N.Z. ARTISTS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18680, 1 May 1926, Page 5

N.Z. ARTISTS.

EXHIBITION IN LONDON. PICTURES FROM DOMINIONS. (raoJC OCR OWS COBBSSPOXDIKT.) LONDON, March 4. At the end of last year the Executive of the Dominions Artists Club undertook a somewhat ambitious programme—namely, to arrange for an exhibition of pictures by Dominions' artists, and, during its three weeks' progress to give two concerts and a ball —all with the dual idea of helping young artists and of raising money for the development of the Club. Accordingly, the Spring Gardens Gallery was booked, and the exhibition of pictures was openEd this week, the ceremony being performed by Sir Joseph Cook, the High Commissioner for Australia.

Dr. G. A. Pfister (vice-chairman of the Club and Chairman of the Exhibition Committee) told those assembled of the purposes of the Club, and he anticipated that for the Show -which it is intended to hold in 1027, artists in all the Dominions will have the opportunity of being represented. It is hoped to arrange for art committees to be set up in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and for selections of work—say fifty exhibits from each country—to bo sent to London, For the initial exhibition time did not allow for this to bo carried cut. The art critics are now asking to sea the work which is done locally in the Dominions rather than always be expected to see the work which is done in Europe by overse&s artists. The Private View on Monday was well attended, for the fixturo had been accorded considerable publicity in advance and many well-known art connoisseurs were asked. The concerts and the dance are yet to come. The New Zealand members of the Club who have been selected to contribute to the musical programmes are: Mr Hubert Carter, Mr J. MeKinlay, Miss Etta Felder, the Messrs C. and E. Tanner, and Miss Rita Alexander (accompanist). New Zealand Exhibitors. New Zealand is well represented, both in oils and water colours by Mr Cianlcigh H. Barton, Mr K. S. Hcllabv, Miss Eleanor Hughes, Miss Iva McEldowney, and Mr James F. Scott; and in etchings by Mr E. Heber Thompson. Mr Alexander R. Fraser, A.H.8.5., is the only New Zealander exhibiting in the Sculpture Section. Taking the New Zealand painters in alphabetical order, Mr Barton has two delicately tinted sketches of London scenes. The first is a study of Trafalgar square with the Nelson Monument as the central figure. This is a graceful and refined drawing, and Mr Barton makes the most of the play of the water from the fountain in the foreground. Hsb other exhibit is a study from the Thames Embankment. The theme is not an uncommon one—factories and chimneys and river barges seen through the Thames mist. Mr Hellaby is represented by five canvases showing scenes from England, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. "A Sussex Landscape" has for its subject a harvest field with booking operations in progress, sheep and green fields in the middle distance, with a background of dark trees. Mr Hellaby's studies of the Thermal Districts in New Zealand were all meritorious. He reproduces the weird effects with remarkable faithfulness. In the picture on view lie shows a silica terrace, a hot stream, and a steaming hillside, with a Maori whare in the distance. In his Fijian scenes Mr Hellaby makes the most of the garish colouring, and bright lights. Two of the pictures are of native villages and palm trees, and another shows the; curve of the beach, and the fringe of' coconut palms. Mrs Eleanor Hughes lias a well-estab-lished reputation, and her studies are alway ft delight. On this occasion she has only one picture on view, and it is one of her very best. "Trees at Twilight" is a title which speaks for itself. Generally the artist prefers to cut out the top portion of her trees and concentrate on the trunks and bark. In this case she shows that, she is equally dexterous in the details ot a network of branches. The infinite care with which Mrs Hughes' executes these tree 6tudies in water colour and pen, have mad,e her the Boyal Academy chief specialist in this particular branch of landscape painting.

Sunlight Effects. Miss Iva McEldowney has been well received by the Parisian critics, and deservedly so. She has been studying the sunlight effects of Northern Africa, and three or four of her exhibits are scenes in and around Tunis. paints both in water colour and in oils. Indeed, one particularly picturesque gate-, way of Tunis is done by her twice over,, the one in water colours and the other in oils, and there is little to choose between them. Perhaps in the tvater colours she has been able to reproduce the translucent effect of the marble better than'in oil. A market scene in Tunis is a water colour study of bright sunlight and heavy shadows with the dresses of the natives giving a splash of colouring. By the bold use of primary colours, Miss McEldowney has, produced an attractive sketch entitled "On the Fringe of the Desert." This is a group of palms and sombre cypress trees against the background of the grey sunlit sand. It is done in water colour. An oil painting entitled "Harvest Time in France" calls for no particular mention. The best of the group is undoubtedly "Montreuil-sur-Mer Market." In this the artist is particularly happy. She has chosen the flower market as her subject, and naturally obtains a grouping of brilliant colours. But apart from this, her human figures are very well done. The old women in their black dresses form a striking contrast to the produce they sell. Other Pictures. Eight canvasses are exhibited by Mr Scott, and these represent a variety of style and subjects. For instance, there is the large oil painting, "My Mother Among the Wild Flowers," which he prices at' £2OO. It is essentially_ an Australian scene, showing a glade amidst the gums. The trees are particularly weir painted. In the foreground a lady stands amongst the tall wild flowers. It is probably some years since Mr Scott produced this picture. Four water colours, scenes about Bye and Winchelsea, vary considerably in their composition and character. These are a farm scene showing stacking operations a slight and not very interesting study; "At Bye Harbour" —a group of cottages and stranded fishing boats; "Under Winchelsea"—bridge and river scene; and "Bye Windmill." In the last mentioned there is a boldness of technique which the subject demands. The rrver scene with reflections is perhaps the best of the group. Mr Scott has got some excellent effects with the water. In "Young Britons" Mr Scott is seen as a portrait painter, but with decided picturesque effects. It is an oil painting showing a pretty chubbyfaced, golden-haired girl with a smaller boy, against a riot of white blossoms. This perhaps is the best work Mr Scott shows. "Autumn Passes" is an entirely different style. It is a g rou P °" nymphs led by Pan conducting Autumn away. Autumn is symbolised by a figure seated on an as«. _ \ Mr E. Heber Thompson, A.K.t., is * very talented etcher, represented, here

by four gems, while other specimens of his work are to be seeu at various art shows in London. In one . study called "The Watcher, in the Tn?es" the lace work of the foliage is markedly delicate, while the small' figures induced play a less conspicuous part; a second work, "Nappies," is a beautiful female form, seated in profile, with an infant. It is the skilful depiction of an everyday domestic occurrence. Mr Thompson was honoured a year ago by being admitted an Associate of the Koyal Etchers,- and he has his studio in Hampstead. >fr Fraser is represented in the Sculpture Section by two small bronzes, and a plaster bust. "The Bomber," about 18in high, is a fine representation of a fully equipped soldier just on the poinjt of throwing a Mills bomb. "The Sisters" Is a nude study of two womei} admiring . a babe im the arms of one 1 of them. "Adoration" might very well be .the name of this charming domestic group. Mr Fraser's third exhibit is a well-executed portrait bust.