A PRAISEWORTHY VENTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22371, 19 September 1934, Page 5

A PRAISEWORTHY VENTURE

NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY OF ARTISTS EXHIBITION BY DUNEDIN MEMBERS. . By Philu'da. The fact that, in the Pioneer Hall, Cumberland street, there was opened on Monday an exhibition of paintings by tho Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Society of Artists, should be very gratifying to all thinking people. The fault with us in New Zealand —as any overseas visitor, if he can be persuaded to admit it, will confess —is that we are so isolated, so in a world of our own, that we have nothing to measure ourselves by; and, as a consequence, are pleased with ourselves to a degree bordering on smugness. On the other side of the earth com- ■ petition is keener. Everybody rubs wits* with everybody else, and the result is invigorating and stimulating. But here, we have only ourselves; and, content with our beautiful country, our self-sufficiency, and all we have achieved, we are comfortable and contented —a condition fatal to progress in the real sense of the word. When, therefore, any movement is made to break through that contentment, which, unless combated, tends to grow more and more solid with time, a sense of relief and pleasure should be aroused in all who hope for the best for New Zealand and her people. The New Zealand Society of Artists is a band of young artists with a definite feeling of creativencss within them. Like all good artists they are chary of tradition, believing that the spirit is greater than the letter, and endeavouring _to paint by the light of their own inspiration rather than by that which is considered correct by the old school. Their works —the best of them —are passionately sincere, and evoke in the beholder an emotion of wonder and delight. Striving to express as perfectly ag possible all that they have to express, they supply the very stimulus they most need; for they pit their efforts against one : another’s, ardently, courageously, _ and create an environment as encouraging as that found by less isolated and so more fortunate groups in Europe and London. Dunedin should ; toss her cap in the air on account of this present exhibition. That there should be imagination, desire, and life like this in her midst should make her shout for joy; for there is no doubt'that the quality of the work of these young painters is such that she may be pardonably proud of it. The Pioneer Hall glows with colour, eager, vivid, and vital; but it is not colour for its own sake; for these_ paintings have been conceived with intelligence, and betray a wedding of thought and feeling as able as it is unusual. The private view on Saturday evening was a happy occasion. Interest in the new venture was very positive, and people went from picture to picture with growing enjoyment. There was a large crowd present, and nothing to do but look at the exhibits. But even so, the evening was a long one, the guests seeming to prefer the atmosphere of vivacity and excitement in which they found themselves, to anything else outside. During the coming fortnight there will be many more such occasions, for everybody who has any fondness for art at all will want to be there seeing what the young group has to say for itself.. ' ■ ■ The president of the Dunedin branch is Mr Russell Clark, with Mr Henry V. Miller vice-president; Miss Lexie Maeartlmr and Messrs Rodney Kennedy and Robert Fraser committee, and Mr J. D. Charlton Edgar honorary secretary and treasurer. The patrons are: Professor A. G. Strong, Miss M. Farquhar, Professor R. J. T. Bell, Dr Stanley Batchelor, and Messrs Frank Halsted, Frank Barron, and Alexander Watt. The artists whose work is on view in the exhibition are Edith Alexander, Chrystabel Aitken, W. H. Allan, Gladys Anderson, Margaret Anderson, Constance Boulton, Alivia Spencer-Bower, A. B. ; Barns-Graham, V. Macmillan Brown, Grace Butler, Jerry Campbell. RusseL Clark, Rita Cook, James Cook, J. D. Charlton Edgar. R. N. Field, R. H. Fraser, Louise Henderson, Roland Hipkins, Basil Honour. H. Horridge, _J. A. Johnstone, Rodney Kennedy, Jessie Lloyd, Doris Lusk, Lexie Mncarthnr. Ngaio Marsh. L. G. M'Cnlloch, T. A. M’Cormack, Tui M'Farlane, Harrv V. Miller, Ruth Seymour Perry. Eve Poison, W. J. Reed. Edgar Seelve. Phvllis Drummond Sharpe, Kathleen Salmond. Francis A. Shurrock, Cedric Savage,’ Myra Shaw Thompson, Sydney L. Thompson, J. M. Thomasson, Marion Tylee, Madeline Vyner, and Cora Wilding. ■ .