THE ART GALLERY SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 19918, 14 July 1928, Page 10

THE ART GALLERY SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-I have heard it said that the line arts exist with difficulty in the pure air of this community. But what a triumphantant refutation of that suggestion was afforded at tho annual meeting of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society on Thursday .afternoon! It should be most gratifying to ail of us to think that at a busy hour in the afternoon many more than 100 of qur most prominent aml hard-working citizens were only too pleased to put aside their persona! occupations—and time is money to our commercial magnates—in order to hasten to the Town Hall to lend their presence and support to those who have made, our Art Gallery what it is. As a display, of public spiritedness it was magnificent. The spectacle of doctors, lawyers, financiers, architects, merchants, and business men heading lor the Town Hall ere the clock struck 3. racing one . another up the _ steps, and jostling for places in the crowded Council Chamber wa.s one, I am sure, that will ncvcr_ he forgotten by those who wore privileged to behold it. Had the opportunity been seized and a collection taken up for the purchase of pictures for our art gallery the response would no doubt have ' been truly worthy of the occasion.

I venture to suggest that no other question of the hour—not even a meeting for the discussion of means for the' relief'of unemployment—could have attracted so .splendid, artistic, and .intellectual a gathering. Believing as I do, that too much cannot be done for art in our midst, T feel that some. tribute of admiration is only the due of those citizens . who on'Thursday .afternoon .thus.' responded, _ in a way that may well be the despair and envy of every other centre in the dominion, to the imperative call of art. I hope that others will feel similarly disposed to express their gratification that tho sacred cause of art in our midst is in the safe keeping of our very best people—our most respected and influential citizens, who have nothing to gain, but, purely for their own love of art and their irresistible desire to encourage the artist, are willing to sacrifice their time in attending meetings of the Art Gallery Society, and even to take office upon it. Trusting that some abler pen will enlarge these inadequately-expressed sentiments. —1 am, etc., " ' Sap Greex. July 1-4.