THE LAMPS OF CULTURE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 197, 17 May 1941, Page 13

THE LAMPS OF CULTURE

Should Be Kept Trimmed And Burning Brightly

A plea for the preservation of culture in wartime was made by Mr. G. G. G. Watson, president of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, in his address at the opening of the autumn show in tlie National Art Gallery last night. “Once more our exhibition is being held under the grim shadow of the tragedy of war,” said Mr. Watson, “and at a time when the minds of all are pre-occupied with grave issues, and when tlie hearts of many are heavy with anxiety for those overseas who are risking all in our defence and in defence of our cherished ideals. Yet in such times, so long as our efforts are not diverted from the war effort, it behoves all to do what they can to keep the lamps of culture trimmed and burning brightly in these lands more remote from the conflict. “It is in such times that hearts and minds torn and riven with great emotional and mental stresses, can find at least temporary tranquillity in the consideration of the beautiful whether in art. music, or literature. It is in times such as these, when art overseas lies bleeding in tlie mire, when the beasts of destruction are abroad seeking Io blast and destroy 7 such national symbols of things spiritual and aesthetic as Westminster Abbey, 'Westminster Hall, the British Museum, the National Galleries, the Wren Churches: it is in such times that those of us who have the inestimable good fortune to live, at least in the meantime, in a land free from those terrors, must do our best to preserve the culture which we have received in trust from the hinds now so sorely tried and to whose citizens we tender our profound admiration.”