A QUESTION OF ART.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14918, 17 March 1914, Page 9

A QUESTION OF ART.

<• CITY COUNCILLORS AS SELECTORS. An interesting discussion took plae< it the City Council last night oa th< subject of the Council's vote to the Canterbury Society of Arts for the purchase ~ of the work of .1 New Zealand artist foi addition to the Society's permanent <olloction. The Co'incil of the Canterbury So- ' rfety of Arts wrote in respect to the Council's annual grant to the Society, and asked to bo supplied with the names of the Council's representatives on the Committee of Selection, rie asked that the vote ehoukl be passed for payment, as it would be required before the closn of the exhibition. Cr. Hunter raised the question as to the conditions under which the grant • was made last year, and said that- his idea was that the work selected should k be a >*ew Zealand landscape by a .New Zealand artist, and this was not done. Cr. McCullough remarked that in tfie selection of the picture lust year the •' Council's committee was ignored. The Mayor said that the Councils wishes last year were tuat the money rated should be spent on one picture. Tiro pictures were selected, "Unemployed" and a female face. He did not pretend to be an artist, but tiu> pictures chosen seemed to him very reasonable pictures. The next ho Heard was that these pictures had been "turned down" . and "Up for Repair*" selected. JJegarding that picture, he remarked that as to the men working on the boat, those furthest from the spectator were isggor than those working nearer the β^ctator —that was quite contrary to what they saw ordinarily. The giving of the moneys had created a great deal of unfavourable comment, and quite a large number of anonymous letters had appeared Taising the question whether the painter of the picture selected was a New Zealamler —in the catalogue he was classed as "London.'' He thought that the picture to be bought out of the Council's vote should be selected before the-'exhibition was opened, so that the public! could have an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the judgment of the selectors. It was suggested, also, that the picture to be purchased should bo the work of an artist who has resided for at least tpn years. He thought the Council ehould raako its wishes known definitely. As to whether the blemish he referred to in "Up for Repairs," was a blemish, he was not prepared to cay. Cγ. Hnnter moved—"That the Canterbury Society of Arts oe granted £50 .for the purpose of nnrchasingtskpajptg ing by an artist trained in the J>omnP •5021." Cγ. Burgoyne opposed the vote, 60 long as there were municipal works re- - quiring to te done for which, thero were no funds." . . Cr Hayward said it ought to be distinctly understood that tho picture purchase! must bo by an artist trained in the Dominion. ~*<}r.*McCombs said that it "was .iust as much the work of the municipality to encourage art as to do any other work. The motion was agreed to. -Much discussion ensued on the ques- ■ lion of appointing the Council's representatives on the Committee of Selection, a sertion of tho Council considering that Councillors; were the last persons to be appointed—they iriig*it be all as selectors of horses, but of no use in selecting a work of art. It was moved —"That the Council's representatives be Mr McGregor Wright - and the Mayor." This was negatived by eight rotes to seven, the Major refraining from vnt- ' inf.. Tho Mayor and Cr. Hunter were appointed.