ACADEMY OF ARTS. THE NEW PICTURES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 44, 21 February 1908, Page 3

ACADEMY OF ARTS. THE NEW PICTURES.

A DIVERGENCE OF OPINION. The annual meeting of the Academy of Arts was held last c\ening. The meeting of members was not large, but the keenest interest was manifested in the business. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report, as presented by the piesid^nt (Mr. H. S. Wardell) showed that there were 175 subscribing membaia on the roll, of whom 76 were artists. The opening of the gallery had been attended with most gratilyinj, results, about 4COO persons having visited tho gallery. It was stated in the report that the fifty-t-ix works of ait recently purchased were valued at £3025. Several pictures had not yet arrived, but were expected shortly. The grant of £50 fiom the City Council was acknowledged with gratification. Other donations were also acknowledged' with thanks. The number of works sent into tho annual exhibition was 164 water-colours and 121 oils, also some jewellery, pottery, and enamelling, which constituted a new class. Tho attendance at the exhibition accounted for £49 Is 6d from admissions, and sales amounted to £314 9s 9d. Saks of art union tickets realised £10 18s, which with £59 12s fiom the academy funds made £70 11s available for the purchase of prizes. PRESIDENTS VIEWS. The president, in pressnting the report and balance-sheet, congratulated members upon the satisfactory condition of the academy's affairs. He thought much remained to be done, however, for Christchurch had 435 members, of whom 14 were life members, while Wellington had 252 nvembeis, of whom only three werelifo -members. This was a very satisfactory contrast. An incieaso in membership was imperative. He was glad to say that there were 21 new members awaiting electioin. The Art Gallery, since it had been open to the public, had been very much appreciated, but it should be open every day, and not two days a week only, but this could not be done -rtjthout an increase- of the funds al the disposil of the academy. Members were much indebted to tho Mayor and City Council (or their generous donation of £50, without which it would not have be<>n possible for the gc-lkry to have been opened to the public. He- announced with pleasura that another £50 would shortly be forthcoming from the City Council. (Applause.) The receipts ' from various sources had, he was glad to s^y, enabled the society to annihilate the overdraft at the bank. There was an urgent need for a permanent home for the collection, which was a most desirable nucleus for a city aTt gallery, and he hoped in this matter that the City Council would come to the academy's aid. a'maiter of taste. Hon. T. K. ilacdonald congratulated tho president and officers of the academy on the successful istue of the year's work. The president himself had put much work into the gallery's affairs, and thanks were dice to him for his 'efforts, especially in legaTd to raising funds. The question of site was a troublesome one, and all efforts should be bent upon the City Council to get the Art Gallery attached to the Town Hall on the piece of vacant land at the- back of that edifice. Tho ground floor could be utilised for city offices, which were Porely nesded, and the upper floor could, be set apart for the Art Galleryr Mr. Macddnald then referred to the new pictures. He held that while those- who selected' the pictures had, no doubt, done their best, but he did not thfnk good judgment had been displayed in i\\d selection. ,Dr. Fell row; to a point of order. '"This matter?" he said-, "has nothing to do with th«! report and balance-sheet." Mr. Macdonald observed that he felt it would be improper to pass this matter of selection 1 by on "that occasion. However much the society might f&el indebted to the Selection iCommittee for tho energy they had put into their work, he thought members would deplore their judgment to- some extent. Difference of view in those matters, was an old song, an old story; but there was no art gallery in the world that had escaped criticism in regard 1 to selection." It was the same with pictures for the Sydney and galleries, and it was not to be expected that the city of Wellington in a matter of that kind could," escape every error of judgment and criticism -of an unfavourable chaiacter 1 of the purchases made for the gallery. -Certain schools should not be encouraged at the. expense of others, and more especially selections from the impressionistic school. Pictures should be put upon their walls that -appealed to the general public, and not exclusively to persons of high artistic culture. The academy should not encourage "faddism" of that sort. Ho feared their friends, the Selection Committee, hsd not been so wise in their choico of pictures as had been hoped, .They had done their, be&t, no doubt, but they might 'have done belter. He hoped the Mayor (who was present) would take the hint, and, if returned next time — as was, the devout wish of his very many friends —(hear, hear) — would mark the event' of his year of office by> the creation of an Art Gallery worthy of the city of Wellington. (Applause.) The president explained that the discussion on the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet offering a Aory~w\de field for discussion by all concerned, he had allowed .\li\. Macdonald to express his views on tho selection of the now pictures. CASE FOR IMPRESSIONISM. Mr. Yon Haast, ■while sympathising with the previous speaker, also held that he was quito right in referring j to' the new pictures as they were actually refercd to in tho report. However, | there were always difierem"es of opinion as tq the pictures nurchased for any public collection. It wni so in Auckland when the piesident of the -Scot tish Academy, when asked to select I works for the gallery in that city, rent j out a number of works by artists of the Glasgow school. These works were j objected .to at y the tune because they wei'e impressionistic; now Aucklandcrs regarded these pictures as their most tieasnred .possessions in the public gallery. They had learned to appreciate them. , Personally, ho thought it would h°> a pity .for the impression to-* get abroad that the academy had purchased a collection of pictures with which itwas not satisfied or which it did not care much about. That really was not the case. He thought the gallery should have pictures which appealed to what might be described as forming the general public, as well as worka which appealed to a more limited num■bcr of persons. There was room in a public gallery for both kinds If, as Mr. Macdonald seemed to suggest, the gallery wero to have only pictures that appealed to the general public, then it would be a difficult matter to elevate that public's taste for ait. All schools' should be represented in the pictures, as. much as possible — pictures that appealed to every section. No doubt there would be people who wuuld s;iy' about the work done by Fiank Brangwyn, which was to come to the Wellington Gallery, that it was not what they would have chosen for a public gallery. Nevertheless, that picture had won a cold medal, and it was one that would be coveted by galleries oil o\er the

world. People acquainted with art would know that it was in Wellington, and would come to the gallery to seek il out. (Applause.) Mr. Yon Haast suggested that a little pamphlet giving somo explanations of tho pictures would do a great deal to stimulate public interest in tho collection, f ROUTINE BUSINESS. The report and balance-sheet, iiftv-r further discussion, wero adopted, Mr. J. W. Joynt seconding, and expressing tho hope that more permanent subscribers would join. A vote- of thanks was passed to the Mayor and members of the City Council for theii' generous assistance to the academy. The Mayor ■ (Hon. T iV. Hislop) atknowledgetl the compliment. He said he was satisfied that if the- council of the academy pursued their efforts to obtain a permanent home for their collection Jhc City Council would see that it was to th?ir interest to follow up tho academy's effort.",, and promote bomething that would be a credit to tho city. (Applause.) SUNDAY OPENING. Mr. Walter Leslie deplored the fact that the gallery was opened only once a month on Sundays. This would militata against its popularity to some extent, for people could not well remember the Sundays on which it was open, and almost instinctively made up their minds to go on the Sundays when it was closed. He would gladly under take to act as custodian of the gallery for. one Sunday a month, if any. other members would .do duty on the other two Sundays. Mr. Leslie's offer was received with expressions of approval, and one member offered there and then to take Sunday duty. OFFICERS. The election of officers for Ihe ensuing , year resulted as follows: — Patron, His Excellency the Governor; president, ■Mr. H S. Wardell ; vice-presidents, Messrs. L. H. B. Wilson and H. M. Gore; council, Messrs. A." T. Bate, W. ¥. Barraud, J. W. Joynt, and Miss S. Johnson; hon. treasurer, Mr. ('. Wilson; auditor, Mr. C. D. Moipeth.