ART EXHIBITION BANNED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 2

ART EXHIBITION BANNED

PAINTINGS “CRUDE” AND “ UGLY” (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, November 5. An exhibition of paintings by three New Zealand artists has been banned by the Stratford Arts and Crafts Society because, the society says, the work is “crude and not up to general standard.” and some of it is said to be "ugly painting,” ‘‘The exhibition has been taken, like others, by the Community Arte Service to various centres. The president of the Stratford Community Arts Services Society (Mr R. B. Crawford) said today that the society’s full Xommittee of nine, at a special meeting on Tuesday, unanimousiy decided not to display the exhibition. The work of only one of the three artists was good, and this was very pleasing indeed. Some of the subject matter was such that it could not be shown to young people, the committee had felt. There were some nudes among the paintings, and they were crudely done, Mr Crawford said. Nobody would object to a nude painting if well done, but this was ugly painting.