Wieneke Archive Book 2 : Queensland National Art Gallery (Director: James Wieneke) 1950-51 Presscuttings

BRISBANE TELE° t Ai, if IDA Modern Art In reply to I.L.J.'s rc- marks'"Brisbane Tele- graph." 10, 10,501 about the Massey collection of con- temporary art at the Art Gal- lery. I feel that his criticism of the "modern" paintings in the collection is harsh, in the extreme. There has been more ab- struse and high-flown litera- ture written about art than perhaps anything else. In realty, the aims of the true artist can be described in the simplest of terms-namely, self-expression and sincerity. I am not concerned here with the artist who only paints in the manner he thinks will be acceptable to the public. but with the sincere artist who. at the risk of derision. seeks to express a strongly -felt emotion in what- ever way he feels will convey his idea in its most power- ful form. The most. frequent criticism levelled against modern painters is their distorted drawing. In this case, objects and figures are often pulled out of their natural shape in the interest of design, or pat- tern, or heightened expressive- ness, and should not neces- sarily be condemned as "bad drawing." Par from being de- cadent. they are of ten a courageous attempt by the artist to enlarge the range of art expression beyond the limitations of mere photo- graphic representation. Whatever the artist is try- ing to express-be it beauty or ugliness-as long as his intention is sincere. the on- looker should at least keep an open mind, and even if he doesn't like the picture, try to grasp its Implications and ap- preciate what, the artist is try- ing to say.-C. G. BENNETT. 1 1,1100 ve seen paintings The Massey collection of , English painting at the Quee island National Art Gallery has proved a great attraction and has been seen by more than 14,000 people. The evening guide lectures have been well attended anti the quota of catalogues was sold out in the first week. This week -end will be the last time the public will have an opportunity of seeing the: collection, which has been at the gallery since Septem- ber 7. The pictures will be ex- hibited in New Zealand be- fore their return to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. THE col'IDER-MAIL. THURSDAY, NOV. 9, 1950. '77,7"'"' Gift pictures A special exhibition of gilt pictur has replaced the Mas- sey collection of English pail.. - mg at the National Art Gal [cry. On view are some outstant.- ing canvases, including Do - hell's "Cypriot." Wilson's "Snow Scene." and abstract painting 'Stove Theme." Cameron's 'Everlasting Hills." and Hay- som's "Portrait of the Artist's Wife." rt teaches observation 7HERE is so much A beauty to see-even in a tram ride-and the study of art teaches you to observe instead of passing by without a glance." Bessie Gibson, Brisbane painter, said this yesterday as she sat in the Moreton Galler- ies surrounded by her current exhibition of paintings and thought back over half a cen- tury of art. An exhibitor at the Royal Academy, London, and the Societe des Artistes Francais, in Paris, Miss Gibson took a re- turn ticket to Paris in 1905 and stayed 4 2 years. These were some of the points she made yesterday: Paris is still the best plat to study art, but finance the trouble to -day. In England the landsca is arranged in a picture all ready to paint, in France you have to search for your pic- ture. An artist must always be alone to paint. Once a woman marries she can't paint-she, has too many other things to: do. One of Miss Gibson's oil paintings, included in the present exhibition, "Market Place. Cherbourg," was pur- chased yesterday for the Queensland National Art Gal- leys ate cot I THE COI RIER-MAIL. SAT , Gallery cr In a new re -acct its pictures the Que tional Art Gallery some recent pun, Doria Castle" by 1 wood, "Jardin Du L. by Margaret 011e Road" by Charles ' with Lute" by PI burner, the Quee. now resident in l Piece" by Kennet "A Summer Day went" by J. Germ and an interesting t Perilous Room" Gleeson. the Ate realist.