SKETCH EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 19 May 1925, Page 3

SKETCH EXHIBITION

A DISTINCT ADVANCE IN ART

THE NEW MA YOB OFFICIATES.

'The introduction of the newly-elected Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Norwood, on the occasion of a pubKc function was pleasantly accomplished last evening at the Art Gallery,. when he opened . the 1925 Sketch Exhibition of the Wellington Society of Arts at the Whitmore street Art Gallery. . The Mayor was accompanied by the. Mayoress, Mrs. Norwood, and was received by Mr. E. W. Hunt, president of the society, and Mrs. Hunt. In introducing the Mayor, Mr. Hunt referred to the fact that the opening of the Sketch Exhibition was the first public function which his Worship had been asked to perform, and It gave the society great pleasure to have him there- on the occasion. Mr. Hunt said .that there were great plans ahead for the future of the gal-: lery, and these were to be launched during the present year, probably after the return to New Zealand of Sir Harold Beauchamp, one of the firmest supporters of the cause of art in the city. Mr. Hunt said also that thle City Council was closely connected' with the artistic developments of the, city 1, and in the past had'done much for the advancement of the work of the? society, and he hoped thai that interest and help would be well maintained. The council in the matter' of expenditure had met the academy's rates this year, which was most commendable. This kind of help could be extended in a more practical direction; 'he referred more particularly to; the' assistance which he hoped would be. forthcoming in •connection with the new gallery; which was hoped for in the near .future. Tfce cities in the Old' Country had been built up to a great extent because of their activities in affairs .artistic, and he Belt that the nations had to * a very great extent been developed by the artistic temperament of their peoples.- Mr. Hunt referred to the loan of seven or eight of the academy's best pictures from its permanent gallery to the very fine art gallery at Wanganui. Much hidden beauty was thrown into strong relief when pictures were hung in proper and suitable surroundings; and he hoped that this would apply to ■ Wellington at no "distant date. Mr. Hunt added that it was usual to say that the present exhibition was the best which had been experienced by ,the .society, but he was saying this in all seriousness and conviction m reference to the 1926 exhibition. He

mentioned that a departure from thft usual custom of the committee ■ had " been made, for :,they.: had ~purcha«ed a; x sketch this year; a very-beautiful one» the work of Mr. Nugent Welch, which* was'to be added to 'the permanent col« lection of, the gallery. The Mayor expressed his pleaanrtf that the opening of the exhibition should.be his first function, and emphasised his belief that good art meantf good citizenship,;' He regretted'- that' he could not address those present as an. artist, but his talents did not lie in- [ that direction, though he deeply ap.", predated •.the beauty of '..things, artistic* and was of opinion that art was a thing; . of dignity and refinement. "Artistic talent,"' he remarked,. "is God's gift to a few for the benefit of mankind." Mr, Norwood was of opinion that the art '■■ istry of the cities of the world was th« thing which made them memorable to traveller*, «jd-a city,,bereft ..of any such thing tpas poor indeed. In fact the memoriali of a city, he thought, depended .on ih a master-hands which had been employed; in; the, making of the ■'■■■ city, architecture being specially important and floticeable. He found that the society ht<d b«en :in' existence for 43 years, and £ie -was of opinion that the had iaktfß the long view, and had "hitched' their wagon to a star.'" He: trusted: that the high ideaJ ■ would ba kept and-that the promoter! and ■ supporters would ■ realise Jthat in their hands was something of the great- ' est importance to the Capital City. The Mayor then' declared/the exhibition open. The-exhibition will be open daily to the.public!' ''"' "'* ■ ■ . •