ART EXHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22369, 17 September 1934, Page 3

ART EXHIBITION

NEW SOCIETY'S EFFORT EXPLANATION OF ITS AIMS The opening of the first exhibition of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Society of Artists attracted a large gathering to the Pioneers' Hall on Saturday night. The exhibition, which includes the work of artists from most parts of the Dominion, is largely contributed to by members of the Christchurch branch of the society, although Otago artists are also prominently represented. It had been intended that an address should be delivered by Professor Shellev, of Christchurch, but .owing to the fact that he had been called unexpectedly to Wellington he was unable to be present. In his absence the exhibition was declared open by Mr J. D. Charlton Edgar, the secretary of the branch. After dealing with the objects of the society, as laid down in the rules, MiEdgar went on to say that if one examined these objects three main aims became evident. The first was to ensure a higher level of artistic attainment amongst New Zealand artists by holding annually in each centre an exhibition, the works in which were by artists who, because of their interest in living forms of art—the art of their own times—were a distinctly unified body. This unity.was safeguarded by selective rules, the chief of which was that membership could be obtained only by proposal and a three-quarter majority vote of the existing members. _ It was also safeguarded by a rule against stagnation, which necessitated the existing members submitting themselves for re-election every three years. The unified group so obtained could within itself advance much more thoroughly and rapidly by exchange of ideas and knowledge than the artist could hope to do under the existing conditions of the art societies at present constituted. The second aim was to take all possible steps to ensure that the students and young artists had every chance of developing their talents to the utmost, even by financial aid. It was uttering a truism to say that the boy of to-day became the man of to-morrow, but they had been only too apt to forget this in artistic matters. ■ Thirdly, they were taking active measures to help the public to a greater understanding of art and artistic matters, especially as regarded present tendencies. They had already under way for next winter a comprehensive scheme of lectures by men of standing and ability throughout the Dominion, who were interested in and practising the arts. Remarkable interest had been aroused in Christchurch and elsewhere during the first year's existence of the society. He felt safe, judging from the support they had already received, in prophesying an equal success in Dunedin. He had been asked many times during the last few weeks why could not these objects have been introduced into art circles throughout the Dominion through the established art societies. There were many reasons why they could not so be introduced. If they_ took for an example the Otago Art Society, it would be seen that the council was representative of the membership of the society, which was made up of two distinct bodies—the "old firm" and the young members. It was difficult, with the divergence of viewpoints, to conceive how unity in the society could be achieved. If their own objects were introduced into the Otago Art Society en bloc the " old firm" would have to go with a Hitlerite sweep. Most of those in the new society were not prepared to see the loss of men and women who had for years given unstinted service to the best of their ability to the society. It was in order to avoid any disruption and conflict that their branch of the New Zealand Society of Artists was formed. They desired • their activities to be viewed as supplementary, not as antagonistic, to the old society. The old society, as an art society, must, in order to fulfil its function, cater for all variety of practising artists, whether modern or Victorian, whether amateur or professional. They themselves, who were responsible members of the, council of the Otago Art Society and also chief sponsors of the new society, only desired the advancement of art, and they would give in the future, just as they had done in the past, their full support to the older body and expect it to give them its blessing on their efforts.