WANGANUI ART EXHIBITION CLOSES TOMORROW

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 March 1949, Page 4

WANGANUI ART EXHIBITION CLOSES TOMORROW

(By H.C.J.) The Art Society's exhibition this year has been successful and gratifying alike to the artists, the society which was responsible for the organisation and to the public which has shown its interest by good attendances and purchases. The feature which is gratifying from the artistic standpoint is that there are so many members of the Sketch Club exhibiting. The Sketch Club, which seems to have been the cause of a schism in the ranks of the Arts Society, has fully justified itself. A revival of its activities is called for if the good progress in Wanganui art is to be sustained. This year the individual pictures are well hung, each picture being an individual unit and not part of a pavement of pictures. Part of the exhibition period was adversely affected by the heat wave and a little later dale for the opening would seem to be the more desirable, Beside the strength of the Wanganui company among the exhibitors is also to be voted the strong support (hat has been forthcoming from the Auckland Society and from Nelson Ella Spicer, Gwenyth Richardson, C. G. MacQuarrie, Bessie Christie, John Tole and Marjorie Naylor, and F. V. Hall, Esther Hope and Irene Vane are valued contributions from outside with others.

A feature worthy of note is the presentation of Still Life, by Mrs. Brice and Mrs. Hawkins. This field provides the most searching test of the painter and should be encouraged, as it would do much to lift the level of plainting technique.

The Day devoted to black and white work is dominated by the head by, Marjorie Naylor, and the two nudes by Stenberg. This again is a department worthy of encouragement with a view to lifting pictorial art to' higher levels. The Art Society might consider holding a black and white exhibition during the year with a view to stimulating interest in drawing and also public interest in that subject which is fundamental. In the arts section there is some good work, although it must be confessed that here the standard of attainment is not as high as in the water colours.

The society is to be congratulated upon having introduced a section for children’s art. This section must be judged on scales suited to the section’s needs. Based on this method of evolution, the work exhibited by the Intermediate School is to be highly commended. It is to be hoped that next year’s exhibition will include displays of children’s art from more of the elementary and secondary schools of the district.