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

re. "COURIER MAIL" Brisbane, Aid. 8 r.WN Art gallery too small and gloomy By MEDLEY POCOCK, of the Cape Argus, South Africa, who Is working on The Courier - Mail to gain experience of Australian lournalism. FINE jewels require fine settings. And the gloom of a morgue is not the ideal atmosphere in which to admire a great painting. This week, as a visitor to Brisbane, I went to see the Queensland National Art Gallery. The gallery's director and staff have contrived with skill to present their Pictures attractively. Hampered by a building designed for anything but an art gallery, they have done much to create a sense of space and show their pictures to the best advantage. But their clever lighting and cool -shaded panels have not been able to dis- pel the gloomy, museum - like atmosphere imposed by the building's limitations. In the gallery were a little over 100 oils. There were no water colours, no drawings, no pastels. 100 Pictures NOT that the gallery does not possess these. The pictures displayed are, I believe, a fraction of the complete collection. But there is simply no room on the already - crowded walls to hang more. And how is it possible with 100 pictures to trace the development of paint- ing through five centuries and at the same time give Australia's own art a fair representation? A visitor from abroad judging Australian art by the examples displayed might be excused if he were to think that Austra- lia had no art peculiarly her own. Most of the pictures by Australian artists were either portraits, Interiors, or landscapes in foreign countries. Only visitor HALF -A -DOZEN might - be judged distinctive- ly Australian. There was no aboriginal painting. During the hour I spent in the gallery I was the only visitor. How many of Brisbane's half a million people, I wondered, knew they had an art gallery? That great, or just good, art can bring colour, beauty, sometimes exalta- tion, to people's everyday lives? Part of the function of an art gallery is to get this over -with attractive sur- roundings, film and lecture programmes, exhibitions, music. If It cannot afford great historical masterpieces it can at least have a collec- tion of reproductions show- ing the development of art from early times. In these respects Queensland's art gallery cannot fulfil its function. "TELEGRA Brisbane, Old. issti Paintings gift to new art gallery Archbishop Duhig said today that when Queensland hod o new, modern art gallery he would pr t his very valuable collec- tion of paintings to it. "This gallery is long ousiy entirely inadequatt overdue." said His Grace.!We need a new gallery, "When it comes -but not! until then -1 shall be situated centrally on the happy to give my Paint- ings." Archbishop Duhig was commening on yesterday's report of the return from overseas of the director of the Queensland Nat- °nal Gallery 'Mr. Robert Haines, urging a new gallery Both Mr R. Cuppliklue President of the Queens - and National Gallery So- ciety and Mr. L. J. aliddleton. newly -elected president of the Half - Dozen Group of Artists supported Mr Haines. MR. ATIIMI.ETON: hate all contended lot years that the gallery we have is not in keepit:, with a city like Brisbane The trustees have done the best they con withl the building they have, but it entirely unsuit able in lova t ton and constructicti. MR. CUPPAIDGE: The present tnoldim outskirts of the city where plenty of land is avail- lable. A gallery needs to be put in a proper setting, :and not. converted from Ian existing old building. I Mr. Cuppaidge said that he would like to see Queen sl mi with a gallery similar to two he saw us ti trip abroad. One was at I Honolulu. placed on a mean f leen t piece of !ground. The other was the Krollet Miller gallery in Holland. set in a natural perk. Mr. Melville finysOM. the Telegraph art critic said. "We need tt new art eallery. because any civic centre should have some- thing well worthwhile." -The City Council will give all possible co-. operation in the estab- 1,shment of a. new Nat- ional Art Gallery," the Lord Mayor 'Aid.' Groom. said today. " OURIER MAIL" Brisbane, Aid. 1 3 JUN 1956 Party for Gallery director THE monthly meeting of the