ART GALLERY SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 19893, 15 June 1928, Page 12

ART GALLERY SOCIETY

COUNCIL MEETING . A mooting of the council of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society was held yesterday afternoon; present —Mr J. Loudou (president, in the chair), Airs E. C. Reynolds, Sir John Roberts, Sir George Fenwick, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Messrs P. L. Halsted, P. 11. Sargood, R. Hudson, D. E. Theoinin, E. I. Halsted, and R. H. Neilson (secretary). Miss Brenda Guthrie, of Christchurch, wrote offeriug to lend a number of pictures to the gallery during her absence from the dominion.—The offer was accepted with thanks, and the secretary was instructed to write to Miss Guthrie thanking her for her kind action. Mr Norman G. Clark, of Melbourne wrote stating that ho was making arrangements tor the purchase of another picture for presentation to the gallery. —The intimation was received with expressions of gratitude. The draft of the annual report with balance-sheet was approved. The date of the annual meeting was loft to the president and the secretary to arrange. Messrs A. Latham and W. H. Allen wrote suggesting that, in order to conserve the interests of working members of the society, representation should be given to them on the council or on subcommittees.

The following report on the matter, prepared by the president and the secretary, was submitted and agreed to: — In accordance with instructions from the council at its meeting on May V we have given consideration to the present position of the society, in so far as.it affects the interests of artist members, and beg to report as follows There appears to be a feeling that the amalgamation of the Otago Art Society with the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society has resulted in loss to the' artists. In this connection some claim that the Art Gallery lias grown to such an extent that the activities of the old Art Society have been greatly overshadowed, and that their interests would be better served _by a separate society. Anything of this latter nature should, if possible, in our opinion, bo avoided. The contention of others is that the council, ns at present constituted, consists so largely of honorary members that it lias little or_ no sympathy with the aims and strivings of artists. If artist members were agreed as to how their grievances should bo met, it might not he difficult to arrange matters, but with the differences that exist between the various schools of painting it is not easy to submit a proposal that would meet with success in a mixed society such as our own. The letter from Mr Latham, who would exclude artist members from selection committees, and the plea of others that such committees should consist almost exclusively of artists, will inake clear our thoughts in this connection. 'With a view to helping matters, we submit for the consideration of the council: (1) That it is desirable that artist members be more liberally represented on the council, and, in order to ensure this, wo would suggest that, prior to the annual meeting, the working members be asked to nominate, say, three of their number for the council; these names to be submitted to the general meeting. Also, that before the vote is taken the chairman should suggest to the meeting, on behalf of the council, that voters might give preference to the nominations from the artist members. (2) That an Arts Committee be set up, consisting of three artist members, nominated by the working members, three honorary members from the council, and the secretary; this committee to deal with the selection, hanging, and judging of work at the society’s exhibitions, or any matter affecting the interests of artist members. We are hopeful that these proposals, if given effect to, may resultin a greater measure of unity than at present seems to exist. It may also be possible in the near future to reinstate the winter exhibition, and in other ways bring into greater ‘ prominence the work and interests of artist members.