ART IN TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12477, 14 September 1904, Page 4

ART IN TIMARU.

A PROPOSED GALLERY. Some days ago the Mayor of Timaru (Mr J. Craigie) sent us a copy of a letter, notifying an offer made by Mr Greene, and suggesting that steps should be taken to establish an art gallery for this town. As we do not make a practice, of publishing letters which have already appeared in other newspapers, we invited the Mayor to outline his scheme to a member of our staff who at the same time obtained the opinions of several other gentlemen interested in art, on Mr Craigie's proposals. The following is the result: — THE MAYOR'S SUGGESTION. Mr Craigie said that to see an art gat lery started in Timaru had always been a pet idea of his, for he had a firm belief in the refining and educating influence of good pictures and statuary. He would, however, probably not now have proposed starting such an institution had it not been for a liberal and entirely spontaneous offer by Mr Greene to present a copy of a great picture as a foundation. Such an offer could not be ignored, and must either be accepted or definitely refused. Under the circumstances, it was a splen : did opportunity that should not be allowed to pass if by any means the town could take advantage of it. He had no doubt that once a suitable site and building had been procured, there would be little difficulty in gathering a very creditable collection of paintings, casts, etc. The copies of paintings, such as were to be seen in art galleries the world over, were as good educationally and otherwise to the ordinary person as the valuable originals, and besides the possibility of getting copies, there were many persons who would be' ready to present pictures to a gallery. As for statuary, casts .were readily procurable, and he himself had arranged that if a gallery was started here, Mr Greene should, while at Home, secure copies of two groups, the best he could find, • at Mr Craigie's expense. He kuew of another person in the town who was willing to give auother cast, and a few of these casts would go a long way in making a room attractive. Thus the question was practically one of site only. He had been looking about for suitable spots,'but they were very rare. If the spirit of benevolence would move someone to offer a small piece of land for the site, tljp whole difficulty would probably be over. Sites had been mentioned—the bit of ground next the Technical Schools, another bit next the Assemb'y Rooms, and others—all with advantages or. disadvantages. It was also suggested to add a room to the Mechanics' Institute. If a fifty-foot frontage could be got, a small building could be erected, substantially as to three walls, and temporarily as to the other, and so added to according to requirements. At present there did not seem to be a suitable site available, but he was hopeful that when public interest in the matter was aroused, the necessary facilities for the establishment would be given.

ARCHDEACON HARPER'S VIEWS. The Ven. Archdeacon Harper, whose interest in artistic matters is well known, and who has considerable acquaintance with art galleries, said he was very much in favour of having an art gallcry'in Timaru. T|s influence would be most beneficial, in giving young people an increased appreciation and a better understanding of the beautiful. From what he knew of the .local interest in art, it seemed that nothing stood in the way. except getting a suitable site. It would be necessary to have a site fairly central, so that it would not entail a long walk from the busy part of the town. There were, unfortunately, no municipal reserves situated centrally in respect of the business part of the town, and it seemed as if the only way out of the difficulty would be for some largehearted person to make a gift of a small section. As soon as a suitable building was erected—and having the site, he thought it very likely the Government' might help in the erection of a building—the rest would be easy. In Christchurch there was a very good art gallery, in which were placed a fine, collection previously housed in the museum. The hall was built withi a dancing floor, and was gaslit. Thus it could be, and very often was, let for meetings, concerts, flower shows, and private parties of one sort or another. _ In this way the gallery brought in a considerable income, for the hall, being very pretty and convenient, was very popular. Such a hall was badly needed in Timaru, where the only places available were the Drill Hall, the Assembly Rooms, and St. Mary's Schoolroom, all of them really too big for private parties and for many other purposes. As to tllie character of the building, it need be only very simple. The gallery at Sydney was a simple onestorey room, lit from above; the Christ-i-hurch one was similar, and the pictures were protected by a rail about three feet from the wall. The supply of pictures, e'e, would coma of itself. There were .always people ready to give pictures to such institutions, and he knew there were f-everal people in Timaru who had pictures of much merit that they could easily spare. Copies of statuary, too, could be got, and -'-ere suprisingly cheap, so that the gene■•?sity of donors could be relied on to soon -.rike a very presentable gallery. Several - aars ago a proposal was made to start ■< museum in" Timaru. If this had been .'one, probably an art gallery would have rmed a branch of it; but the proposal •me to nothing. Now, however, it wag r.„jte reasonable that an art gallery should '•? started, with a museum room as an •Ijunct. Presents for that would be perV.ps more easily got tban for the gallery. 'NTERVIEW WITH MR. GREENE. Mv Greene said that be purposed leaving ' r London next January, and hoped to ter Caldron's school or art, in which "'Hon Riviere, the greatest living animal infer, is an instructor. The picture 'lich Mr Greene will send to Timaru will -obably not be a reproduction of an old "Ster; he would prefer to copy a masterVe by a modern artist, preferably a T, t!!re of animal life, in which he feels • could do !himself most justice. In connection with his proposed visit England our Timaru artist points out "at students of art'in -Australia receive - more enoourasement than their coj7'ies i" this oniony. In Victoria the '->verrmer>t subsidises thn Melbourne. Art Hllery. and grants valuable travelling scholarships which enable the winners to

