ART IN NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 115, 11 November 1935, Page 8

ART IN NEW ZEALAND

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—For some time I have beenwaiting for some comment to be made on the excellent report which you have published abc,»:t the activities of the Association of New Zealand Art Societies. Surely some comment is necessary on what constitutes a New Zealand Society, when none of the best known names in New Zealand art are represented, nor do their works appear in the exhibitions. , How this association can claim to represent New .Zealand. under these circumstances is beyond my understanding. I believe this organisation had .its origin in Auckland. Christchurch, which is the centre 'of art life in this Dominion, refused to be dragged at the tail of Auckland-, but Wellington fell into the trap and 1 think that it is time that some protest be made on behalf of those artists who stand in the front rank of our native painters. None of their works go on this rota I am told, so what is the good sending .to our smaller towns work which is not representative of the best that New Zealand can do. This is worse than useless for it does not improve their taste, which this association is supposed to foster. ' - I am told thai there has been a request to send a collection to England under some Empire organisation and that only Auckland will.be represented, yet it will go out as for all New Zealand.' It is this kind of thing that New Zealanders interested in the art of their own country should prevent with a firm hand. . I see by the report that the Government has been wisely wary of giving a few people the power over the establishment of a travelling scholarship. Neither has the Carnegie Trust been less wide awake. If these funds are to be used in this direction it should only be by delegates appointed by vote from all the working members of the art societies,, not by the honorary members, who, by paying a guinea a year have control of art in New Zealand, for they outweigh the practising artist two to one. In Sydney, where art has become a very alive matter all these art societies are entirely controlled by working painters alone. There, is no membership fee. Any one can send in his picture by paying half a crown for cartage, and it is judged by the council, which is composed of the most distinguished painters of the State. When his work has reached a stage of accomplishment which commands admiration from his fellow craftsmen he is invited to join the society and has a right of vote, must in fact give his time to the judging of the exhibits for the exhibitions which are held several times a year. Thus the power remains in the hands of the working painter, and it is some such movement which is so badly needed in New Zealand so that our own people could remain in New Zealand and not, as at present, be driven out Till something in this nature' comes about there will be no advance in art in New Zealand.—l am, etc., / E.S.J.