subject and treatment, pictures which will cause a pood deal of comment. Two of these are called "Elective Affinities" and "Mental Affinities." Thoujrh there will be no unanimity of opinion about them, none will gainsay that they convey iin atmosphere of power.

Other oils again are modern without being conspicuously so. They have not that futuristic effect. Nor have they that photographic* appearance which some older schools advocated. They are more impressionistic. On the surface, indeed, some of them look slap-clash. A closer examination, however. ehows that a great de»l of painstaking work hits pone to produce that very appeara nee.

Effect of Canadian Exhibition. One noticeable feature of the oil section is the effect of some Canadian pictures which were exhibited in the Dominion some two years ago. In a number of pictures in the present display the same atmosphere and type of subject i<s seen —homely subjects, plainly treated.

The water section is attractive. Here, too, is that appearance of carelessness in treatment of detail. While detail lias definitely been subordinated to general, broad effeet. the subordination has been done with xcrumilniM cure. Tn fact, one test of tlie picture i< the way the detail has been treated. Mnst picture* in the water colours s<c' ! '<n have bppn painted in this wny. There is. however, one eoiT'Mcuou* ''vr-eption. Tt i« a work by George Moore, called "City Bnildfntr"." It gives the definite impression of beinsr a work of threecolour printing, and not a painting at all. '

The entry in the black and white section is relatively much smaller, but it i« pood.

This year, the society has hung yi'rtures which are in what is called the rota competition. Thi« means that only pictures which are exhibited in the entire rota of art soriety displays in New Zealand nre eligible. For exarvmle, some "ietures have been sent from the South for inr-lnaioii in the Aiiekipnd SoHetv's exhibition. The rota does, not end until pboiit Christmas, so that those pictures in the rota are constantly on the move until that time, when the competition is judged.

The exhibition will remain open nntil Wednesday. June 7. There is no admission charge. On Wednesday. Saturday and Sunday afternoons, short addresses on art will be piven. The exhibition will he open on Sundays, in those hours on which the Art Oallery is open. The 'official opening to-morrow afternoon will be performed by the president of the society, Mr. Richard O. Grose.