ART SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24607, 15 May 1941, Page 9

ART SOCIETY

FIRST WINTER EXHIBITION ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR ADAMS To mark the beginning of the winter sketch season, an exhibition of about 140 paintings was opened in the rooms of the Otago Art Society last night. An address on the subject of Greek art was given by Professor T. D. Adams. Mr E. Miller presided. Congratulating the society on its exhibition, Professor Adams said that the importance to a community of such a group Of working artists could be illustrated from the history of art in past ages. For it had not been the great centres of wealth and commerce such as Rome or London or New York that had given birth to great movements of creative art, but, in the fifth century, 8.C., Athens, and, in the time of the Renaissance, Florence. The explanation was that in these two cities so many of the citizens had devoted themselves to the practice of painting and sculpture. Though he had regretfully to admit his ignorance of the technical side of the painter’s craft, that did not disqualify him from an appreciation of the principles and ideals of art, Professor Adams said. Some acquaintance with ancient Greek art had taught him, for example, that anything that was perfectly adapted to its function was as beautiful as it could be. It was only those parts of a Greek temple that had no obvious structural function that the Greeks decorated with sculpture. And on the same principle they eliminated fashion from art, for obviously, if last year’s wide-brimmed hat was adapted to its function, and therefore beautiful, it followed that this year's little circular knob precariously perched on the side of the head, could not also be beautiful. Under the tyranny of fashion a new hat must be different, but only sometimes would it happen to be beautiful. . Professor Adams then illustrated some of the universal principles of art from a’ Pompeii mosaic whose original was a late fourth or eardy third century B.C. Greek painting of the defeat of Darius by Alexander the Great at the battle of Issus. He claimed for it that by combining fundamental laws of composition with a motive of lofty human sentiment it was an example of art at its highest. The pictures exhibited comprise mostly water colours, although there are a few oils. The showing of work done by members of (he society is well up to the usual standard, if not better than usual. The majority are full of colour and bright, and some very wellexecuted. clean canvases ai'e shown. Landscapes and flower studies are prominent. Some of the Dunedin artists who exhibited work took advantage of having a maximum of six works on view. Included in the exhibition. which will be open for public inspection to-morrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. and until June 3 at the same times, will be the mosaic referred to by Professor Adams. Tapestry, jewellery, silver, pottery and enamel work, the work of members of the society, are also shown in two attractive showcases. 1