OTAGO ART SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25069, 10 November 1942, Page 4

OTAGO ART SOCIETY

SIXTY-SIXTH EXHIBITION

A private view of the sixty-sixth annual exhibition of the Otago Art Society was given in the Pioneer Hall last night, when there was a large attendance of members. The president, Dr Clarke Hanan, said that, as shown in the last annual report, the membership of the society now. approached the 400 mark, and th^t/the .size of this society in Otago, in proportion to the provincial populations, was relatively larger than the art societies in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. With the increase in members in recent years, there had followed a steady and continuous strengthening of the financial position of the society. This strong and healthy condition of affairs would, he hoped, with the return of peace, enable them to expand on a qonsiderable scale their cultural activities and general influence in the community. The number of works selected for hanging this year was almost the same as at the exhibition last year. Dr Hanan said. On this occasion, however, the works from this nrovince largely predominated, the reduction in the number of northern works being due to the fact that the art societies in Auckland and Wellington were also holding their exhibitions at this time. Difficulty of transport and freight costs had also contributed to the reduction. Of the quality of the work displayed he would venture to express the opinion that such a high average standard of wprk had not been produced by Otago artists for the past 10 years. Probably the main feature of the display this year was the high even quality of the paintings, which as a provincial display would hold its own, he thought, with any other province in the Dominion. He added that over 300 children’s drawings and paintings had been offered, nearly all of which had been considered worthy of display. Owing to limitation of space, however, only about 100 works could be exhibited. In respect to the arts and crafts section, he regretted to say that, while good work was exhibited, this section was not as large as the council would like.—(Applause.) The speaker stated that the exhibition would be open for three weeks, in the day-time only. An interesting address on art was given by Dr R. Lawson, professor of education. He spoke of the many phases of art, and illustrated his points by quoting from the poets of the past and the ancient philosophers, such as Aristotle and Socrates. Art had its justification in the tact that it raised man above the level of mere practical needs, said the speaker. Beauty was always essential in art, and he asked, “Is there anything in Nature that is ugly? ” Art should be open to all the people and not be confined to those who were able ot purchase valuable pictures. The speaker concluded by touching on the subject of art in relation to education. Education in this connection, he said, should consist largely of things that appealed to the spirit. A wise philosopher had said that art was the root of the mental i.fe, and that teachers should endeavour to foster the creative powers of children in all forms of art.