IN WORLD CLASS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 122, 26 May 1939, Page 11

IN WORLD CLASS.

NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS.

DISPLAY OPF.XKD YESTERDAY.

"Wo have living in tlie Dominion a number of artists whose work would not disgrace any exhibition in the world," declared Sir. H. <>• Cross, president of the Auckland Society of Arts, when lie opened the society'* annual exhibition in the Auckland Art tJallery yesterday. "Indeed, their work is shown in the world's best galleries.''

It was a tine thing, lie added, that when the world was bewildered and disillusioned, so many could still find interest, enthusiasm and joy in reaching out to get nearer and more intimate with eternal truths and beauties of being. Hut in no other human activity did the saying "virtue brings its own reward" more truly apply than when used of fine arts, for if exhibitions depended on sales effected for their continuance, one exhibition in i>o years would cope easily with the demand. "We are fortunate." he said, "to have an enthusiastic and courageous band of workers, who continue to work despite little or no practical encouragement. A great many of our artists stick to their work in spite of public indifference. This is because they seek after an ideal. Material reward is not their incentive to work. Artists seek to express secrets they have already discovered. Any society which seek* to get better values out of life is worthy of unqualified support. To the best of its ability, tile Auckland Society of Arts is attempting to do that."

-Mr. (Jross expressed the thanks of the society to the City Council for lending the Art (iallery. The exhibition had been conducted mu\er difficulties in recent years. If the City Council had not come to the rescue, there would have been no display at all this year. The situation showed the need for "more and belter accommodation to house the art activities of the community, which was without doubt the most poorly served in the Dominion.