OPENING OF ART EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 28, 27 October 1945, Page 8

OPENING OF ART EXHIBITION

New Zealand Academy’s Annual Show

On the occasion of the opening of the annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, the number present at t.h e temporary gallery last night was quite double the average attendance at such functions. His Excellency the Governor-General, ■who was accompanied by Lady Newall, said they had always enjoyed meeting the patrons of art in. Wellington and appreciated the fine efforts of the artists of New Zealand. When they reached England they would have some happy recollections of these exhibitions, as among their luggage would be some excellent examples of the work of New Zealand artists, a really good selection, which would in course of time be handed on to their children in memory of the happy time they had enjoyed in this lovely country. His Excellency remarked on how fortunate the academy had been to be able to carry on these exhibitions right through the period of the war. and hoped they' would carry' on just as successfully in years of peace. That they had been able to carry on so happily was not altogether unconnected with certain happenings off Guadalcanal in August, 1942. concerning which they owed a big debt to their great ally, the United States of America, who had. on that occasion, prevented the enemy from coming on to New Zealand. Had it not been for that action the walls of the gallery might have been covered with rice paper—or whatever the Japanese hung their art upon. The president, Mr. G. G. G. Watson, said that those who valued the cause of art. music and literature knew that they’ eould only flourish in an atmosphere of freedom. “We know that had Nazi barbarism or Japanese bestiality prevailed, not only would freedom have vanished from the world, but art would have lain bleeding in the mire.” he added. If they proved worthy of peace, and were able to maintain it. then they might look forward to a great resurgence of art, music, literature and all that ennobled' and enriched life.