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

From Flom "WEST AUSTRALIAN," Perth, 'W.A. AN ART TRAIN REMAINS By ELIZABET11 YOUNG When the Queensland Jubilee Art Train recently finished a 7,690 -mile, seven -month tour of '-re Queensland railways, during which it was visited by 111,719 people at 95 country centres the State Government announced its retention as a permanent feature. THE cream and green train consists of four carriages. two art gallery cars, a libra car and a staff car, so com- pletely equipped as to make the staff independent of stopping places in the long distances of the outback. The staff of four travelling with the train includes a lec- turer on art and a trained libra- rian. who are changed every few weeks. Also accompany- ing the train throughout its journey as general caretakers were a picked constable and his wife (both ex -school teachers) who attended to the living re- quirements of the party. Workshops Conversion. The four carriages for the train were converted in the workshops at Ipswich to the de- signs of Mr. Robert Campbell, then director of the Queensland National Art Gallery, and con- venor of the State arts' sub. committee. The two gallery cars were made in the style of the newly remodelled art gal- lery itself. Divided into bays, the walls of the train, which consist of ply- wood faced with bushel and lightly sprayed with a warm, greyish colour, provide an Weal background to which the pic- tures, for security, are screwed, flat and immovable. The ceilings and woodwork arc a pale. greenish grey, and the cars are fitted with fluo- rescent lighting for which there is a generator in the staff car. Fifty-one pictures were se- lected for the Jubilee art train exhibition, examples in oil and water colour by most of the outstanding artists in Australia's art history. from Roberts, Stree- ton. Ri.insay and lambert. down to the present day and its most recent developments in he work of Dobell, Cileeson and Lymburncr. The library car. which ac- cents children's books-though the volumes include re cent publications of all kinds - is designed as a working lir, rary, completely catalogued. nu - tended by a trained librarian. and supplied with tables and chairs where the hooks can he handled. consulted and even read. "MAIL" Brisbane, Old. From From res Car *A, "COURIER MAIL," Brisoone, Qld. A NEW "FIND -FROM DUST If APORTRAIT of a woman, which the Queens- land Notional Art Gallery director i Mi. R. Haines' last night described as a "valuable find," was block with dust when he first sow it. A Brisbane family sent the painting to the gallery for sole, but Mr. Haines sold all that was distinguishable at first wee- a patch of yellow on what appeared to be u wc.rnon's face, Cleaning howev..i. re- vealed a "stiperl," por- trait painted by John Opie, R.A. 11767-1801 ). Opie, a contemprrary of Sir Joshua Reynolds. was one of the foremost painters of his time. Price secret The gallery bought the °Malt this ',veek, but Mr. Miles would not divulge he price. As an example of is value. however, he said n expert had told him that t was better than a Paini- ng recently bought by tire ydnev Art Gallery for E7011. The painting Is on view lust inside the entrance to the gallery. "COURIER MAIL" Brisbane, Qld. Picture appeal The Queensland National ,Art.Winery's valuable find [tad attracted considerabl mention. the gallery direr: tar , Mr. Robert Hainesi sal yesterday. The find bought by th gallery this week Is is port- rait painted by John Opic, 41767-1801). one of the foremost painters of his time. It first had to be cleaned to reveal Its worth. Mr. flainer, said that an artist had told him the port -,1 reit was a better example ni all 18th erntitry portrait than a larger Mare -quarter length portrait by Hogarth which the Sydney Art Gal - 'Ivry had bought recently tor "COURIER MAIL" Brisbane, Qld. ART ,t1D DotiBLED THE State Government will increase its annual grnnt to Queensland Notional Art Gallery from f3750 to f7000. "Thi enable the Art. ri--cet to inirChilSe pair ,ccordIlla In a well -eon, plan." the Educat If :g m ni aier. Mr. 'De% rier and 1,1. night. Ile nutlet -1,r d the trustees Mad a threever.t. plan tin buy 15 painting rto in year at till ,r.. cruet. of 050. The "find"-a portrait b John Opie. Interest ini art grows A "contagious spirit of I inte,ost" in art was abroad I in Queensland, the Queens- land Notional Art Gallery trustees deputy chairman iProfessor F. W. Robin- son) said lost night. lie was opening a collec- tion of 104 "important" British watercolours painted between 1850 and 1914. the second of a series of three to be sent to the winery by the Empire Art Loan Ex- hibitions' Society. Professor Robinson said that to meet the increasing art Interest the gallery laud IS exhibitions In the' lar two years, many more iriti in a similar previous period. 'rhe gallery director 'Mr. Robert Hairiest said that the newly -established Art Ninseum near the gallery en- trance hart received 48 gifts in the last six months. Some were very valuable. Mr. Haines said the rot- lection of Watercolours would be on display until April 28. ---.--- - rj PIN tt From "COURIER MAIL" Brisbane, ()Id. rtsbane will have Arts Ball this year THE Brisbane season, which promises to be brilliant, will this year include the first "Arts Ball"-to be held in the City Hall on September 8. it will he a coattinte All cultural bodies 111 the city will be approached to form groups In costume. A social committee will be 'armed soon. Mr. Morris said the ball. would serve, not as amuse- nent., hut should attract Gm Director of the, public Interest to various Nati,mai Art Gallery ileitis of art, and stimulate Robr.t Haim., briefly out- limed original decorritti'e into plans for an Arts Festival in 11153. ball, with masks. Attend- ance will he by invitation. The Queensland division of the Arts C'ouncrl rut Aus- tralia met recently for pre- liminary Warr:. under the president ' Mi. 0. V. Mom's'. ART CLASS in session at the National Art Gallery yet.terday morning. Each Saturday children between 11 and 14 years attond the classes, which arr. conducted by Queensland artist, Miss Vida Lahoy. They do their w"rk on the floor.