ART LOAN EXHIBITION

Evening Star, Issue 21709, 2 May 1934, Page 10

ART LOAN EXHIBITION

MR DOWNIE STEWART'S ADDRESS OPENING CEREMONY PERFORMED BY MRS P, R. SARCOOD • The Empire Art Loan Collection Society’s first exhibition of pictures in New Zealand was opened in the Pioneers’ Hall this afternoon by Mrs P. R. Sargood, in the presence of a large crowd of art lovers. Hie principal address of the ceremony was given by Mr W. Downie Stewart, M.P. “ Mv remarks will be as brief as possible, because,. in the first place, you are no doubt eager to inspect the art treasures now displayed for the first time. Secondly, it is hardly fair to keep you standing for longer than need be; and, thirdly, it would be presumptuous for me to speak at length, as .1 am neither an artist nor an art critic,” said Air Stewart. “In fact, most of my time has been spent among political ’ artists—a term which unfortunately has a slightly derogatory meaning, as if it implied that politicians were schemers or tricksters, i But, after all. the political artist, works in a far more difficult medium than the painter or sculptor, He has to handle human nature in all Its changing complexity and subtle variety. The colours he uses are more ephemeral and fade more quickly than those _of the landscape painter, and the chief trouble is that so many different types of politicians are all trying to paint on the same piece of canvas at the same time, which • produces a very confused impressionist .or cubist effect!” “ This must indeed by a happy day for Mr P. R. Sargood, who now sees his long-cherished dream realised,” continued Mr Stewart. “ 1 suppose to most of us it happens once or twice- in our lives to attain some objective we have long held in view; but there are few of us who have displayed the same patience, persistence, and tenacity of purpose as Mr Sargood to overcome all obstacles in order that his dreams might come true. Moreover, his aim has been an entirely noble and unselfish one. It was designed to give a rich opportunity for pleasure and instruction at a nominal cost, not merely to his fellow citizens - in Dunedin, but in all the centres of New Zealand and Australia willing to avail themselves of the results,of his-labours. In fact, it is a true Empire movement fraught with great possibilities- of. future development.” Mr Stewart said that the- Empire Art Loan Collections Society in London, which was formed at the request of New Zealand, recently approached the prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, to secure legislation enabling the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, and other great institutions to lend overseas collections out of the abundance of their artistic treasures. That deputation was supported by the High Commissioners for New Zealand and Australia and various 4gents_ General. /The report stated that Sir James Parr made an impassioned appeal, and he was supported by other speakers. The Prime Minister promised to do all he could to secure legislation, and was so keenly interested that he offered to lend his own Turner and Gainsborough paintings, so that if this venture met with the support it deserved we might yet see a succession of magnificent loan collections in Dunedin.- In fact, it - might well be that if Mr Sargopd’s expanded scheme were realised,- Dunedin might become a . great art centre, based not on • the ownership of * costly masteri pieces, which we could not afford in the meantime, but by ■ a _ stream - of great loan collections, which was as good for all practical purposes. For it was. not necessary to own pictures to enjoy them, and while wdklthy people paid incredible sums for them, after all they can only look at them, 1 and those who were .at no such .expense could do the same. It was because it was so easy to socialise this form of wealth without injury to anyone that so many modern States and cities maintained and supported art galleries to which wealthy and generous citizens lent their- pictures. ' “ Our pleasure will, of course, vary with our powers of appreciation and study, and it is the sublime function of the artist to interpret the beauty of the world to our eyes that have grown dulled by the daily routine of other tasks,” said Mr Stewart. “ May we not hope that,_ inspired by this exhibition, other citizens will generously co-operate so that in years to come we may have collections brought here from Canada and even America, China, and many other countries,” he added. “ Such collections will prove a great inspiration to our own artists, not for the purpose of mere slavish imitation, but to enrich their own native talent, which will in due time evolve a New Zealand school of art - racy of our own soil, and making its own national contribu- , tion to the world of art. Indeed, British art, which has’ a national character and genius of its own, earned its high reputation by just this process of assimilating rich elements from many sources, A great German connoisseur says British art owes its particular charm to the fact that the English travel more than any other people.” »He says: ‘As the English tourist, let him go,to the world’s end, retains everywhere his ■ own customs, tastes, and habits, so English painting, even on its most adventurous journeys, remains unwaveringly true to its national spirit and returns from all its wanderings more English than before —it adopts what is alien with the same delicious abrogation of all scruple with which the English tongue brings foreign words into harmony with its own sense of convenience. The painter delights in reconnoitering all other schools and studying all styles.’ In like manner, our own artists, aided and inspired by. tbeir study of the technique and artistic vision displayed on these walls, will be encouraged to further interpret for us the splendid beauty and grandeur of ■ their own native land, for the great artistic possibilities of New' Zealand were foreseen nearly fifty years ago by Fronde, the historian, when he said, ‘lf it lies written in the book of destiny that the English nation has still within it great men who will take a place among the demigods I can well believe that it will be in the inexhausted soil and spiritual capabilities of New Zealand that the great English poets, artists, philosophers, statesmen., and soldiers of the future will be born and nurtured.’ ” Mr Stewart then read the following letter from the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Sir James Parr) to Mr C. R.. Chisman, organising director of “the society:—“ On the eve of your departure for New Zealand in charge of the fine collection of oil paintings, water colours, and prints which have been so generously lent from private collections in this country for exhibition irf? Dunedin and Auckland, .and, 1 hope, in other cities and towns in New Zealand, 1 feel I must send to you and the Empire‘Art Loan Society, under whose auspices the loan collection has

been gathered, a word of high appreciation of the efforts which have made possible this historic venture. Nor must I omit an expression of gratitude to the owners who have shown an admirable public spirit, which I know will make a deep impression in the dominion. As I remarked when 1 spoke in deputation to the British Prime Minister the other day, material things perhaps unduly occupy the attention of our new countries of the Empire. 1 know, however, that New Zealanders, when given the opportunity, can be influenced by spiritual things. And I can conceive of no finer method of educating our people in matters of artistic taste than by enabling them to view pictures of undoubted merit, such as are contained in your collection. I hope that this exhibition may be the forerunner of others, and 1 .trust that the time will come when we in - New Zealand will enjoy., if only for a brief period, a sight of some of tjie artistic treasures which are housed in the great public galleries of England.” On behalf of the society and its associate members Air Stewart warmly thanked the New Zealand Shipping Company Ltd. and the Union Steam Ship Company Ltd. for free freight, the New Zealand Railway Board for concessions in freight, Alessrs Bourlet Bros., London packers, for the loan of a large container for the transport of the pictures, the Otago Harbour Board for free port dues, Alessrs Spencer and Dunkley for free local cartage, the various guarantors who stood behind the local society financially, and the enthusiastic body of ladies and gentlemen who contributed such great work to enable the exhibition to be made possible.