Daniel Thomas : Newspaper writings

1:. . #14, ; 1 ',. t. Itt ....? L t. "TELEGRAPH" -4 APR 1971 Sydney, N.S.W. ti AS USUAL, the most interesting new ex- hibition, that is, the most difficult, is Tim Johnson's at Inhibodress. In response to frequent requests about its location, Inhibodress is at 38 Charles Street, Woolloomcoloo. Charles Street is reached from either Harmer Street or Junction Lane, both of which lead off Forbes Street near Cathedral Street. It is open all day, ft can 10 to 6, on Saturdays rand Sundays; but during the week it opens in the even- ings, from 6 to 9. Next Sunday there will be only John Brack's and Gunther Christmann's ex- hibitions to note, so I will leave Tim Johnson till then, for there are a great many other exhibitions to describe. EASTER SHOW There's no real need to check the art prize exhi- bitions at the Showground for hardly any profession- al artists enter them these days. Of footnote interest are a grey -violet figure com- position and a still life by Jack Carington Smith, the first works by this senior Hobart painter to be seen here for some time; a pale standing nude nymphet by Garry Shead, untypcally tight, and with a hint of Balthus; and the winning sculpture by Noel Gray. ONE-MAN EXHIBITIONS Noel Gray also has a first one-man show, at the Jerry van Beek Gallery. He is a young sculptor, hitherto unknown, of some interest. I suppose Kllppel and Coleing are an influ- ence. Walters. Robert Williams shows six very large paint- ings at very low prices, $150 to $300. They are nar- row unstretched canvases 4 feet by 18 feet, operat- ing as vertical banners or horizontal friezes. They offer his now fami- liar imagery of organic machinery or machine -like organisms; that is, human beings plugged into their wheels, spacecraft, electri- cal equipment. Holdsworth. Roy ston Harpur's black gesture - paintings on white panels are immaculate, pure and perfect. Their Indian titles im- ply mystic meaning, for those who want more than beauty. At Bonython Stan Rapo- tee has some of his usual thunderous abstract ges- er ART by daniel thomas tures, but, surprisingly, hisdull subject have become newest work has become so _popular? more "modern," that is, The Macquarie Galleries all-over and repetitive. at its best stands for the These are tender green same taste that appeais and grassy. in "The Beach," that is, the best in Australian Caroline Williams, and post_immwsionmm from Barbara Hanrahan, r.:so at the 19203 to the present. Bonython, both show in- At present there is a teresting oddities, mixed show -;vith important Hanrahan, in London, work by Fairweather, Rees, makes trendy, designers' Cossington Smith, Wake- toUn rert. Preston and collages of currently tnhostre Phew - talgic 'twenties, and ties -style people. The Macquarie also has Enid Cambridge, a charm - Caroline Williams' de - pencil ing wa ter colorist of In- ceptively simple tenors and gardens and drawings are strange and landscapes in the 1940$, personal surprises; gentle visitor to Koknaohlta a plants grow sinister teeth, Salzburg in th 1950s, who objects become organic. A has now turned to oil pain - new artist to watch. thugs. THE PAST Clime's "The Beach ShQw" is a charming show of charming small paint- ings and water colors of sea shores; by Australian artists, but not necessarily of Australian beaches. The terribly 'twenties tents by Roy de Maistre are at St. Jean de Luz in France, and so was another de Maistre hope- fully being presented as an Australian subject in Bonython's "Irresistibles" show last year. Rupert Bunny's sea nymphs, which could be anywhere, rise securely above charm to sensuous grandeur. And Will Ashton's hori- zontal waves rolling at the spectator are a reminder that this favorite late - Victorian subject, which often came ant -sized, six feet or ten feet wide, cine- mascope style, must have operated as concealed erot- Victorian spec - else could such a cism on tators. How At the Arts Council Gal- lery The Villiers Gallery has put on much the same exhibition of Donald Com- mons's re -discovered paint- ings that was shown briefly at Double Bay last year. PRINTS Rudy Komon's "Import- ed Prints" are 30 excel- lent lithographs, etchings, etc., by two English art- ists, one French, five Jap- anese and three from New Zealand. Prices $35 to $550. CARO Anthony Caro, one of the most important sculptors in the world today, was judging the Perth Prize for Drawing last week. This week he visits Syd- ney, chiefly to see the Opera House, whose hump- ed forms in 1968 triggered off one of his most un- usual works. It is an act of homage from one great artist to another, from Caro to lit - son. Caro will lecture at Sydney University on Wed- nesday.