Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 3 : Presscuttings, Sept 1959 - Sept 1967

2 THI COU.IH -MAIL THUHDAY JUHi u "" TH( CAMIIJI Htlb THURSDAY..J.Wall.22 I fhe Courier-Hail I Plan to lift standard Our l.il11trl_t' ,lr1,-11J• on the fr,edom o/ 11111 ,,,.,.,, ,md 1Au1 ,·muwl l,r limi,,.,I 1ei1lroul /,riua l1u1.-JrJJ,.r1011. Baek, now, to tlae eanvas and easel of art gaTl.l.!rMYT .b.P.l.dt C ABINET'S a1111ron1I or the awolntment or ~lr, ,lame. Wieneke a11 the new director or the Queen11l11nd Art Gallery (11ubject to hl11 dl11- po11al of Moreton Gallerle11) wu to be ex1iected. A S PrHident of the Art GalleriH A11ociation of Australia I "' have experienced both pleasure and pain from the recent event, at the QuHn1land Art Gallery and the public con– troversy which ha, stemmed from them. While Cabinet had the power to accept or de– cline Mr. Wieneke RB the director recommended by trustees a refusal lo accept him would have been tantamount to an expression of lack of confidence in the trustees. It is to be hoped that Mr. Wieneke will be able to lake up his post as soon as possible and get on with the job of running the gallery and planning Improvements for It. I am naturally pleased that the conduct of a pub– lic Rrl gallery should be seen properly as a m11ttcr of deep public concern. Bul at the same time I am distressed that ques– tionable decisions have IP• parently been taken and so many dlsln11:enuous, not to sav mlsleRdlnp;, thtn11:• said. ~ydncy, · f{ t96T· The row over the appointment and other gallery matters has at times been biller, often In a needleH personal manner. But despite this It probably has not hurt the cause of art In this State. In the last 10 years the number of public 11:allerles tn Australia has Increased very considerably and the pro!csstona/ standards of th0J1e work ng In them have 15, 1967 5 There should be diacu111lon and dlBBent - even • trong dlBBent - In a community Interested In art. And the controversy ha11 exposed to public examina– tion mattera concerning the administration of the gallery, not all of which reflect credit on the trustees. steadily risen. Thi• situation has been In part responsible for call– Ing Into beln~ the Art Galleries Association. which. ag Its main aim. hRs soup;ht to establish professional quallllcattons and attitudes throughout the ~alleey pro– fession In Australia. Widow held stolen nude If the great art. debate has put the truatcca fully on their mettle and anxious to justify their decl1ion11 by enthusiRBtic and forward-looking trusteeship, It will have served a uaeful purpose. Buch standards will soon be given concrete reco11:nl– tlon when courses for a dlo– loma In art gallery admlnls• tratlon and curatorahlp are established. The stolen $20,000 Picasso painting Lo Belle Hollondoise wa, recovered at the home of Mrs. Julie Rubin in 9ri1bane, It soon will be necessary for the State Govern– ment to make appointment • of trustees to take the place of the two who resigned during the course of the controversy. Wide experience There are certain bulc conatderatlona that are agreed upon tn thla field tn civilised countries. l\l RS, RUBIN la &he widow or Major Harold Rubin who pre• sented &he palnlln1 lo the Queenllland Art Gallery, The painting was stolen from the Art Gallery dur• hlthe night ot June 5, Dulch Jlrl was un– damared, except for a 1ll11ht smud1c on one shoulder, Experts said this would not reduce Its value. The two should be representative of those pro– fe1111lonally concerned with art and prefenbly In– clude representation from the Interested and obviously substantial group which has been critical of upecta of gallery administration. A man or woman ahould not be •ppolnted to a aen– lor poaltlon unlesa he or she has ha'd w[de experience In the special requirements of the public a:allery. ueensland's Ac t In II Pol ce Commissioner (Mr. Palethorpe) said yesterday the painting was recovered at Mrs. Rubin's home on M~~d~id Mrs, Rubin had explained that a mystery man had left the palnttn11 ot her home on Sunday Mr. Palethorpc mid In– spector W. Raetz had re• cetved confidential In• formation leading to the visit to Mrs, Rubin's home, It would not be good for the Gallery if the trustees were to comprise people whose main virtue wu that they shared similar views. "AUSTRALIAN" Australia i.. j vUI~ 1961 GALLERY DIRECTOR APPOINTED IU~~::en't~rrmenJrrter:~t from those needed In such areas as art criticism or art dealing_ We In the Art Galleries Association· are dlatressed that these necessary basic considerations do not &eem to have been understood, - Eric Weolbrook, l'relldent, Art Gallerlea