Centennial art show

Press, 4 September 1980, Page 8

Centennial art show

Some of - the most significant work being done at present by New Zealand artists is included in the Canterbury Society of Arte Centennial Exhibition, which will open on Saturday evening, according to the director of the C.S.A, Gallery (Mrs N, BaronJ- •_ . Sixty-three artists, who have made an “important contribution to New Zealand painting” and who have been associated with Canterbury, were invited to. submit works’ for the exhibition. The show, which will run until September 26, includes 118 works, mostly paintings. Some of the artists exhib-

iting include Collin McCahon, Phil Clairmont, Patrick Hanly, and Tony Fomison, of Auckland, and W. A.- Sutton, Olivia Spencer Bower, and Quentin McFarlane, of Christchurch. . The exhibition will fill five of the gallery’s six display areas and will include eight recent works by Collin McCahon. A special award of $5OO from the Waimairi County Council will be announced by the County Chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) at the opening. The winner will be selected by Mr W, A. Sutton, a former lecturer m painting at the University of

Canterbury School of Fine Arts., . The Canterbury Society of Arts, which now. has 1600 members, was set up in July, 1880, by a group of 13 people. The society had two galleries before it moved into its present site in Gloucester Street, in 1968- In 1972, additional gallery and workshop room was built. The gallery, which also holds art classes for children and adults, now has about 90 exhibitions a year, showing the work of more than 1000 artists and craftspeople. In 1965, the C.SA. introduced a bronze medal for distinguished service to art, which has been awarded to eight people. Earlier this year the medal was awarded to Olivia Spencer Bower.