pursue their studies under the best masters in Paris. la return, the artists are required to present pictures to the Melbourne Art Gallery, equal in value to the amount of their scholarships. Thus the gallery is enriched with excellent copies of the old masters.whose pictures of course would <;;.t be procurable. In New Zealand, ihowevet, artists are left to their own devices i-.i following their bent. There are societies in all the centres dokg good work in encouraging art, and fostering the pubic tirtUe by providing galierhs. The Government, .however, gives r.o subsidies and lends no assistance to premising students to develope their genius under the teaclurs of the Old World.

Galleries now exist in 'Dur.ediu, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Nel--on. With regard to one for Timaru, Mr Greene says it would necessarily begin in a small" way, and he suggests that it would do for a start if a room was procured, sav in the Mechanics' Institute.' He suggests "that funds might be raised by an" exhibition of pictures, say every two years. Other societies would ihelp by lending pictures for such an exhibit, and there are in Timaru several very fine works of art which would no doubt be loaned by their owners. In time, if there was a permanent art gallery in the town, people who possess good pictures would no doubt be willing to make presentations to it. A'ready Mr Greene knows of one gentleman who, he thinks, would be. pleased to present casts of well-known pieces of statuary, and these, of course, would add to the value and attractiveness of the gallery. Local interest could be given to such exhibitions if an Art Society were farmed, and specimens of members' work were placed on view. Some years ago such a society did exist; in fact" there is a credit to its account in the bank to-day.. It had a very fair membership, and did good work, but it attempted a little too much in holding an annual 'exhibition of pictures. Probably it would be sufficient for the present if an exhibition was not prompted more than once in two years. In reply to a question whether there is any widespread interest in art in Timaru, .Mr Greene said that its appreciation demands education. With the beautiful landscape in; South Canterbury, there should be a - development of the artistic sense, but people are apt to overlook beauties spread at their feet whEe they travel far to see what is on a larger scale. They will go to Mount Cook, or the Cold Lakes for instance, where they can appreciate the scenery merely because it is'.grand' and impressive. But the artist can see beauties of colour even in a bunch of weeds. The establishment of an art gallery in Timaru would have a good effect in educatinE'the public taste, and thus enabling people to get. much more .pleasure out of life from a contemplation of the beauties with -which Nature has surrounded them.

OTHER OPINIONS. Some other persons were seen in reference to the matter, and all who took the least interest in it thought it a really good proposal to erect an art gallery. _ The influence for good of such an institution was undoubted, and a wide interest would be token in it. .The Art Society of some years past held exhibitions that were always popular, and was to some extent very successful. These, exhibitions were, however, held perh4»psi too close together. An organised exhibition, once every two or three years, with a"'gallery of pictures open always, would probably be far more successful. .