Small paintings shown

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 12

Small paintings shown

“Sriiall format exhibition”; at the C.S.A: Gallery until March 21. Reviewed by David Brokenshire. The C.S.A. Gallery recently held a most successful exhibition of small crafts and this has been followed by the present showing of small paintings. Again the smaller scale of the Long Gallery has been used to suit the inti-.

mate nature of the works displayed. • <; | In the Bishop Smythe collection, in Dunedin, are some of Rowlandson’s drawings which are as small as a large postage stamp but which are still considerable works of art. In this exhibition the invited artists have accepted the challenge of small wdrks, which has resulted in a charming exhibition. Els Noordhof’s “Dusk over the Plains” is a delightful painting. The scale, texture, and colouring are in complete harmony. Don Binney shows another of his bird studies: “Bronze Namu 82” is finely resolved and has a lovely luminous quality. “Maquette,” by Don

Peebles, has all the dignity and:-.presence of a much larger work. lan Scott’s “Small Lattice” is immaculately painted, with its low-keyed colours, and is a precisely balanced work.Gordon Walters’ “Study number 2/76” is an exciting, well balanced work. Olivia Spencer Bower is showing a delightful watercolour, a charming small work. Elizabeth Stevens’ “Brandy Flat” is a landscape finely modelled and defined, with a wonderful clarity. W. A. Sutton has a vigorously free water-colour of Lake Lyndon. This exhibition, small in size and scale, is full of delightful work well worth studying.