MANAWATU ART SOCIETY’S PROGRESS

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6839, 21 April 1932, Page 7

MANAWATU ART SOCIETY’S PROGRESS

Keen Interest in Forthcoming Exhibition APPRECIATION OF CITY SOCIETY Artists and art lovers in New Zoaland are taking a keen interest in the forthcoming exhibition of the Mannwatu Society of Arts, to be held in cotq junction with the Manawatu A. and P. Association’s National Dairy Show in. .June. It is recognised that the society, by its enterprising action in staging a comprehensive exhibition of contemporary Dominion art, supplemented by a valuable loan collection of the works of famous British artists, is making a valuable contribution to the cultural life of tho community and at the same time considerably extending tho field of influence of art in New Zealand. That this is widely understood and appreciated is shown by a reference made to the forthcoming exhibition by Dr. E. B. Gunson, president of the Auckland Society of Arts and president of the New Zealand Association of Art Societies. In the course of an address to the Auckland society this week, Dr. Gunson said: — “The recognition of the need for closer co-operation between the art societies throughout New Zealand has led, largely on the initiative of this society, to the formation of a New Zealand Association of Art Societies, and much has already been achieved by this body. I will indicate one development only in connection with the association, and.it. concerns the Manawatu Society. The, Association of Art Societies has drawn up an exhibition rota and lias been able to arrange that pictures exhibited at the first exhibition of the year shall automatically circulate through the Dominion and be placed on exhibition at the headquqarter towns of its constituent members, the individual societies paying the transport expenses of the approved work of their own members, By this arrangement Manawatu, a society with a very small but active membership. has been enabled to arrange an exhibition approximating in importance to those of the larger centres.

‘•To mark the inauguration of the extended exhibition a special effort has been made by the’ Manawatu Society* with the co-operation of tho A. and P. Association at Palmerston North, to make the occasion a memorable one. In addition to the exhibition of current art work by Dominion artists, it has been arranged to display a selected number of pictures loaned by the Mackelvio Trustees. When one realises that Palmerston North touches a population within a small radius approaching 100.000, the importance of a development. such as I have indicated is evident. Not only shall we afford an opportunity to this considerable section of the Dominion’s population to see representative work from abroad, but we shall be able to introduce to them the work of our own artists in a manner otherwise impracticable. Developments such as this augur well for the future of art in New Zealand—a future full of possibilities. “The public-spirited action on the part of the Mackelvio Trustees in loaning to Manawatu a selection of work from the Mackelvio Gallery is an example of co-operation which is so necessary in the wider interests of the fine arts.”

At its last monthly meeting the Manawatu Society of Arts had a Tccord number of works on show, representing tho month’s effort of 20 of the working members. Almost every branch of art was represented, including oils, water colours, pastels, black and white, and etchings. The society now has working members in Woodville, To Kuiti, Bulls and Paliiatua, and it is confidently anticipated that its contribution to tho forthcoming exhibition will be a most pleasant surprise to patrons.