OTAGO ART SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18557, 18 May 1922, Page 2

OTAGO ART SOCIETY

AMALGAMATION WITH SISTER BODY. NECESSARY RESOLUTIONS PASSED. A meeting of members of the Otago Art Society was held in the Art Gallery Hall yesterday afternoon for the purpose of considering a resolution of the council of the society recommending amalgamation with the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society. The president of the society (Sir George Fenwick) occupied the chair. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was read by the chairman. It was as follows: The council has long held the view that an amalgamation of the society with the Public Art Gallery trustees was desirable in the interests of the objects which both societies have In common. Meetings have been held of subcommittees appointed by the two societies, at which rules were drawn up for the, governance of the proposed amalgamated society. These rules have been approved by the council, and by the committee of the Art Gallery trustees. Motions will be submitted to the meeting approving of the proposed amalgamation, and the handing over of the society’s assets and liabilities to the amalgamated society. It is with very sincere regret that the council contemplates the dissolution of the society which, during its long life extending over forty-six years, has done so much for the furthering of art in Dunedin and towards building up the fine collection of pictures in the Art Gallery. It feels, however, that the amalgamated society will be in a stronger position to carry on the work, and that from every point of view the proposal is a desirable one. If approved by the members of both societies it is suggested 'that the amalgamation shall take effect as from March 31, 1022. The balonoe sheet submitted covers a period of nine months, and takes in the annual November j exhibition. The membership has been largely in- | creased and now numbers 281 honorary and 77 \ working members. The annual exhibition was I perhaps the most successful ever held .by the ! society. It was opened on November 10, when i a private -view was held, to which members | were kindly invited by the president and Lady ; Fenwick. During the evening tha honorary mem- j hers’ iirt union was drawn, and several important works disposed of, including Mr A. H. i O’Keeffe’s excellent picture, “The Defence Min- ; ister’s Toltgram,” which iyas purchased for the j Art Gallery at 100 guineas by the society and j the Art Gallery trustees jointly. The council was i fortunate in securing the services of Professor ‘ Shelley, of Canterbury College, Christchurch, who ] delivered a scries of interesting, and instructive I lectures on art. The society is greatly indebted ■ to Professor Shelley for his kindly help. The 1 sale of pictures, including those disposed of by I art union, ’amounted to £737 9s. The sum of I £lO2 Is was received for admission and £3l 3s ' from the sale of catalogues. The following prizes i were awarded: —“.Siitdy of a Head From Life” j (in oil or water colour) —Roland Vaughan, Dunedin School of Art. ‘.‘Study of a Head” (in pencil,*l chalk, or chdrcoal) —Neil M’Dougal, Dunedin | School, of Art. The medals presented to the | Otago Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools were won by Bernard G. Cox and Roma L. Campbell respectively. The Indy members kindly provided afternoon tea on tw'9 days of each week, and the society's best thanks are due to these ladies for their kindly services. FINANCIAL. The activities of the society over the period mentioned by the chairman showed a credit balance of £l2O 17s Id. The liabilities were set down as follows:—Donation for School of Art fund, per Dr Colquhoun, £b 6s; Joachim'Bequest Fund, £100; balance of accumulated funds, £1855 8s 2d;— total, £1361 14s 2d. The assets were set down as follows:—Pictures in gallery, £1584;, Dunedin Savings Bank, £156 17s Id. war loan inscribed stock, £100; bank balance (Unibn Bank of Australia Ltd.), £l2O 17s Id;—total, £1961 14s 2d. Outstanding subscriptions, £9O; accounts for advertising in catalogue, £6 ss. VALEDICTORY. