POSTER EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19480, 29 November 1928, Page 7

POSTER EXHIBITION.

A UNIQUE DISPLAY. An exhibition of a unique character is at present being held in the Art Gallery. This is a display of international posters by some world's most famous artists, which is being made by Miss Winifred Guy, of London, who has just completed a tour of Australia. There is no doubt of the quality of the posters—they are reproductions of pictures painted by such eminent artists as Sir William Orpen, R.A., Sir David Murray, R.A., Sir Bertram Mackennal, R.A., Messrs Geo. Henry, R.A., Julius 01s3on, R.A., Stanhope Forbes, R.A., Archibald Kay, A.S.S.A., and other well-known artiets. if anyone should desire to travel into the country to recuperate, there are posters putting forward the scenic and snlubriotis claims of a hundred different places. , The historical features of Britain's ancient towns are depicted in appealing fashion, as also are the Continental and Eastern resorte. Another selection of posters depicts Britain's industries as seen through the eyes of an artist. Other subjects include yachting, golfing, and fishing, and there is a most amusing poster showing a knowing-looking monkey and displaying the invitation "Come arid Meet Millie," at the London Zoo. The exhibits fill two rooms in the Art Gallery, and make a really < wonderful display. "We are accustomed to regard posters as the disfigurements of the Cjty," said Mrs Deans, president of the" Victoria League, in declaring the exhibition open yesterday afternoon. "Consequently, it comes as a great surprise to us to gee what can be done in this phase of art." Miss Guy, she said, had come from England to show us to what a high standard the poster had now attained in the Old Country. The posters, too, were undoubtedly an educational factor, and would enable'those privileged to see the exhibition to gain a very good idea of what England was' really like. Mr R. Wallwork, president of the Canterbury Society of Arts, complimented Miss Guy on her initiative in bringing 'the fine collection out from England. He was quite sure that art students would be'very interested in the exhibition, which gave us an excellent idea of the great progress which had been made in what was now a very vital section of British artistic activity. Mr Wallwork said that there was now coming into being a sort of "poster license," which was a parallel to the "poetic license" of a few years ago By this he meant that some of the beauty portrayed on the posters might be exaggerated, accuracy sometimes being sacrificed to the gaining of a beautiful effect. He concluded bv expressing the hope that Miss Guy's efforts would ' meet with the success they deserved. Professor J. Shelley said that be was proud of the fact that so fine a collection had been got together by a teacher, and actually it was one of the finest displays ever seen in the gallery. "A few posters such as these on the wall of a schoolroom would open the 1 children's minds to the world and would stimulate them to find out for themselves what the worla is really made of " We need not despise the poster, said Professor Shelley. It contained the same revolutionary idea that had aroused opposition throughout the centuries. The beautiful frescoes in the Italian churches during the Renaissance period •had met with the same opposition and disapproval as had met the new idea of tne poster. He welcomed Miss Guy and heartily commended her efforts. Miss Guy thanked the president, council, and members of the Society or Arts, and also the Victoria League. She then pointed out many points of interest in some of the posters, particularly in relation to the life of London.