ART GALLERY SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 18281, 22 May 1923, Page 7

ART GALLERY SOCIETY

SKETCHES AND ART-CRAFTS WORK. EXHIBITION OPENED LAST NIGHT. The winter exhibition promoted by the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society was opened yesterday evening. Sir George Fenwick, president, _in his ' opening address, said ho thought it must be generally conceded that there was quite a marked advance in the quality of the work this year. It gave him special pleasure to congratulate the now directors of the Dunedin School of Art on the highly meritorious exhibit sent in by their pupils, telling as it did of careful and painstaking instruction. It was an augury of future steady progress in our local Art School. Nor should he fail to welcome Messrs Jenkins and Ellis as steady exhibtors themselves. He felt sure that local artists would enjoy the sketches of those gentlemen whiclf had been sent in for exhibition. It was a pleasure to see some interesting oil and water color sketches by Miss M. E. Berry, a member of the Scottish Society of Artists. Last year the pupils of the Canterbury School of Art sent an excellent lot of sketches. This year our Canterbury friends forwarded a similar exhibit, which would, he felt sure, be inspected with great interest. He was gratified in being able to congratulate Dunedin on what he believed was a marked step forward in the last year or two in art. It was the duty of the community to help that forward movement, and one way of doing so was to show practical appreciation by not only taking tickets in the art union of the pictures which was annually held, but by freely purchasing meritorious works. A FULL GALLERY.

The Hanging Committee had a task to find room for all the exhibits. There are so many that the wall space within easy reach of the eye would not suffice, and in preference to “skying” the screen system , lias been more freely adopted than usual. It is numerically one of the greatest of the sketch exhibitions ever held in Dunedin. None of the exhibits come from Australia. All of this fine work, with the exception of the collection shown by Miss M. E. Berry, of Edinburgh, is the product of our New Zealand artists. They seem to have had a special inspiration this year. SPECIALTIES. The south wall is pretty well filled with the comprehensive collect]on sent from the Canterbury College School of Art. It is well worthy of its place. The front of the platform is the position assigned to the Dunedin School of Art, and this collection, also, will be found most interesting. The most prominent exhibit is a long strip, hanging from ceiling to floor, in the south-eastern angle. It is one of a group of four drawings that are accepted as the designs for the war memorial window in Victoria College, Wellington. The designer is Mr F. V. Ellis, who came from England to join the staff of the Dunedin School of Art. The subject is the Crusaders. The conception is vigorous and direct, quite free from mysticism or meaningless ornamentation, and the coloring as suggested is effective. Everybody agrees that Mr Ellis has produced a masterpiece. , Part of the east wall is devoted to a group of architectural drawings by members of the local branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. This is a new idea, and it has been taken up seriously. . Three sketches by P. Van der Velden, lent by the Canterbury College School of Art, stand cut as examples of tho higher class work. The life study in oils is the sort of thing that many have to be content with simply trying for. The prow of a sailing ship may be taken as evidence of tho pains that this celebrated artist used to go to when preparing for a big picture. The third piece is a pencil study of matted trees.

SOME OF THE WATER COLORS. C. H. Howorth’s collection of a dozen well earn tho position of honor near the west door. Occasionally this artist’s work has been spoken of as lacking in variety. To any suggestion of that sort these sketches arc a complete answer. Eleven of the twelve are English in subject, and it is gladly noted that they carry the English greyness just as truly as his New Zealand pictures carry the New Zealand luminosity. A view of Brentford Church is much admired. Tho Eeigato study is a perfect poem in color. To make an effective contrast Mr Howorth shows one New Zealand study, this being a sketch at Lyell Bay. J. L. Palethorpe is seen at his best in this gallery. The view of an unfrequented corner of "Wellington Harbor under a pearly sky is a charming example of delicate painting, and there is strength in the evening sketch of a party of rabbiters who have assembled for a yarn. Mabel Hill lias so many successes to her credit that she can for once in a way afford to step a little aside and allow others to have a chanco. In other words, this popular art leader has not done anything very important for the present gallery. Nevertheless, her fidelity and her daintiness proclaim her name apart from the signature. Nobody could mistake the ‘ Bit Near Port Chalmers ’ for anybody elso’s work.

A. F. Nicholl, director of the Canterbury College School of Art, is not likely to lose his reputation over tin's gallery, lie has not, wo think, turned out any better sketch than the autumn study which is the principal item in his present collection, and tho delineation of ‘ Rocks at Riverton ’ is nearly if not quite as good. Of the dozen sent by H. J. Edgar, of Christchurch, ‘ Clyde Road, Fendalton,’ will probably bo generally preferred. It is a particularly clever little sketch. Six figure studies by T. H. Jenkins, of the Dunedin School of Art, stand out prominently. Tho subjects are apparently characters at a fancy dress ball. In each case tho pose is excellent, and the treatment of the dresses remarkably satisfactory, particularly so in regal’d to tho fawn coat on the French fop. Mr Jenkins has given us a shining example of straightforward work, in which every stroke has its value.

Wm. Bowring is showing again, the first time for several years. Dunedin artlovers are pleased to resume the acquaintance ; pleased, also, to see that his right hand has not lost its cunning, as witness tho charming Cornish landscape which is his chief exhibit.

W. Wright’s pictures and sketches are “ sura sellers.” Ten of them enrich this gallery, all bearing the true impress of this masterful colorist. The view of Rangitoto is perhaps the most attractive of the collection, but that is a mere matter of taste.

N. Welch contributes five sketches that are, like most of his works, characterised by strength and freedom and a peculiar facility in expansive sky effects. His popularity is not likely to bo diminished by this year’s sketches, of which we take ‘ In the Valley of the Hutt ’ to be the bestj on account of its warmth of tone. There is fine frankness in M. King’s four landscapes, and they aro full of real sunshine.

Menzies Gibb’s well-known stylo Is exemplified to advantage in an autumn scene that is wonderfully rich in color, yet ’quite sober. F. Brookesmith has in this exhibition made his greatest success, we think, in a view of tlie Invercargill estuary. John VV. Brock may well be satisfied with his sketch entitled ‘ Tho Taxi Hat.’ Visitors are at any rate. It is one of the strong pieces of the gallery, perfectly harmonious, standing examination at all points, yet always subtly drawing the eye to tho wonderful hat.