ART EXHIBITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 235, 3 October 1929, Page 6

ART EXHIBITION

HIGH STANDARD SHOWN FINE WATER COLOURS The standard of work shown at the Wanganui Society of Art’s exhibition is a very high one indeed. From year to year art in New Zealand progresses further and further beyoiTd the elementary stage, and to-day a Dominion exhibition is one that will bear comparison anywhere. The Wanganui Society has attracted .works representative of the best of the New Zealand artists with a result that the collection is one that possesses much which will appeal to lovers of art. Added to the excellence of the work shown is the fact that, in the Sarjeant Gallery, is a medium for showing the paintings off to the best advantage. In this respect it is interesting to note that, amongst many visitors to the exhibition who have commented favourably upon the pictures and the appointments, an engineer off one of the overseas boats, which visited Wanganui recently, stated that he had travelled all over the world and had never seen such a fine building as the Gallery for a city of the size of Wanganui. It will thus be seen that Wanganui is particularly well suited for, and bids fair to become a centre of art in the Dominion. It therefore behoves citizens to realise the possibilities in the Gallery and the work of the Arts Society and to give what assistance lies within their power. Such assistance may be given by patronage of the exhibition and by the purchase of the works exhibited. The first helps the Society to function so that it can foster art and stimulate an appreciation of artistic things, the second encourages artists to send their works, thus ensuing an exhibition worthy of the city. New Zealand Landscapes The collection of water-colours is a very fine feature of the exhibition. If anything there is a tendency amongst many of the artists to imitate the work of others whom they admire. It is far better if they can keep to the line of their own. However, there is much which appeals in the various subjects treated and the. New Zealand landscape, work has, for the most part, caught the spirit of the country. In this connection mention might be made of Miss D. K. Richmond who has excelled herself this year. It is a. great pleasure to have several of the best examples of this well-known artist’s work. In her “Two Bridges, Greymouth.” depicting the portion of the Grey River where the notorious “barber” sweeps down on the township with such chilling effect, there is a pleasing harmony in the gray tones used. Aliss Richmond has also shown a still life subject, “The White Cock,” which is distinctly original and pleasing. “Roses” is characteristic of the quality of work which has made her name. A strong water colour is “Entrance to the Beginage, Bruges,” by W. S. Dudley. “The Little Madonnas, Bruges,” by the same artist is painted along similar lines. Two scenes familiar to Aucklanders arc “St. Patrick’s Spine,” and “Myers Park,” by D. V. Young, executed in deep and strong tones. ’ A nice little English village scene is the work of Roland Hipkens,

Pleasing Studies A well-composed painting is “Long Nose Point,” one of the many interesting features of Sydney’s beautiful harbour. The work is by Alice E. Whyte who has shown a number of other interesting studies. “Kowhais” .is a decorative study by Dorothy Ashton. The same artist has treated “Anemones” in strong colour, but spoilt it by bad drawing. “Rain on the Hills” and “Shadows on the Cliff,” the work of Hilda Wiseman, are two broadly painted pictures. “Westminster Bridge” by K, V. James, is one of the best of the artist’s contributions ever sent to the Society’s exhibitions. A flower study, strong and hamonious in colour, is “Zinnias,” by Ella J. Spicer. “Mt. Rolleston” and “Cracroft Hill, Cashmere,” by W. Menzies Gibb, are excellent examples of this veteran artists’ work. Improvement in treatment is shown by W. S. Wauchop in a pleasing painting, “Lake Kanieri.” A poetical cast to a prosaic subject is given by Edmund Atkinson in “Sunset, Moumahaki.” “Out on Blue Water,” by R. T. Little, is a breezy seascape, but the boat shown in it gives the impression of being on the crest of a hill rather than upon a rolling wave. “The Domain, Auckland,” does not make the best of a very charming spot. This and “Tulips,’’ by the same artist, Miss Lucretia Johnson, are not up to the standard of her best work. In “Serene Amidst Alarms,” W. H. Pratt has scarcely, in his colour scheme, conveyed the impression of a storm, and the mountain is too obviously cut out. The picture a s a whole, however, is well composed. A charming view of an old-world street now, alas, rapidly disappearing, is “Dawlish, Devon,” the work of Mr C. Hay Campbell. It is full of colour and suggestive of the charm of the English countryside. In “Violets,” Miss G. Mason is up to the standard of her former work. “Cinerarias” and “Mexican Sunflower” are two careful and effective flower studies by E. W. Anderson. “Anemones” by B. Wilson is a good attempt at a flower study. It is to be hoped that “jazz-coloured” frames •will not become the fashion, for the sake of those who have to hang the pictures. “Roses” by ISTrs W. M. Cox is a charming well-balanced study painted in harmonious colours. A nice little painting of the Belmont Links is the work of Miss Montgomery Moore.