Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 1 : Presscuttings, 1959-1962

THE AGE LITERARY M ELBOU RNE. SAITHDAY. MARCH Art Is Calling New Y The Old And New Gall Old woman cutting her nails. Painting by Rembrandt (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York). BETWEEN NOON WHEN THE DOORS OPEN ON THOSE BIT'l half -past -four when it is dark, a crowd mills loosely around the entrance of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. One cut woollen coats, blue hands and drawn faces, enters the building in a movies-but not the theatres-are open, art is calling these New Yoi PAINTING, LIKE MOST other branches of art and cul- ture, is calling to many Ameri- cans today, trying to win some part of their attention during the periods which the luxury goods manufacturers like to call "America's new leisure." The Metropolitan Museum is a giant. neo-classic pile, of generally the same style, taste and vintage as the National Gallery of Victoria. in Melbourne. It is, however, about three times as long. Both were built at the height of the 10th century's wave of gallery building; both de- scend front the Berlin Museum of 1824, by Schinkel. the father of Greek revival. The Metropolitan backs on to the rusticated strip of Central Park, now stony -grey and lifeless. and faces a 12 -story apartment cliff across Fifth AVenue. It is the biggest but only one of half a dozen public art museums in New York. As well there are at least 40 exhibition galleries. They are of all sizes and quail- ties, conservative and avant-garde, ninny charging admission, MOM coaxing the public with a lively stic cession of collections and extra Sc.tivities; lectures. televised discus - 'Wes of b g reproductions or By ROBIN BOYD, A.R.A.1.A. the exhibited paintings, sometimes renting of the actual paintings. In addition to its famous collec- tion of paintings and art Worrts the Metropolitan Is offering at present such divertissements as a full -circle panorama of Versailles Palace and Gardens, seven feet high and 65 feet long, viewed from the centre in the company of tailors' dummies clothed in the period. It also has a reproduction of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel reduced to living - room scale and the "Life" trans- parencies. To find any evidence of golkil; tude for the footsore visitor, one must jump an empty century to the modern galleries. Museum fatigue is now recognised as a destroyer of enjoyment. and the right mood for contemplation. The new galleries try to help the visitor with physical aids - - lifts, escalator s and closer planning-and with frequent visual stimulants. subtly (Taxing hint front each intiinate Space toward, the next enticing vista. An the members' penthouse at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, afternoon tea is served. Exhibits arc ever changing, sin that members keep contact with the latest trends in the art world. Three of the most galleries are to be ton will be, near New Yoi The first was the hi concrete block of the `. Modern Art in West 5; pioneer, built in 1830, a stitution now In the Ii York. You take the over floor dv;hscitc:i the galleries by way i,' Alexander Calder's fan: of iron "fish scales" on In the permanent colic,' of the few Australian New York; perhaps CI Ned Kelly which Sidney painted. At the bottom of the out the back a big gr has been cut into New V work. A rectangular t through and k dozen and marble statues wieer and tinder the 'tr.! ,trie is a tall wing of People's Art Cents, Johnsen: d --.rector of th, designer with as mu m younger architects is in America. His styli else. Formal lines o encase grey brick pat tipper floors and a gr. glass. Excellent C'alet Overlooking the gard, hind the glass is the nu cafeteria In the world. down In the elegant snries reflects the status. Johnson, a bachelor of and museum visitors embarrassed to be ear in such refined surroin, The finest emtll gall, 'ears is about, 60 mil New York. in New Ha ti,tit. II is the ne,e llnivers.P's art ealler. ,entre. designed In 19.1. Orr and I,nuis Kahn. The broad, open ft have been eonstruct ed iirnal ,uppors. The thick ceiling strwhire Is exposed a (1t.1,:,. irt 1:, the puke!.; th., ,:14. 1, pt., of 1;r, .1i sculptural exhibits. The positions of the st Partitions within the ho_ c.vled frequently: they lied to the 'riling cr ind at. any