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the Chairman said that it would no doubt be with feelings of' considerable regret that members iof the Otago Art Society met that day to pass- the necessary resolution providing for the amalgamation of the society with the ■ Dunedin Art Gallery Trustees. The amalgamated body was to bear the title of The Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society (Incorporated), This step was, of course, not to be regarded as anything more than an amalgamation of the two bodies, for the rules of the amalgamated society provided that the members of the Otago Art Society become ipso facto members of the amalgamated society with exactly the same privileges and powers as the, mepibers of the other society, and with the name of the Otago Art Society included in the full title of the new body. This being so, while it was true that they were to sink their own .identity as a separate organisation, they still continued in existence in amalgamation with their friends the Art Gallery Trustees. It was interesting to note that the Otago Art Society had been in existence for slightly over 46 years. From the records? that were preserved he found that as the year 1875 was drawing to a close six gentlemen— Messrs W. F. Browne, W. M. Hodgkins, W. Deverell, J. S. Welch, Murray, and Percival—met in the Dunedin Athenaeum and agreed to form a society of artists in the city. Two further preliminary meetings were held in January, 1876, the Otago ArtSociety was formed, and the first general meeting of the society was held on February 4 the same year, there being 19 members present. His -Honor the Superintendent of Otago, Mr James Mocandrew, was elected patron, and Mr John Irvine, A.R.S.A., president ; Mr W. M. Hodgkins, vice-presi-dent ; Mr W. F. Browne, treasurer; and Mr D. C. Hutton, who then occupied the position of provincial drawing master, was appointed secretary. The following gentlemen were elected as the council:—The Right Rev. Dr Nevill, his -Honor Mr Justice Chapman, Messrs E. B. Cargill. John Bathgate, J. •T. Thomson, J. S. Welch. George O’Brien, W. Arthur, Dr Hulme, and Professor Coughtrey. Of those gentlemen there was not one alive at- the present day, and this perhaps was not surprising, seeing that 46 years had elapsed since the society had been formed. That morning he had spent a little while in looking over old newspaper files to see whether the formation of the society had aroused any public interest, but he had failed to find any reference to it. There may possibly, however, have been some reference to it. Nor had the first exhibition of the society been heralded with any remarks of appreciation. That exhibition was . opened, apparently without ceremony, on November 3, 1876, and the catalogue of exhibits brought to memory the names of many well-known artists of the period. Towards the end of 1877 Dr Scott, Mr George Joachim, and tfye members of the latter’s family ioined the society. From time to time pictures were purchased by the society, and early in 1888 a room hod l been granted in the Municipal Buildings as a temporary Art Gallery, and in March of that year the temporary gallery had been opened. They all knew how the society had pro- - grossed since those early days. It had had a really remarkable success, as was testified to by the works on the walls of their gallery, many of which had been loaned to the society by the sister body. He felt sure that those who had been associated with the society for many years past had reason to be grateful for the work that had been accomplished. _ Their society was not going out of existence^—it was simply and solely an amalgamation with their friends, the Art Gallery trustees. He was sure that they would agree with him that in the amalgamated body they would have useful society that wduld do still more for the advancement of art in the city. Although they were going out of existence as a separate body they would take just as much interest in the amalgamated society.—(Hear, hear.) He would like to testify to the good work of Mr Halstead as treasurer. They all felt very grateful to him. and also to their secretary, Mr Neilson. —(Hear, hear.) Mr Neilson had, to all intents and purposes, as a member of the council had expressed it that afternoon, been the Art Society—at onyrate he had been the pivot of the society. They were greatly indebted to him for all the work be -had done for the society.— (Applause.) f Mr A. Bollard seconded the motion.

