AN AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5885, 27 September 1880, Page 5

AN AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS.

A PUBLIC meeting is announced to be held in the Lecture Room of the Auckland Museum, Princes-street, on Monday, the 4th of October, to receive the draft of .'rules which the committee appointed at the last general meeting of members have been instructed to prepare. This new society, 3,3 its name implies, has been constituted for the ■ promotion, not of any one department of "art," but of "arts." The late Society of Artists appeared to have died of sheer inaction, but it should be said its field of operations was very circumscribed. For the one person that has an interest iu sculpture or painting, hundreds have an interest in art as applied or applicable to the ordinary conveniences of daily life. There is scarcely an article in common use, from a penholder to a steam-engine, into which artistic treatment does not enter. The new society will embrace artistic design in every form, as adapted to every kind of material. Painting, sculpture, engravings, carviDgg in wood or other materials, models, and patterns will always have a primary claim upon the attention of such, a Eocicty. But there is an immense number of things ■ which, thougli holding a secondary rank, are yet the products of art. Leather work, needlework, hairwork, ironwork, artificial flowere (in wav, wool, paper, or shells) are sometimes very beautiful objects. They manifest great varieties of taste and culture. There is absolutely no reason for excluding any of these ornamental products from the care and patronage of those who have the means to foster or the executive ability to promote art. That the wealthy should be asked to lend their aid to this society is but natural, for they will be amongst the first to derive advantage from its success. The houge of every well-to-do man owes a large proportion of its eomfort and elegance to objects such as we have referred to. Business people have an in> terest in creating a demand for them. The dettand will mainly depend upon the general appreciation of them which prevails at any given time. The new society will not, we are neglect to avail themselves of the assistance which can be given to their efforts by the wealthy, the more highly cultured, and even those who look upon such objects as mere articles of manufacture. The honorary secretary, Mr. Neil Heath, is a man of active habit and of practical energy. The list of the committee contains the names of many ladies and gentlemen who are not only artists in the strictest sense of the word, but have a real sympathy with art in every form.