Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 24, No. 12. 1961.
Round the Galleries
Round the Galleries
Recent exhibitions range' from a singularly "tatty" showing entitled "The School of Paris" at the centre gallery, to the superlative collection of Picasso reproductions in the Willeston Galleries. In addition the Wellington Art Club is at present holding its annual exhibition in James Smith's Gallery.
The Art Club's exhibition this year presents a wide variety of styles and skill ranging from some very good work of "learners" to work of such advanced scope as R.B. Watson's "The New Model"— a charming, a delightful study, infused with warmth and light, and Kenneth Turner's "Two Begonias and Evans Bay." R. B. Watson's "The Laundress" is another particularly fine portrait.
A dog study, "Trixie," by Lorna McArtney seemed to catch the true pathos of the animal world and was finely executed. There were also, tucked away but why I do not know, two delightful child studies "Sandra" and "Chery," by Noel Goodger which were at the ridiculous low price of two guineas.
As usual there were plenty of landscapes and still lifes. Two particularly fine studies were "Old Homestead Pahuatanui," a watercolour by Gwen Cash more, and Sydney Higg's "Deserted, Perhaps Haunted." The latter perhaps contained a greater depth of insight than any other canvas at the show. It is the sort of picture which is retained in the mind of show. It is the sort of picture which is retained in the mind of the viewer. Tui McLaughan represented by "Old Tree, Island Bay" and "Rural Scene, Judgeford," is a gifted artist in many ways and shows a sensitive inquiring mind in these seemingly fragile, frail studies finely delineated. Valerie Beere's "Morning Practice" fails in my opinion but her "Apre's Dejeuner" is infused with greater life and strength. A study by A. H. Maund entitled "Tewkesbury Abbey" really was first class, showing a masterly handling of depth and light. The only nude study "Nude" by Graham Smith did not really come off at all. Of the still lifes "Orchids" by Olive Hamilton. "Black Mantilla" by Edith Boyes, and Florence Luxford's "Red Roses" were representative. Altogether this exhibition is a very satisfying one and one well worth seeing.
The Picasso showing at the Willeston Gallery, representative of. his work from 1900 to 1960 was one of prints, the originals of which were shown at the Tate Galley last year. Seeing such a multitude of Picasso studies reminded me more than ever before of the likening of Picasso to a spider who sits watching in the centre of a web, in every direction, and from time to time pounces, the direction of his pounce being usually unpredictable. This exhibition was well attended.
The centre gallery's " French School" was an aesthetic insult to anyone who visited it, shabbily got up and vulgarly displayed. Black back drops to motley collections of cheap prints both stultify what quality a print may capture, if any, of the original, and stupefy the receptive organs of the viewer.
—G.L.E.