AIIOClatlon or Aa1lralla, National Gallery or Victoria, lllelboume. ~ydncy, N.S.W. nlg~i &he man's lnsb• tcnce &he had al!'eed to hold the palntlnJ ror a monUt then to return " to the art 11aller1, Undamaged Mr. Palethorpe said police had no doubt that Mrs. Rubin aclcd In good !a~~e)' were satisfied her main concern was the saret[ and recovery of the pa~;s"gRubln told police she had no Idea ot the Identity of the man. Mr. Palethorpc said de– tectives were trying to lln\~~ep,:J~\W;., of a nude The Queenslancj Cabi– net yesterday approved the appointmrnt of Mr James Wieneke, 60, ns director of the Queens– land Art Gallery. ,11 \ l r. ,,• Bur11ie, • Cabinet had twice deterred decision follow– ing protests when lh~ trustees recommended Mr Wieneke. Two trustees resigned over the decision to appoint a dil'ector to replace Mr Laurie Thom– as, TIie Australian•~ nrt editor. Mt• Wimickc, is the owner of the Moreton galleries, Brisbane. Cabinet ruled that he must nispose or his private collection to lake up the appointment. He should sdl his galleries at a i·easonnble pl'ice as soon RH possible. It they are not sold within 12 months. Cnbl– net wfll rc\'icw the appointment. Brisbane, 0. t4JUlt.. • • I TODA. Y'S LATE T I.A BELLE /,T UBIN HC.V.E Lo (1.-/1 Hn ll n,I, ,.c 1 ,on l 111,1 ;_ a l the C,-1rf, lol D, ,,,,- 11 ,. I,,, " , f M rs l,Jl ,r: Rrrhon widow -I Mn1,•r 111,c I I d,• Vo!,! Rul, rr , .,..1," drn1a! c,I rl 1 11, /o,t r, ,II, A c.t 1no Pn ltrfl C Hnr..,.-, .. f, r "I r1.111. llh•fj)(' said !..•r~ R11hrr, rc-r ,ved !lie f'•·10 nl111q or\ J, ,, 11 n gi vino o my~!c-rv mon rnlf,., 011 1<1111,• r taking he would l1old ii I 11 a m ,,n1I , "'" relum if h !he anflcrv f'nlro ro w£'11' , nnv rl'd sf-to oc lcd in "" fn i1h MP' s . DEMAND FOR FACTS ON ART TilEFl The sitting member for Brisbane yesterday said the full facts of the recovery of the $200,000 Picasso painting should be told. 'fHE membe, (Mr, J. H. i the painting ond stated II l\lann) said: "It aeema was the orl~lnnl. slranse that the police 11·111 The pointing was np. not 1rlvc any Information parcnf.ly unctamoged, e~– abaut the recovery, or who cept for ft \'rrY Sllij11l atole u mnrk on one shoulder. "If the mystery has not The acting Police Com• been clenred uj, by the mlsslonrr tMr. A. Pale– August session of Pnrlln- Ulorpel again today re– mcnt, I will Mk questions fused to give detnlls of the about It." finding or the pointing. The Art Onllery Is In He sold rc!easc et Mr. Mann's clcctornt.e. fmtchr lnlormnt1on about The painting, La Belle the reco\'ery could ruin Hollandalae, stolen from police ln\'esltgntlon ol It • the Queensland Art On!- dlsnppenrnnce. Id Je1·y on June 6, wn.s seized Mr. Palelhorpe •• bv police on a rnld on a police ln,·..ttratton• 11•.re house In Brisbane on Mon- cnntlnolnJ, and anI rlnt• dn.y, formation rlnn In u - · ore would depend on de- "Guarantee" v•lopmentw. Police today returned the pnlntlng to the ArL Onllcry trustees chairman, Sir Leon Trout. Sir J,eon alrned a re– cetlp which ruaranttH the pulntln11 woald he ,.. turned to police 11 ll wrr• needed for any 1ubsc– qu•nt court action, Inspector W Rnctz said two cspcrts had examined I · BRISBANE - Police returnrd the stolen $200, 000 l 1 lca."l!IO palntlnA' "La Belle llollandalse'' to lh• Queenslrrmd Art Wllery ycderday. Tllo chief of the Drl•– ban• C.I.B, tlnsp. W. Jtaell) handed the paint– In.- to lbe chairman of the 1allcry I Sir Leon Trout). Sir Lton alrned a rt• cr.lpt, which «uarantttd thal lhe palnlln,r would be returned lo police If It wa • needed for any aab• aeQuent. court action. . ln,p, Raels said the r. alnlln.- had been nam– ned by experts, who • tated II waa the orl1lnal rlcauo. Two det.. llvH accom– panied art 1allery orrtc– lal1 from police headquar• ter11 to the .-allery with "La Helle llotland • IM." The palnllnr was re– covered from a Brh1b • ne nbarban home on Mon• day after conlldentlal ad– vice ttctlved by lasp, Raets, The palntlna: wa • 1f11cd after a starch warrant had been l11Ucd, 8rl1bane, 14 JUI~1967, IL~elle on show ()u,•,•n~Jnnd's ran11111s hul)·-J.a Hrlle llolla1111:tlsr-l!i- 011 ~how ai:;1\ln al lhe Ar! Gal!rry, I he $200.000 pn intinR bv Pnblo Plcn,c;so wn~ re- 111orec! from the Gallery on J une 5. · lt wns rccorered in n rn h! led by CJB Cl1lcl. Inspector W Rnetz. on n sul>urbnn house on Moncln.v. The chnlnnnn of !lie Gnllrr\' lrusrees. Sil' Leon Trout , lind the pn !n1111~ exnmlned ,·es– tcrclny. He rcponccl 1.hnt :: l\'ns undnmagrd except for • sllghL SlllUc!Re on one shoulclcr of 1hr nuclr. Inspector Rnctz s~lcl loclny polirc still ll'Cl'C lnvesllgnllnR the re- 111ovn1 or the painting. Q.