NEW ZEALAND ART

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22850, 4 October 1937, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND ART

ACADEMY EXHIBITION

DISPLAY AT WELLINGTON LORD GALWAY OFFICIATES [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Saturday The annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts was opened by the Governor-General, Lord Galwav, in the National Art Gallery in the presence of a big gathering of members and lovers of art from all parts of the Dominion. Lord and Lady Galway and the other guests were welcomed 'by the president of the academy, Mr. D. A. 15 wen. "This is the first annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy to be held in our own gallery," said Mr. Ewen. "The acadepiy endeavours to encourage the development of art in New Zealand. We have not as yet in this country travelled far in the direction of developing a typical or distinctive art of our own. We, nevertheless, do possess an atmosphere and a scenery which I believe to be peculiar to New Zealand, and we all hope that one day some master will arise to do full justice to it. Wide Range of Work "Commendable efforts to portray our bush scenery have been made with success from time to time, and I would like to mention particularly the interesting studies exhibited by Linley Richardson and Olivia Spencer Bower. These are original and vital endeavours to portray something characteristically New Zealand. "In some of' the work sent in there appears to be a tendency to imitate unusual representations of ideas which have been exhibited by overseas artists," Mr. Ewen continued. "This, I think, is a pity. The originator, no doubt, knew what he or she wished to portray and did achieve a result. Efforts, however, to reproduce or imitate these methods are apt to fall into the category of plagiarisms and fail in achieving their object. The works exhibited cover a wide in style, subject and treatment, and will. I feel sure, prove of interest to all here present and some are of a very high standard." Words of Encouragement

His Excellency said it was a great Eleasure to him, and an equal one for ,ady Galwav, to be present at the opening of the exhibition. He was also delighted to attend at the gallery because the pictures were displayed to such advantage owing to the tasteful decoration and fine lighting. Mr. Ewen had mentioned that he had lent two sets of pictures for exhibition in the gallery. It was a great pleasure for him to do so, as in art one should be unselfish. Lord Galway said he would like to give a word of encouragement to those artists who were trying to improve their technique; to those who were putting on canvas the scenery and atmosphere and character of this wonderful country. He also had a word for those who were struggling upward with a desire to exhibit in such a show one day, and said he thought that with earnest study and interchanges of collections with the Commonwealth and the Home country, they would find, as time went on, great changes in art in New Zealand.