National Gal- lery Society of Queensland lost night became a "wel- come home" party for the Queensland National Art Gallery director, Mr, Rob- ert Haines. More than 120 members and guests were received by the Society's president, Mr. Russell Cuppaidge. and Mrs. Cuppaidge, in the gallery's rooms. which were decorated with tropical leaves and plants. With a black wool sheath frock Mrs. Cuppaicige wore a white Italian middy jacket, Talk on tour ON behalf of the mem- bers Mr. Cuppaidge formally welcomed Mr. Haines. tells returned last week from a five months' study tour abroad. Mr. Haines gave a brief talk nn his travels and Joined In the general dis- mission nt supper, which was' arranged by the Women's Auxiliary Committee of the Society, convened by Mrs.' Arthur Wade. VVE were talking tO Vir Robert Haines, director of the Queensland National Gallery, about his recent European tour. He says that men's fashions over there have really changed. The double- breasted suit has gone, and the fashion now in France, down through Italy, is for the single-breasted, dark suit with two buttons. And men all wear the Edwardian type stovepipe trousers with nar. row cuffs on the bottoms. You know his first im- pression when the boat berthed at Fremantle? Of course there were the acres of Australian galvanised iron, but there was something else -all the trousers flapping In the breeze. He hadn't seen that for months. * 'ADVERTISER' Adelaide, S.A. JUN 195 tiL OTHER 91 8 nu ILE Brisbane, aid. Art must wait turn First things must arms first, the Minis- ter for Education (Mr. Beeriest said on the agitation for a new art gallery to Brisbane. "No one would be more happy to see an art gal- lery provided by the Gov- ernment which would be 'n keeping with the cul- Aral needs of the State," he said. "Hut if the Government is expected to build agri- cultural colleges and new primary and high schools throughout the State the question must be: How are they going to be Billwed?" At least £500,000 would be needed for a suitable gallery. Mr. Devrie:i said he agreed with those who had emphasised the im- portance of a good art gallery. CITI "COURIER MAIL" Brisbane, ald. 13 WIN L956 Auction art for Gallery? I SUPPORT Mr. Haines' 1 statement (C. -M., 6/6 56) that Brisbane needs a new Art Gallery. it would put Queensland not only culturally, but progress- ively far 'ahead of other States. I would he happy in con- tribute pictures. as I am amp would every other painter and collector. towards an auction sale to help raise funds for this project -Lou Maisie, 21 Colville Rt., Highgate Hill. Culture, Work And Temperature l'utta A Arwri.1 Bli I SBA NE, June 13. Q\E new a rri vs I and one "rektrii'' this week marked a big step forward in one phase of Brisbane's eta- tural life. and focused at -I tendon on the shortcom- ings of another. The "arrival" was Dr. William Lovelock !former Dean of the Faculty of Music at London Univer- sity/. first director of Bris- bane's long-awaited Cott - servo t °num of Music. Tall, energetic, 57 -year - old Dr. Lovelock, has al- ready declared himself pleased with the structural alterations that have been made to the building which will house the Conserva- tormin- once the South Brisbane Town Hall, five minutes by train from the heart of the city. Meanwhile, back to Bris- bane has come Queensland National Art_Gallery Dace - tor Rebert Haines after a five months' tour of the world a greatest galleries. And Mr. Haines, who has worked wonders within the thoroughly unsuitable and 11,pelessly inadequate walls of Brishane's National Gal- lem, has roomed full of fight, determined to press his campaign for a new gal- lon'. i Brisbane', gallery IN a eon - yelled [Albin, half which no artifice can ,ollvert into anything approaching suit, ability "COURIER MAIL" Brisbane, Aid. 'Too good for the display REGARDING the plea by Mr, Robert Haines, the Queensland National Art Gallery director IC -M., 6 fi 561, for a new art gallery worthy of its pictures. f con- sider the present building is too good for the display of contemporary art. which cov- ered a large wall space when I last visited the gallery. Howe% er, it. is perhaps in- evitable that art must keep "down" with the times. - WAD., 'romans.