ART SOCIETIES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 62, 6 December 1930, Page 8

ART SOCIETIES

Co-ordinating Activity NATIONAL BODY First Decisions Made Proposals put forward at a conference of delegates from New Zealand art societies held some weeks ago in Wellington reached a conclusion yesterday with the formation of the New Zealand / -sociatlon of Art Societies. This was done at another conference of delegates, presided over by Dr. E. B. Gunson, at the Art Gallery, Whitmore Street. Delegates had reported to their respective societies in the meantime and the resolution to form an association of New Zealand art societies was carried at the outset. The purpose of the new association is to provide for better co-ordination between the activities of art societies in the Dominion, and to handle effectively questions which concern them all. These questions may be domestic ones, such as the arrangement of exhibition dates to the best advantage, or they may be rather wider, as is the case with the proposal of the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists to hold an exhibition of work from the dominions and colonies.

Delegates attended yesterday’s conference as follow: Auckland, Dr. E. B. Gunean (chairman) and Mr. A. E. Currie; Manawatu, Mr. G. H. Elliott; Napier, Mr. R. Hipkins; Otago, Mr. I. Mclndoe; Wellington, Colonel Carbery and Mr. W. S. Wauchop; New Zealand Institute of Architects, Mr. S. W. Fearn and Mr. W. M. Page. In. the absence of a delegate Canterbury submitted a draft set of regulations for consideration. After the resolution had been passed which resulted in the formation of the new body the Wellington delegates were authorised to appoint an honorary secretary and treasurer. A set of rules and regulations was discussed and adopted. Exhibition in London.

One of the principal questions dealt with by the conference was the proposal of the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists mentioned above. The society wished to hold an exhibition of overseas art in the galleries of the Royal Aeamedy of Arts in London, and sugested that such an exhibition should be held, either in the autumn of 1931 or the spring of 1932. At the earlier of these suggested times there would be hanging space for about 1600 pictures, and at the latter, space for about 800. The conference decided that if the show were held in 1931, it would endeavour to send a collection of not more than 80 pictures, and if, in 1932, a collection of not more than 160. The collection would be representative of New Zealand art, past and present, and representative, too, of New Zealand landscape, life and character. For the collection to be truly along these lines pictures would be required from public galleries, private collections, and the current work of New Zealand artists. The newly-formed association would undertake the selection of these pictures, and the responsibility of assembling them in Wellington. Delegates representing Wellington were instructed to approach the Government with a view to the possibility of their subsidising the scheme by the provision of freight and carriages. Dates for Exhibitions.

The conference also considered the question of arranging exhibition dates in order to avoid clashes, and to facilitate transportation of pictures by exhibitors. Approximate opening dates were fixed as follow: —Christchurch, last Thursday in March; Auckland, May 20; Wanganui, June 21; Manawatu (Palmerston North), July 29; Napier, August 23; Wellington, September 25; Dunedin, November 7. Wellington has to arrange dates for Nelson, and Otago is required to do the same for North Otago and Southland. These three dates will come between November and April. Another decision of the conference was that pictures with excessive or unusual margins or mounts will be excluded from exhibitions. The same applies to pictures which are submitted in frames which are not rectangular.