THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5729, 26 October 1905, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION.

THE QUESTION OF THE ART REPRESENTATIVE.

LAYMAN OR ARTIST. (To the Editor "N.Z. Times/*) Sir.—Tlio telegraphic news of your issue of 18th insl. retiorls tho action of the Fine Art Committee. Christchurch, appointing Mr James Jameson, as representative for the art section, who is to go to England, and tho Continojit to bring out the paintingsforthooxhibition—•to select*' and collect, 1 presume—and that such appointment hats to lie acknowledged by , the Government including JifiOO expenses, It is to bo honed that the Government, before doing anythin" of tho kind, will well consider the advisability of sending. i\ layman on such a responsible and artistically vital commission. It ifl said that the Government intend spending ir good sum of money on the art section, with tho idea of making a really fine show. I understand that anything up to' eight or nine thousand can bo spout to make it an immense "draw." Such a sura is more than abundance —.£SOOO should build tho gallery, nnd pay all expenses. and make it tho finest art show over seen in the Australasian colonics. If the Government intend doing this, it will be their first thought to get absolutely tlio best pictures, of only the highest merit—pictures that are to be not only an education, to tho nubile,—which education is sadly wanted according to some references made through tho papers, the last few days—but such that will be a "draw" to the exhibition, . and of higher artistic merit than can at present bo coon in tho colonv, pictures that arc not morel v "furnishing pictures/' a class’ that abounds by tho tens of thousands: in England and on tho Continent, and are such clever productions in their way that it is hard to say whore the "prettinoss" of a picture slops and where art begins. L maintain that such an undertaking can be carried out successfully only by an artist —a scholar in art. No layman can possibly do it; he may make a very good choice in selecting a few nice pictures for his drawingroom, but .this is quite a. different thing to the ono in question. The business {arrangements ho will probably manage; but when ho coraw in contact with thousands of pictures, which lie is bound to d;s, be will simply become bewildered, and the Government will find eventually they have been landed with a collection of xnedtocro paintings, and the exhibition made a dump-ing-ground for "pot-boilers." Tho collector will find himself hceeiged by painter*? of -all classes, by dealers, societies, art clubs, etc. Then how is a man who huff not studied art to make’a selection fop such an important and responsible show? There is just as much reason in sending a butcher to a surgical conference. My advice would be, if the Government sanction the action of tlio Fine Arbf Committee, to send along n responsible artist as well, and one whoso judgment could bo relied upon; or else arrange, with a committee of artists at Home to supervise the selecting. But even then it is'hard to find an unbiassed committoo; as they all belong to a cliqqp in England—even the R.A/s run their own show for aIF it is worth. In this caso the trouble would bo to got a thoroughly representative collection. At anyrato, if tho selecting is left to a non-artist, the art show is not' likely to bo tho success that such an opportunity warrants. / A* it is generally known, I put a sqlicme before the Fine Arts Committee, in-touch. I offered to make tho necessary collection, I carried out (similar duties for the International Exhibition of Melbourne in 1902-3, when, though tho collection watf comparatively small, it was generally acknowledged to be of tho highest stan. dard yet brought out. My scheme tor Now Zealand involves tho selecting of a collection of from COO to 800 works of modern and deceased artists, at a cost-of, approximately, from A3ISOO to X'2ooo, and personal expenses from next January to tlio end of tho exhibition at JBO3O. ■* The erection of tho gallery, rough!? speaking, costing something under .£2OOO, shows that tho whole thing could he done for less than .£SOOO. Then I showed how to work the whole business, and to cover all those expenses by sales, art union, etc, so that, when completed, they get their whole show for nothing and Aie art gallery thrown in. Up to tho time my proposal was handed in, I understand nothing had been done whatever/ No one could offer any practical scheme,’ in fact, it was' obvious they had not made a start and did not know how to go about it.—l am, etc., E. TV. CHRISTMAS. October 19th.