ARTS AND CRAFTS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14058, 16 November 1909, Page 7

ARTS AND CRAFTS

PROPOSED EXHIBITION, UM<>. A meeting of the general committee <of the South Canterbury Arts bociety was held last night in the Technical School, Dr Loughnan presiding over an attendance of about kour-and-twentv, including six or seven lauics. Rev. A. E. Hunt wrote asking iliat his name be omitted from the committee list, on the ground that he objected on principle to the lidding »i :"»' art union, as was proposed <>>" t ;il ' Society. Various sub-committi-vs nad Ik-mi meetings, and they now reported pr*.grcss. Mr W. Greene reported that tinArts sub-committee had agreed thai it was too early to make any move yet until the Christchurch Society fixed the'date of their exhibition. He anticipated that they vould be able to get 250,. artists' pictures—a great, many fro'm the Christchurch exhibition, and fay circulars to leading amateurs —and at least 50 more loan uictures in tlus distrjet. Ho supposed that enamelling and other applied art would bo included. It was suggested that January or February wonld be early •enough to send out circulars. Ho did not expect that anyone would paint pictures especially for an exhibition here; tho pictures were scnt : round to the different exhibitions, and the* idea was to arrange a date so as to save freights. An exception might bo made in regard to notifying photographers. Mr It. Grant said the Technical School had stores of work suitable for exhibition.

As photography is mainly done in the 'summer, it was agreed to notify

the photographic societies that a competitive exhibition will be held about May next. Miss Priest reported that a ladies committee of twenty-five had been set up, all very enthusiastic, and altogether forty-seven lady ' members were enrolled. Some of them had al-* ready begun needlework for the exhibition; many of them would lena pictures, and they would help in various ways as by taking charge of sections—curios and cookery for instance. ' V. .

Mr Black expressed the satisfaction of the general committee that the were taking up the- matter so enthusiastically. Mr' Grant reported for the Technical committee, that after a good dea. of discussion it was decided : to recommend that silver and bronze medals, and certificates, (with gold medal for exceptional merit) be awarded as prizes in certain, competitive classes, and no prizes be allotted to others. / Thai. Technical classes include such work as is done at the industrial classes of the School, earring, repbussee, leather embossing, etc. A list of judges for these a classes wsa also suggested. ™ Miss Priest, for the ladies present, said there were-too many classes 01 cookery, and Mr Grant agreed, but said the hsfc could be cut down. Mr W; Ferrier reported for his subcommittee, who. recommended that competitions be held in five classes ot photography. ,They /wished however, to inquire how other societies managed their exhibitions of photography. Miss HaR reported on wood carving, recommending.that-no prizes be offerer 'J 061 * in a children's class. Mr E. Wood, who had been asked to- form an entertainments committee, said he could do that, but he would rather assist someone else. The question of holding musical competitions in with the exhibition was brought upv Mr Black suggested for preference an "exhibition choir," and the chairman and Mr Wood agreed with him. Mr Wood thought there would be no difficulty in organising an orchestra and chorus. After a long discussion it was decided to exclude musical competitions, but the question of including oloctr-

titulary competitions was relegated to the entertainments committee for consideration.

-Mr Grant reported for the school exhibit* eomniittec, recommending that no prizes be offered, and that tho iiiintlicr of exhibits from each school be limited, these to bo writing, freehand drawing, mapping, plasticene, kindergarten work, woodwork with drawing, and plain sewing. -Mr Given, for the art committoe, asked what the price of the art union ticket was to be, and Is was agreed to. Ho explained that tbe whole fund raised by the sale of art union tickets would lji- divided into certain few proportions, and tbe winners must purchase "pit-times to the value of the annum! won. Tliat was one way in which artists disposed of pictures. The M«-:cty would receive a certain per-<-4-i!tag<> on the sales, from tho artists. Some inconclusive conversation took place on the cost of a die for medals, and it was agreed that inquiries should be made.

Miss Priest raised the question of organising committees in the otlier towns in the district, to assst in working tit) tbe exhibition; and this was approved in. principle, though Messrs Grant and Greene feared that it might result in too much material being collected by tho local committees. The chairman deprecated these objections, and strongly supported Miss Priest's suggestion. It was then pointed out that tho ladies' committee havo power already to appoint country residents as members of their committee.

As an assistance to all sub-commit-tees it was agreed that each of them lie requested to send in their draft programme' so that a general programme can be drawn up and,distributed.

A discussion took place on the question of payments by exhibitors. It was agreed that persons resident in the district, showing their own work must bo members of the society, unless showing in competition classes, when the payment -of entrance fee is the alternative. Mr "Wood elicited that members "of orchestra and chorus would not have to pay for admission. Tho member's 5s ticket is to admit to tho exhibition at all times, from first to last. . ~ , - A vote of thanks to tho chairman closed the meeting at-10 p.m.