PICTURES OF RARE QUALITY

Evening Star, Issue 21716, 10 May 1934, Page 11

PICTURES OF RARE QUALITY

MR TOM GARRETT S COLLECTION A treat is being prepared for Dunedin art lovers. .An exlubition of water colour paintings by Mr Tom Garrett of Sydney, is to be opened in one of Chas. Begg and Co.’s upper rooms to-morrow afternoon. This collection has been on view at Wellington and at Auckland, evoking high commendation by artists and th© public. Now, for the first time, Mr Garrett’s work is to be seen in Dunedin, and it is safe to foretell that as a result our artists and students in a day or two will be wonderine why we have not bad that favour earlier: For Mr Garrett is obviously, an artist of rare perception and skill. That he has reached distinction in.his profession is indicated by the fact that Mr P L. Halsted, president of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society, has consented to open the exhibition here, and the belief is already supnorted by the expressed opinions of. sound judges who had .the entree at » private view this morning. One,of our leading artists said to.the . Star representative as lie was entering: Sou can safely go nap oh this collection; there isn’t a second-rater in it. . And it was with that opinion firmly m his mind that the ‘Star’ appraiser left are 39 water colours, all of the choicest. Mr Garrett placed himself early in life under the tuition of J. .1. Hilder, an Australian painter of. rank, and from the knowledge thus acquired lie has developed not a style, for that imputes sameness, but a technique that accomplishes wonderful versatility, every study having its individualities, vet all showing subtle atmospheric effects, a richness in soft colours that do not ’ stare or contrast, and true drawing. They are pictures that one could live with. By and by the possessors will be proud to show their Gar. retts as leading features of collections.'