W. G. Grant Memorial exhibition

INTRODUCTION By E. A. Ferjuson Meeting W. G. Gr a n t w a s a n inspiration. His outlook o n life a n d a r t w a s g a y a n d adventur- ous; his a p p r o a c h to p r ob l ems w a s cou r ageou s ; a n d his belief i n the v a l u e of g r e a t a r t was boundless. In m y opinion, h e w a s p e r h a p s t h e mo s t potent single influence in Qu e e n s l a n d Art Gallery circles in recent ye a r s , b e c a u s e h e believed, passionately, that the function of a Public Art Ga l l e r y is to e n a b l e p e o p l e to s e e t h e b e s t works of g r e a t artists. He strove to b u y for the Ga l l e r y ma j o r paintings of t he Au s t r a l i an Artists a n d to permit those paintings to wo r k their magic. Like all pioneers, h e found the p a t h w a y in a r t strewn with obstacles. In his e a r l y d a y s as a n artist, there w a s a poor Art Gallery, m e a g r e funds for paintings a n d a n uninformed public wh o b o u g h t f ew pictures. He w a s s u r e s u c c e s s wo u l d come, not for himself a s artist, but for the Qu e e n s l a n d National Art Gallery. A s a Trustee of t he Gallery, h e s uppo r t ed e v e r y progressive move; h e w a s confident that, in t he not v e r y distant future, w e in Qu e e n s l a n d wou l d h a v e a worthy Art Ga l l e r y a n d a wo r t hy a r t collection. I a dm i r e d his attitude t owa r d s t he public. H e k n e w that his o w n a r t work wo u l d not, during his lifetime, a p p e a l to m a n y of them, bu t h e k n e w h e w a s right a n d h e kep t o n keeping o n a n d pa i n t i ng to the end. I a m p l e a s e d that this Memorial Exhibition h a s b e e n a r r a n g e d a t the suggestion of o u r Direc- tor, Robert Haines. It is a tribute to a g r e a t artist a n d a gen t l eman . It will, I hope, e n a b l e Qu e e n s l a n d e r s to ap- preciate t ha t a n artist of quality lived with t h em for mo r e t h a n half a c en t u r y a n d h a s now p a s s e d on. I trust that the public will s e e his works a n d c ome to en j oy t h em a s those of us wh o k n e w h im did. In his wo r k s of a r t h e still lives. His h a p p y personality; his s e n s e of humour; a n d , a b o v e all, his k e e n appreciation of b e a u t y in all its forms a r e there for all to see. I w i s h this Grant Memorial Exhibition e v e r y success. AN APPRECIATION By C. H. Lancaster The l a t e W. G. G r a n t c a n rightly b e r e g a r d e d a s o n e of Qu e e n s l a n d ' s outstanding artists. He w a s essentially a n individualist, not tied to a n y School or fashion of t h e moment, but a l w a y s followed his own line of thought, whilst n e v e r losing sight of the f und ame n t a l prin- ciples gove r n i ng all g r e a t art. His v i ews o n a r t we r e s o u n d a n d his a p p r o v a l of t he wo r k of his fellow artists w a s much sought after, a n d if, in his opinion, this could riot b e given, his n a t u r e w a s s u c h t ha t h e never s a i d a n unk i nd wo r d a bou t a n y work, p r ov i ded that it w a s a sincere effort. He w a s a life memb e r of the Roy a l Qu e e n s l a n d Art Society a n d w a s o n e of its e a r l y Treasur- ers; a memb e r of the Darnell Fine Arts Committee of t he University of Qu e e n s l a n d ; a n d a Trustee a n d memb e r of the Art Adv i s o r y Committee of t h e Qu e e n s l a n d National Art Gallery. His wo r k w a s mu c h better a p p r e c i a t e d in t h e Southern States, wh e r e h e exhibited regularly with t he Victorian Artists Society, of wh i c h h e w a s a member. He is r e p r e s e n t e d in the Qu e e n s l a n d National Art Gallery, t he Darnell collection a n d many private collections, a n d time will p r o v e t h e true v a l u e of his contribution to Qu e e n s l a n d Art. CATALOGUE OILS EVENING 2 THE GARDEN SEAT 3 BLUE AND GREEN 4 THE GOATS 5 MORE GOATS 6 THE BAY 7 MORNING LIGHT 8 9 10 ROSES THE BLUE GATE IN ROMA STREET WATERCOLOURS 11 EVENING 12 13 14 15 HILLS AT KURANDA VIRGINIA CREEK AFTER THE BUSH FIRE TANGLED TIMBER 16 HILL SIDE 17 CHINAMAN'S BRIDGE 18 STILL LIFE 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 CLEVELAND MORNING VENETIAN BLINDS (Illustrated) CASTLE HILL HIBISCUS FLOWERS THE SAIL POINT ARKWRIGHT 27 CREEK, CAIRNS 28 FISHING BOAT 29 CUT FLOWERS 30 31 32 33 DONKEYS CHINESE HUT EMMANUEL COLLEGE WOMAN AND GOATS