SOCIETY OF ARTS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 10

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

EXHIBITION OPENED. RELATIONS WITH NEW GALLERY. The relations that would exist , in future between the Canterbury Society of Arts and the new McDougall Art Gallery were outlined by Dr.' G. M. L. Lester, in opening the exhibition of the" Society of Arts last evening. He referred to the arrangements made for representatives of the Society to act on the committee controlling the new gallery, and to the fact' that the Society would continue to use the old gallery for purposes identical with those to which it had been devoted" in the past. Dr. Lester referred first of. all to a portrait by Mr . Archibald Nicoll of Mr Menzies Gibb. Mr Gibb had been known by his paintings and his general personality, and all would agree that his death was a loss to the Dominion and to Canterbury, and to the Canterbury Society of Arts in particu]ar, for he had been a member of its Council for many yearß. He had followed his ideals and was a real artist. In his choice of subject and handling he had not been modern, but it was sure that he never did anything that was not of his very best. » The success of New Zealand artists overseas was shown by the acceptance by the Royal Academy of a portrait by Mrs Elisabeth Kelly. . Other New Zealand artists had had -pictures hung by the Academy, but this was the first portrait. ' - The New Gallery. Going on to speak of the relations of the old gallery and the Society of Arts with the new McDougall Gallery, Dr. Lester said that at the opening of the McDougall Art Gallery, which would probably not be until May, the Society would hand over a number of carefully selected pictures to hang in that gallery. There had been quite a number of people much concerned because they thought that the Society's pictures in the permanent collection vrere "in ruins." Any damage would be made good before they were handed over, and what there was was. confined to the frames, except for one watercolour. It was not true that the pictures had suffered at all, and whatever cracking and deterioration there was was due, not to ill care, but to the painters. There were .many ways of ]>ainting pictures that, though effective, were cruel if the paintings wore expected to last a long time. The. deterioration was not due to any gross neglect on the part of the Council of ' the Society. ' Dr. Lester also referred to the bronze plaque of Mr McDougall, by Mr J. Shurrock, of the School of Art, which would bo placed in the new gallery to commemorate Mr McDougall's gift.. Control by bity Council. - Tho new gallery would be for all time the .property of the citizens of Christchurch, and would be the responsibility of the City Council. Its control would therefore be beyond the scope of the Society of Arts. The City Council had placed on its sub-com-mitteo tliroo members of the Council of the Society, so that the Society would have a permanent representation of three or on the controlling body of tho McDongall Art Gallery. An assurance had been given that the scope of the work of these representatives would be all duties having to do with art in any shape or form. The Council of the Society was exceedingly gratified with the plans made for tho custody of the gallery in future. As lor the old art gallery some people thought that it would be given up, and let as a skating rink or something similar. They were misaken: it would go on exactly as before, but the Council of the Society would be relieved of the. heavy responsibility of caring, for the permanent collection. It would be able to devote all its energy to getting a credit balance for the year, which could be devoted to the cause of iti't. It would hold its exhibitions just as before. This year's exhibition was very full, and it had been possible to exercise a little' more selection than formerly. Dr. Lester then formally declared the exhibition opefcu