N.Z. ACADEMY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 10

N.Z. ACADEMY

ANNUAL EXHIBITION

OPENING CEREMONY

THE NEW GALLERY

The annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts was opened last evening by Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson. There was a large and representative gathering of citizens at the ceremony.

Mr. Charles Wilson (president of the Academy) said it gave him very great pleasure to give a hearty welcome to, and express on behalf of the Academy its grateful thanks to Her Excellency for consenting to preside at the opening ceremony. He had been asked to express the regret of His Excellency that he was unable to attend owing to having another engagement. Tie president said he was pleased to be able to announce that for once in the history of art in Wellington the Academy saw its way clear to having, in the not distant future, a new gallery. (Applause.) For many years the achievement of that object had been the desire of all interested in art in this city. Speaking on behalf of the council—and especially of his predecessor in office (Mr. E. W. Hunt), who had worked very hard for the new gallery building fund—they were glad they would have a fund, after the sale of the present site and building, of nearly £25,000. (Applause.) By dint of great economy, they had succeeded i: saving a sum of money, which next year would amount to nearly £1000, from their own income. Then, there was the generous donation of Sir Harold Beauehamp towards the object they had in view. For many years past Wellington, owing to its lack of a proper gallery, had been the jest of other centres; but they had seen the error of their ways and were going to put new life into art here. Although it was said that times were bad—and he had heard that said before in New Zealand—in his personal opinion they were "turning the corner." On retiring from the council, Miss Eichmond, who had done so much for art in Wellington, had presented to the Academy a valuable picture, one of the most beautiful little -pictures it had been, his gocd fortune to see.

The president remarked that, the oil paintings were somewhat fewer in number than, usual. The reason for that was that the council thought it wise to exercise a little more discretion in the exhibition of pictures. Notwithstanding the reduction, there were some •450 pictures on the walls. "When, he was iii. Sydney about two years ago he noticed that the number of pictures shown was only 247, so that Wellington, compared favourably with that large city'in that respect:- In the portraiture section, he mentioned the work of Miss Julia Lynch, who was new to Wellington, and the pictures shown by Mrs. Tripe and Mrs. Kelly, of Christchurch. The speaker also drew attention to the water-colours, which were of uniformly good quality. In fact, he ventured to say that there had been a real advance in water-colour art through the Dominion. Lady Alico" Fergusson, who took a practical interest in art, exhibited three charming pictures in the water-colour section. The president concluded by inviting Her Excellency to declare the exhibition open. SINCERITY IN ART. Her Excellency, who on rising to speak was most cordially received, expressed her pleasure at hearing that anew art gallery would shortly be built. That was very good news. It was an honour to be asked to open the exhibition, and although she felt somewhat diffident in accepting the invitation, still, on her part, there was a personal connection with art; in Wellington, because it was in this city that, as a schoolgirl, her interest in art was first aroused. As a pupil of the old School of Art, she had the honour of being a pupil of one whose name was well-known here, Mr. Nairn, two of whose paintings were included among her most precious art possessions. One of the things learnt from her teacher was an appreciation of absolute sincerity in art. That was a quality possessed by tho old Greek sculptors, and was shown by many modern painters— including Sargent and others. Her Excellency then declared the exhibition open. The Art Gallery was, as usual, crowded with interested people for the occasion of the private view of the pictures for the year's exhibition, when, last evening Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson declared the show open. Later she made a round of the pictures with the president, Mr. Charles Wilson, and had supper before leaving. Her Excellency's frock was of embossed silver tissue, and her wrap was of black satin, lined with periwinkle blue georgette; Miss Dugdale accompanied her, wearing coral pink taffetas. Mrs. C. Wilson was in. handsomely embroidered georgette, with sequins and paillettes of jet. Among the many artists present were Mrs. Elizabeth Kelly (Christchureh), who was in cyclamen pink embossed georgette, trimmed lightly with passementerie; Mrs. M. E. Tripe, in black georgette; Miss Richmond, black charmeuse; Mr. Linley Richardson, Colonel Carberry, Mr. H. M. Gore, Mr. J. Ellis, Mr. W. S. Wauehop, Mr. Esmond Atkinson, Dr. Fell, Mr. W. B. Montgomery, Mr. Natusch, Mr. Douglas Allen, and others. The guests and members included Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Dr. and Mrs. Stout, Dr. R. Stout, Miss Bell, Mr. A. Gray, K.C., and Miss Gray, Dr. A. Paterson, Dr. and Mfs. Morics, Dr. and Miss A. M'Lean, Mrs. Sprott, Dr. and Mrs. Kemp, Mrs. H. M. Gore, Professor and Mrs. Sommerville, Professor and Mrs. Plorance, Dr. and Mrs. Bowerbank, Dr. and Mrs. RankineBrown, Professor and Mrs. Sommerville, Miss Statham, Miss Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Coleridge, Mrs. G. Chapman, Mrs. and Miss Meadowcroft, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Bennie, Mrs. Etherington, Mrs. D. Jackson, Mrs. and Miss Leckie, Mrs. H. S. Hadfield, Mrs. Wilton, Mrs. D'Oyloy, Miss Rhind, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Reid, Mrs. D. Hamilton (Melbourne), Miss Wales, Mr. and Mrs. Corkill, Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Stowe, Misses Putnam, Colonel and Mrs. Corrigan,)Miss Seaton, Miss Scales, Mr. and Mrs. Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Taldwyn, Mr. and Mrs. Beale, Mrs. Hamerton, Mrs. H. Hall, Mrs. Clayton, Mrs. Bredin, Mrs. G. Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Ewen, Mrs. Hamilton. Hry. J. Hajinah, Mrs. H. Kirkealdie, Miss Coad, Mr. arid Mrs. C. Richardson, Miss Richardson, Dr. and Mrs. Maisden, Mr. and Mrs. Mirams, Mrs. E. Atkinson, Miss R. Jenkyns, Miss Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. E. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. M'Kinnon, Mrs. M. Myers, Miss Dixon, Miss L. Brandon, Miss Seed, Mr. and Mrs Mazengarb, Mrs. C. Birch, Miss Allen Mrs. T. E. Y.Seddon, Mrs. Bristow, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brown, Miss Moore, Miss E. Richardson, Dr. and Mrs. Hislop, Mr. and Mrs. Saiaiond, Mrsi Coster, and many others.