Amateur's Bunfight

"For those who enjoy the New Zealand scene as interpreted by some of the Dominion's leading artists (?) a visit to the current exhibition ... in the James Smith Gallery will be a pleasant and rewarding experience." No doubt. But for those with any discrimination at all it is not only an un-pleasant and unrewarding experience, it is positively debilitating! The so-called critic from whose article in the "Evening Post" the above passage was extracted obviously has no more idea of who are the Dominion's leading artists, than I have of why she must write such twaddle.

If people like Roger P. Harrison, P. K. Kingdom, C. M. Paterson and April Whiteoak, to name but three, are our leading painters, then I am the fairy king himself. Given pride of place is one of Peter McIntyre's bilious efforts entitled "Rangitikei River," the non apparent virtues of which, those who enjoy such stereotyped attempts to interpret the New Zealand scene, extol.

M. Carmichael, whilst being no Raphael, is the only painter represented in the show who shows any originality, or rather individuality, whatsoever. His five oil studies though quite elementary technically, were made more interesting by the very personal way in which Carmichael applies his colours and by his brush technique. Given better tuition, this painter who shows some promise could well improve his competence.

The only other painter worth mentioning is E. B. Lattey of Levin who's canvas "Waimana River" was the only painting really worth seeing in the show, with the possible exception of R. B. Watson's "Sunrise and Frost" which has been seen before in other shows. Don't you think you ought to give this a rest Mr Watson? "Waimana Rivier" is quite a clever work with particularly strong background and great depth. However, the foreground structure in some of Lattey's work appears weaker.

As for the rest of the so-called exhibition of "leading artists" the sooner they pawn their amateurish work to some junk shop the better. There are far, far too many Sunday painters in New Zealand who let themselves loose on a gullible public and, in some cases, critics, and wreck havoc upon their critical judgment—if such judgment ever existed in the first place.

G.L.E.