Mr E. L Halstead said that their president had referred to the fact that after 46 years of existence their_ society was now going to sink its identity in becoming amalgamated with the sister society. They certainlv all looked forward to this being a step in advancement. They hoped that the amalgamation would prove a stepping stone, and that still greater strides would be made in iho way of furthering art in Dunedin, and one might say in Otago. At the same time those of them who_ had been speciallv connected with the society could not but fee! sincere regret that that was to he the last meeting of the society as a separate entity. Sir George had referred to the long series of years since the first meeting of the society in 1876, and had mentioned some of the names of those who had taken ah early part in the affairs of the society. He ought to be pardoned for just referring again to those who had really stood the heat and burden of the day and whose names stood out in the history of tho society. He thought he might first mention the late Mr Hodgkins. His period of service, probably went too far back for them to remember him personally, but from what they knew, and read, he was one of the mainstays of _ the society for a great many years, and it had been really due to him probably that the society had been founded at all. The < speaker also referred to the assistance given to tho society bv the late Dr Scott and the late Mr Joachim. In later years Mr Neilaon

was the one whom the society had' looked to for help and guidance, on every occasion, and it had never looked in vain. Mr Neilson was of a retiring and modest nature, but there was no doubt that his whole heart, his whole thought, had been for the Art Society and kindred subjects in Dunedin. — (Applause.) Mr Neilson mentioned that Messrs John White and John M’lndoe, two of theirtreasurers, had rendered efficient service.—(Hear, hear.) The Chairman said that the society had been extremely fortunate in having men in the society who had its interests deeplv at heart, and had rendered it great and valuable services. The motion was then put and carried. THE RESOLUTIONS.

The Chairman moved: —“That this meeting of members of the Otago Art Society approve of the amalgamation of the society with the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society Incorporated, and authorise the taking of all such steps as are necessary to effect the said amalgamation.” He said it was a thoroughly sound move, and would tend to the benefit of art in Dunedin. The matter hod been well considered by the committees of both Societies.

Mr Bollard seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The ' Chairman also moved; —“That subject to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society Incorporated taking over all the liabilities of the Otago Art Society the assets of the Otago Art Society became the property of the said Dunedin Art Gallery Society Incorporated.” Mr A. H. Fisher seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. THE CITY’S RESPONSIBILITY.

Mr Theomin said that, as a member of the society, as distinct from a member of the executive, he would like to move:—“That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the retiring, council of the Art Society, and to the councils that. have.preceded it, for the untiring efforts made to advance art ; n Otago.” The mover said that he would like to specially emphasise the services of their president, tneir secretary, their treasurer and the members of the council. They had all shown a great desire to further art in their city, and were to a _ large extent responsible for the proud position their society had attained. The new society would be fortunate in receiving the handsome legacy of £IO,OOO from the late Mr Peter Slmeaton. That legacy was bringing in a handsome income, and art in Dunedin must go ahead. The governors were taking steps to see that the very best advice was obtainable in regard to the selection of new pictures. There was nothing to equal their society in New Zealand, .so far as their gallery was concerned. Visitors to Dunedin from other countries were also surprised at the quality of the pictures on their walls. They, however, required sufficient income to enable them to keep their gallery up-to-date. iThe upkeep required was considerable, and ’he trusted that the citizens would realise that they had an asset in the gallery second to none in the city. He knew that it was a very wise thing to have a public library and a reference library, but man did not live by bread .alone, so to speak. It was therefore up to the citizens of Dunedin to influence the civic fathers in the direction , of a vote being made to the gallery worthy of the income that the gallery was now leceiving through the great whole-hearted love of art of Mr Smeaton. He had no doubt that the example of the late Mr Smeaton would be followed, by other public spirited citizens, but the corporation also had a duty in the mater of voting money to the upkeep of the gallery. Mr Mandeno seconded the motion. He said that he desired to compliment the chairman on the very great interest he had shown in the society during the past year. They bad been particularly fortunate in their presidents, that this year had been an outstanding one. The Chairman said he thought that they . were justified in claiming that the city ought to come to the help of the new society by providing some sum annually—that the city council was just as much entitled to encourage art in Dunedin through their art gallery as it was to carry on what was very fine institutoin, the public library. As Mr Theomin had said one was just as important as the other. Their society, however, had had very little assistance from the city in the shape of financial assistance He looked forward to the time when the city council would recognise its manifest duty in .this matter —(Hear, hear), —and realise what the art gallery really meant to, the city of Dunedin. He was emphatically of the opinion that it was the duty oi the City Council to come forward and subscribe, and* liberally subscribe, to the funds of their society, in order that they might be in a position to purchase some really fine pictures that would still further add year to year the value’ of their collection. Mr Neilson said that the net assistance received from the City Council was but a few pounds. The council made them a vote of £75, and took back about £6B in rates.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.