School produces many great artists

Press, 3 June 1982, Page 15

School produces many great artists

The Canterbury School of Fine Arts will celebrate its centenary on Queen's Birthday week-end - the only New Zealand Art School to have been continuously in existence for 100 years. During those 100 years, the school and its curriculum have had many changes, but one aspect that has remained unchanged throughout its history is that it has turned out an extraordinary number of New Zealand’s finest artists.

In any generation of students can be found the names of the future greats — in the 1920 s there was Olivia Spencer-Bowcr, Evelyn Page, Ngaio Marsh. Alfred Walsh and Sydney Thompson; in the 1930 s Bill Sutton, Rita Angus and Toss Woolaston; the 1950 s saw such students as Patrick Hanly, Hamish Keith, Quentin McFarlane and Trevor Moffit, while the 1960 s produced Philip Clairmont, Tony Fomison. Philip Trusttum, Neil Dawson, Dick Frizzell, Murray Grimsdale and Barry Cleavin. The students of the 1970 s are now starting to make their mark as we see exhibitions by Bing Daw and Denise Copeland. Why has this one school produced so many great New Zealand artists, what were the influences on them as students, and how did they change as artists during their time at the Canterbury School of Fine Arts? Angela D'Audney talks to a student from each generation and takes them back to their old haunts to answer these questions. on “Kaleidoscope" on One at 8.30 p.m. on Friday.