AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6064, 25 April 1881, Page 6

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS

This society*, which opened it 3 first exhibition on the 6th in the Choral Hall, was established to cncourage the production and disposal of works of art by exhibitions, art unions, <fcc., free of commission on sales and of any expciiHO to the producers, except the cost of carriage to the place where they are to be exhibited or of removal if neecssary. These exhibitions will be annual, and will embrace all kinds of work into which artistic skill or design enters—viz., " drawing, painting, sculptural arehitectui'c ; modelling in clay, wax, leather ; needlework, etching, woodcarving, engraving, photography, designs for plate-glass, china, and all other departments of industrial or decorative art." The YicePresidenta of the Society are :—The Right Rev. tho Bishop of Auckland, Sir Maurice O'Rorke (Speaker of the House of Representatives), the Hon. F. "Whitaker (AttorneyGeneral), Rev. Dr. Purchas. Rev. D. Bruce, Mr. Justice Gillies, Judge Feutou, the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. M. Clark), Messrs. E. JC. Tyler, G. P. Pierce, R. C. Bars tow (R.M.), T. Buddie, J. M. Dargaville, and 8. P. Smith. Mrs. J. M. Clark, Mrn. ]>. Ireland, Miss Carpenter, and Miss Home constitute the committee of ladies, •tided by the Rev. S. Edger, Messrs. Blomfield, .Joshua Martin (F.S.A.), Trevithick, aiul 'ti'alket*. Mr. Neil Heath is honorary secretary, and Mr. Alhiu Martin treasurer. T:ie exhibition closed 011 April li, having been successful and well attended from the opening to the close. The demand for paintings was good, those by local artists having been sold to the amount of £209 Is. The principal demand was for the oil paintings, the water-colours not having found favour. Towards the close there was a brisk demand for wax flowers, and Teutenbergs Nautilus shells found purchasers amongst the admirers of jewellery. It is gratifying that the Auckland Society of Art 3 should have been so successful. Artists and amateur's will now be stimulated to work, and there is no doubt: if they produce good work that they will receive something like an equivalent in hard cash. The success of the exhibition is greatly due to the energy of the Hon. Secretary (Mr. X. Heath), who devoted to it much time and labour.