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

U .S .S .R. CONTI:10011.1MT GRAPHIC EXHIBITION "COURIER MAIL" Brisbane, 0. '31 JIiL sva ART REVIEW by Dr. Gertrude Langer RED ART contemporary only in the literal sense THE " u.s.s.it. contemporary Graphic Lot- ' moon" at the Queensland Art Gallery, as may he expected, Is contemporary only in the literal sense, Of course, there is only one style - the officially sanctioned one of repre- sentational realism. While most of the 1411 prints are mere illustra- tion In terms of crafts- man -like techniques, but without any deeper artistic merit, about half -a-dozen print -makers contribute quite excellent work. The aquatints by OW have a sound abstract foundation. His miners and agitated marine scenes are composed with steped back planes in dynamic tension and they speak toremost, as good designs. Petrova's observation of humanity penetrates deeper than the average cliche and her compositions are in- teresting. Fright's etchings of a child and of a young girl's head are sensitively conceived and tenderly fell. His work looks as 1f he had absorbed lessons from Bonnard and Matisse and he Uses things such as patterned areas for plastic values. Something more poetical Is contributed also by Strunk In etching and aquatint combined leaves. Decorative A purely decorative note Is struck by Favorsky in black and while linoprints such na "Camels." A colour linoprint "Marine and Gulls" by Alekseev is of a Japanese -like refinement and feeling for space. Considering that 43 print- makers are contributine to this exhibition, the propor- tion of works which satisty as works of art, is not ex- ceedingly high. 11.11 COURIER -MAN. MONDAY AUG 20 1962 "The art of today fa THE remarks attrib- uted to me headed "No liking for crazy art" 20,8,62), give quite the wrong impression not only of my own views about contemporary art but also of the kind of collection we have in Adelaide. The opening paragraph would certainly surprise visitors to the National Gal - TO THE 06464W lery of South Australia as we have on view at present our own collection of ab- stract and tachiste paint- ings by such well-known artists as Karel Appel, Claude Venard. Alan Davie, and Terry Frost, and in Print Room No. 2 some 50 contemporary lithographs by Hartung, Marigny, Ernst. Mire, Picasso, Severinl, Sutherland, and many others, also contemporary sculpture by Moore, Chad- wick, Reg, Butler, and P. E. Mc William. The paintings and sculp- ture were purchased on my recommendation and prac- tically all the lithographs I bought personally In Lon- don some time ago. "Serious abstract" Although the line of de- marcation may at times be vague, there are essential differences between serious abstract art and the em- ployment of gimmicks by artists of little or no talent in their endeavour to obtain publicity. Contemporary art is and must be regarded as the art of today, and therefore of necessity must be ade- quately represented in all public galleries. - Robert Campbell, 0.B.E., Director, National Gallery of South Australia. COVRIffil-MAII. TUESDAY AUG 21 196 Waiting for r art gallery ACONFERENCE of Alla- tra lion Art Gallery direc- tors has brought back to Brisbane from Adelaide Mr. Robert R. Campbell, who was, director of the Queensland , National Art Gallery from 1949 to 1951. He then car- ; ried out the internal struc- tural alterations that greatly improved the showing of pictures in the old hall at Bowen Bridge. These were intended to be no more than a makeshift pending the building of a new art gallery. But after 10 years Queens - land's much enriched national art collection is still having to make do with it. A new art gallery is not yet even in sight. Though promised some years ago we cannot even show Mr. Campbell and other visiting art directors plane for it. What are the Art Gallery trustees doing about it? TriE lot the time' funds for art gallery THE State Government did not think the "time was opportune" to launch an appeal for funds for a new art gallery, the Education Minister 1Mr. Pixxeyt said yesterday. He said it felt that allocated funds would beat, be used for more primary and secondary schools. When the present "vast school - building pro- gramme" was well under way, consideration would new begiven ton a The special committee set up to launch the ap- peal for new art gallery funds had agreed earlier to defer the appeal, he said. This decision was made to avoid