THE GROUP ART EXHIBITION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26553, 16 October 1951, Page 3

THE GROUP ART EXHIBITION

STRIKING PAINTINGS BY W. A. SUTTON

The most striking feature of The Group’s 1951 exhibition in the Durham Street Art Gallery is the lifesize oil painting “St. Sebastian,” by W. A. Sutton, who is a teacher at the School of Art. Mr Sutton’s work ranges from realism to surrealism. “Anchors and Cloud" is a particularly fine example of surrealist work. Colip McCahon’s work is the most controversial in the exhibition. All eight pieces are good simple painting with a strong religious motif. The Group, which is a closed society, was formed in 1927, and annual exhibitions have been held since then. There are 98 paintings this year including a number by invitation from other centres. As previously, examples of sculpture and pottery are exhibited.

AU examples of painting exhibited by Austen Deans are different in handling and approach. “Portrait In Blue,’’ a portrait of the artist’s wife, was one of the most admired pieces in the show. This artist is sure of himself in any way in which he wishes to paint. Paintings by Rudolph Gopas are among a loan set of 14 from Dunedin. They are probably the most brilliantly coloured in the display. Other paintings in this group are by the professional painter, Fred Shewell, Alan Howie, Edward Murphy and Frank Gross. Examples of Beth Zanders’ work show great subtlety of colour. Her paintings are all most uniform in colour heaviness.

Water colours by Olivia Spencer Bower are boldly handled in a rather higher key than is usual. “The Cliffs” is a good example of this. Two paintings by Margaret Anderson (Mrs Otto Frankel), “Whangaroa Harbour” and "Willows in Winter." show good feeling for design. Mrs Frankel is shortly to leave for Australia, so this exhibition will probably be her last jn New Zealand. Mrs Frankel has been the moving spirit of the group ever since it was founded. Rata Lovell-Smith, who is a teacher at the School of Art, gives good examples of confident painting in her work.

Five canvases by Leo Bensemann, one of the leading exponents bf the contemporary trend in landscape painting, and two by Louise Henderson show a subtle sense of colour and an outstanding sense of design. Mrs Henderson’s work is a good example of near abstract wprk. A painting of a cat and a baby, and another of the artist’s children by Doris Lusk, are both outstanding. The biggest collection from any one artist is displayed by Dorothy Manning who shows 14 pieces. Although her collection is the biggest it is by no means the best. In the pottery section, Austen Deans, who also dis r la'’ed admirable paintings, shows in his work a marked Eastern influence. A foal by Chrystabel Aitkpri is a very beautiful combination of wood and stone, among the sculpture. The exhibition, which was opened last evening, will remain open for a fortnight.