ART SOCIETY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 12 September 1938, Page 5

ART SOCIETY

ANNUAL ROTA EXHIBITION OPENED AT SUTER ART GALLERY ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT The annual Rota exhibition including work of members of the Suter Art Society, was officially opened by the President of the Suter Art Society at the Art Gallery on Saturday evening and will remain open until Monday 19th September. THE ROTA The Rota is a national institution, j established through the Association of j New Zealand Art Societies to encour- j age the development of art in New Zea-! land and to assist all societies. It has for its objectives the interchange of pictures with a minimum of expense, the sending to the smaller centres, pic-j tures which otherwise the residents' would not have an opportunity of view- j ing, the creation of more opportunities ! for artists to dispose of their work, and the promotion of a wider and more general interest in the fine arts. On Saturday evening the usual private view for members of the Society and their friends was held. Owing to the pre-! vailing colds and other indispositions the attendance was not so large as is usually the case. SOME OF THE ‘MODERNS” In the course of his remarks (other portions of which are reported elsewhere in this issue) Professor J. S. Tennant (President of the Suter Art j Society) who opened the exhibition, I said he had heard that some of the “Moderns” claimed that the artist cannot be bound by conventions, “that Art is a law unto itself”—“that creative J imagination has no limitations.” With these dicta, in the sense that they were usually interpreted, he had no sym-i pathy. Rather, they should remember that traditions, even conventions, in j art and in life represented in the best! sense, the accumulated wisdom and ex-! perience of the race. Through them j they were truly heirs to all the ages 1 and thus made capable of achieving j ‘ greater things than could be possible 1 without that heritage. - T. ! i TRUTH, BEAUTY AND GOODNESS \ Professor Tennant said he had pre- I viously mentioned music which he thought rightly claimed to be the high- ’ est of the Arts, and yet the musician 1 was bound by laws so hard and fast ! that in the time of the Renaissance, [ mathematics were studied as a pre- ! paration for music. Arithmetic was in- ’ eluded in the “Seven Liberal Arts” 1 mainly for its use in music and in cal- 1 culating the date of Easter. “Try as we may we cannot get away from thfe ‘reign of law’ if we would be truly free.” Concluding Professor Tennant recalled that the Psalmist had said: “I will walk at liberty for I seek Thy precepts.” And he said that if “manners maketh 1 man” they had their part in making the artist. Manners in the last analysis were morals and no art could be great which violated the Canons of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. Of these the greatest was—who could say. LOCAL ARTISTS , ! A large number of local artists have; their work hung this year and the pictures are varied and most pleasing. R. Patterson has some very good work, the picture entitled “Afternoon : Shadows” being particularly pleasing. ' Demonstrating anot! side of his ' versatility Hugh Scott has taken us to a ] scene in India. His rendering of “The ] Old Willow Tree” is a sound study of a [ willow tree with multitudinous twigs. * “Listening-In” by Rosa Vitetta | portrays an excellent test match atmosphere.

M. C. OHiver’s “Picture Book,” a child study, has an excellent likeness of a very difficult subject. Marjorie Naylor is represented with a portrait “Mr Thorn” which is most natural. Her landscapes are very pleasing and she exhibits a group of a wide variety of subjects. Two pleasant still life pictures are rendered by S. M. Brockets Olivia Spenser Bower shows clear water-colour technique, nicely composed, although her tvo studies are similar in colour.

Enga Washbourn has a more varied group than usual. Although very small. “Rainstorm over Appleby” is simple in treatment and perfect in technique. Two little water-colours carefully executed are exhibited by S. Brown. B. D. Gerard has several charming studies rather uneven in treatment. “Fir Trees” by D. Gilbert is a pleasant study of trees, broadly handled. Marigold Johnston has a nice group of pictures, her one entitled “Fifeshire Rock” being particularly successful. K. Johnston’s picture “Farm Buildings,” is a pleasing water-colour. “A Still Day” by B. Everett is a quiet study of a simple subject. “Winter in Stoke” by Amy F. John- j son is an interesting study of a wellknown scene. Walter F. Robinson gives a good change of scene in his picture entitled “Fort Denison.” Maurice Kerr is well represented. His pictures are delicately handled in tonal values with subtle colouring. “Summer” by W. H. Allen. A.R.C.A., is a figure landscape. It is a pity more artists do not paint figure subjects, apart from good training, it adds variation to an exhibition. John Oakley is represented by three j pictures which are pleasing decorative I

1 landscapes, clean ih design, j Margaret Rhodes "Pastoral Scene” is j interesting as she has brought animals I into her picture. I “Gordon's Knob” by F. McKee Wright I is a pleasant study. I In addition to her lino-cut, figure sub- | ject, A. M. Davies has some charming block printed handkerchiefs of Maori design and a supper cloth of New Zealand ferns. Marjorie Ruddle and Z. Turner have exhibited carefully executed pewter work. , Enga Washbourn has model work of various animals and “Rockery Orna- . ment.” ■ M. T. Wollaston's work is difficult to , describe and those interested should ! make an inspection and form their own conclusion. ROTA PICTURES j The Rota pictures include work by : Bertha Jolly, F. Steele, Geraldine Col- , | son, H. Tornquest, A. D. Swinton, Wini--1 fred Bodle, V. W. Dickson, Bessie ,! Christie, May Gilbert, Lesley Brown, ' Salome Coombs, Hugh Scott, Ida Carey. F. W. Grose, Vernon Brown, Alice F. White, Ivy Copeland, G. M. Jones, B. I Hazelwood, S. A. Holland, J. G. Eise, F. i H. Bckett, J. Weeks, K. Salmond, I. M. | Copeland, R. N. Field, Eana Jeans, A. ■ C. Hipwell, R. N. Field, H. H. Pattle, Rosa Vitetta, C. Wood, C. Petrie, M. C. I Olliver, Marjorie Naylor, A. L. White, F. Hunt, I. Toll, B. P. Jolly, C. H. Toll, A. B. Dawson, B. Christie, L. Lane, A. j McLean, Margaret Kane, S. M. Brockett, Olivia Spencer-Bower, J. W. Crippin, Enga Washbourn, H. H. Pulleine, S. Brown, R. T. Little, G. Richardson, B. D. Gerard, Dorothy N. Jump, Frances H. Wright. S. H. Holland, D. Ashton, Margaret Rose, Hilda Wisemary, D. Gilbert. D. V. Young, Marigold Johnston, B. Everett, Ella Spicer, Peggy Spicer, Jean Horsby, S. Woolcott, W. A. Wright, ! G. E. Fairburn, H. D. Thorp, Amy John- • ston, Rex Carlton, Walter F. Robinson, Maurice Kerr, W. H. Allen, F. Stevens, C. H. Cole, A. M. Goldwater, A. F. Inglis, James and Ernest Treloar, H. E. j Saze, H. E. Thomson, A. H. Lintock, H. Gore Adams, E. M. Taylor, Nancy j Steen, A. M. Davies. THANKS EXPRESSED I j The President, on behalf of the' j Society, thanked the Trustees of the J Suter Art Gallery for giving them the J opportunity of seeing—the contrast exj hibition—the Royal Photographic ! Society’s Exhibition, and, next month, j the collection of Canadian pictures. He ! also thanked the Governors of Nelson ! College and Mr Searle for the use of the Art Room for their special discussion meetings, also Mr W. H. Allen who had so ably acted as leader of their monthly discussions. Mention was also made of Messrs Vitetta’s and Mrs Allen’s assistance with music at the annual exhibitions. The Society was also indebted to Messrs Savage and Sons of Bridge street for receiving and packing the pictures and thanks were given to the press for generous reports of the activities.