affecting the ap- peal for funds for the aGitrye.at Hall of the Craver - 'Saturated' 'Phis appeal had been followed in quick succes- sion by the Cancer ap- peal, the Heart appeal, and the Red Cross appeal. There also had been many smaller appeals. "However desirable a new rt gallery may be. I feel the at the moment, has reached sat- uration point in the matter of public appeals," Mr. Pizzey said. Queensland Art Gallery trustees' chairman (Sir Roslyn Philp) said this week that trustees would ask the Government anon ntoewdeafrtinegaillnerteyntions of He said the whole Id . and spirit of the Queens land Art. Gallery Act o 1959 contemplated a neu art gallery. Questions The Opposition Leads (Mr. Duggan; in Parlia- ment yesterday said he would ask the Premier 151r. Nicklin) to announce Government plans to pro- vide extra accommodation for the Art Gallery and Museum. Mr. Duggan gave notice that he would ask the Premier if the Centenary project to provide a 1600.- 000 "cultural centre" had lapsed. Mr. Piney said yester- day: "With its vast educa- tional programme for primary, secondary, techni- cal, and tertiary fields of education, the Government could not afford to allo- cate hundreds of thous- ands of pounds more for new art gallery. Delay "Building of a new gal- lery, even at the most con- servative estimate of £500,000, would mean that. the Government could not go on with the building of new high schools at Hen- dra. Zillmere, Toowong. Sunnybank, Coorparoo. and Newmarket in the metro- politan area. "The art gallery pro- posal, if carried out, would also mean a delay in building new high schools and secondary departments in several country areas. "Few people would sue - 'zest that these projects he deferred to provide finance for a new art gallery." Name winners The whiners from the record 250 entries, in the annual Redcliffe Art Con- test, will be announced to- morrow night. The exhibition will be opened by the Vice -Chan- cellor of Queensland Uni- versity (Sir Fred Schonelil en September 1 at 3 p.m,. at. Redcliffe City Council !'. re:PAY AUGUST 24 1962 7 to seek 'Gallery trustees ignorant of art DIRECTOR of a private art gallery yesterday criticised the Queensland Art Gallery board of trustees. The Johnstone Gallery director (Mr. Brian Johnstone) said most of the directors could not recognise a piece of creative art from a seed catalogue. He said one-third of the 11 trustees were wise, but the rest were "amateurs with an appalling know- ledge of art." Mr. Johnstone's attack followed the phenomenal success of the sale of 38 printings by Queensland artist Margaret 011ey on Sunday, and the Queens- land Art Gallery's rejec- tion of two It was offered. Miss 011ey sold 38 paint- ings for E3000, doubling the record set by any other Australian woman painter. Truly great Mr. Johnstone, who dis- played Miss 011ey's paint- ings, said the Queensland Gallery was offered a truly great nude of an aboriginal girl. "Zillah," for 150 guineas, and a 'georgeous'' portrait and still life, "Girl With Rununculas," for 90 guineas. The Queensland Gallery director (Mr. Laurie Thomas) had put them before the trustees, who had rejected them. nigr. Johnstone saki last ht : "The trustees turned down two great pieces of Australian art through their ignorance." Public scandal Mr. Johnstone said Gov- ernment appointment of men who had no know. ledge of art as trustees was a public scandal since they spent public money :Johnstone said four onmarrt of the gallery's 11 trustees, Including the chairman (Sir Roslyn Philp), were wise men: worth their place,but the others were amateurs." Limited cash Queensland Art Gallery' director (Mr. Thomas) re- plied : "The trustees have a limited amount of money f to spend over a very wide ield. "We are interested In seine quite expensive works of art in England which, if they come off, could eat quite heavily into our funds, "As far as Margaret 01- ley Is concerned, we bought a still life painting of hers last year which is quite as good as the paint- ngs Mr. Johnstone showed Siihdriv Faith in her "We mons o faith in trated her in a practicaurl manner." Sir Roslyn Philp would not comment on Mr, John - stone's remarks, Footnote: Queensland Art Gallery trustees are : Sir Roslyn Philp, Sir Leon Trout Dr. B. B. Barrack, Dr. Norman Behan, Pro- fessor R. P. Cummings, Mr. P. 13, Connolly, Mr. E. A. Ferguson, Professor P. W. Robinson, Mr. H. G. Watkln, Miss Daphne aYo, Mr. R. Cuppaidge.