Art Exhibition Opens

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 16

Art Exhibition Opens

People in all walks of life had an urge towards artistic expression. Some attempted more practical forms of art but fine art served to stimulate the mind and gave pleasure, said Mr W. J. Oakley, president of the Canterbury Society of Arts, when opening the third combined artists’ exhibition at the Durham street gallery last evening.

“Every artist is an individual and therefore we get variety. A painting is, to some extent, a self-portrait of the artist,” said Mr Oakley. Through a combination of experience and knowledge, an artist could give an idea new vision. But the urge to paint must be strong otherwise the

product was shallow art, he said.

Abstract art. although much in vogue, was not new. Most decoration was abstract and had been like that for thousands of years, Mr Oakley said.

Thanking the 15 painters and two sculptors for making the exhibition possible, Mr Oakley said that artists, were stimulated by seeing other works on display. About 200 paintings and two sculpture exhibitions, by Edgar Mansfield and Norman Lemon, are on display. The exhibition was mounted by the society’s secretary (Mr R. R. Laidlaw). Artists whose works are on display are: E. M. Patterson, Thelma Muschamp, Buck Nin, W. F. Moore, Pauline Knight, Mrs De Roo, R. K. Pankhurst, Mrs D. M. Downie, Sue Lili, Graham Barton, Olive Elsom, Norman Lemon, Vera Jackson, L. R. Waby, June Douglas, J. Nuttall, Mrs R. Rainer and Edgar Mansfield. The exhibition will be open until September 25.