OTAGO ART SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 8

OTAGO ART SOCIETY

PRIVATE VIEW GF EXHIBITION OPENS TO-MORROW The executive of the Otago Art Society and those members who have helped to prepare the exhibition that is to be opened to the public to-morrow have ample reason to be content with the result of their labours so far.’ That opinion is based upon observations in a walk round the Pioneers’ Hall this morning. Everything was _in readiness for the private view to-night. _ Numerically the exhibition is important. Artists from many places in the dominion have contributed sectionally,Otago has sent in 150 exhibits, Canterbury 80, Wellington 70, Auckland 43,’ Wanganui 17. and there is besides a, wall full of photographs, etchings, and architectural drawings, and so forth.: The collection is so large as to occupy every wall in the two chambers. The . unofficial judgings of an experienced expert is to the effect that the exhibition is worthy not only in bulk, but in quality. Most certainly a great deal of merit is displayed by our New Zealand painters. Prominent examples are a portrait by A. H. O’Keefe, landscape work by K. L. Salmond and W.Allen Bollard, and a still-life study by Alice R. Lothian stands out. These are but a few of many, works of high merit.The portrait by Fred. Whiting of Sir Thomas Sidey is given central position on the platform. The artist has. faithfully caught expression and pose. In regard to oil and water colours the number is about even. Lady members were to-day complete ing the floral decorations that were to be the finishing touches to a most attractive gallery, well up to the mark artistically and uncommonly successiul in arrangement. . It is the second of the newly-consti-tuted Otago Art Society’s exhibitwns, and the first impression is that it is a better exhibition-than the ones that followed the inauguration.