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

-ran nrrrtttrt frnTli rein mlnunrerrrrwrtrromineMrITITITITITITITIMiliiiiiinfilinffin't By JOHN BRAGG JUNE 4, 1967 For a man in the centre of an art world controversy, Mr. James Wieneke is not only unbowed but unbloodied. ly, is as good at drawing and painting as Two Queensland Art Gallery trustees last most other six -year -olds. He developed his own interest in art while at week resigned over his appointment as the Nudgee College, though he can't recall any members his family having any talent for it. gallery's director (subject to State Government ofHe was no better at art than any other sub- approval next week) and other art experts have ject, and no worse' but his keenness grew. On said be shouldn't get the job. holidays he went to an art gallery or museum, He took various Jobs on leaving school, but But it's hard to find anybody who doesn't took his first step towards his new career when LIKE him! he started studying art at Brisbane Technical Col - One of the gallery's trustees, who is on his lege at 20, under the late Martyn Roberts. After side, said yesterday: "He's a Queensiander, an three years, he went back to the West. artist, an expert at estarng pictures and at valuing Months later, he returned with a batch of them, giod at handling staff, honest and tolerant, drawings of aboriginals and drovers and other with the greatest knowledge of art in all its forms Western characters. possessed by anybody in the State." "Poor as they might have been, they were But then an artist who opposes his appoint- honest attempts to Interpret Queensland life," he ment, arguing that Mr, Wieneke is a traditional- says 1st with no time for contemporary work. also They became his flrst art sales when he sold pays him this tribute: "He's a straightforward them to the old Queensiander magazine. bloke an:: as honest as the day Is long." Full -tine career And another opponent, after complaining that a Brisbans Technical College trsining is not the It wasn't a good tim^ to make art a full-time best nreparation for the director of the State art carer). gallery. adds: "But he's as nice a man as you'll Mr. Wieneke undertook anything that called meet anywhere." for some ability to paint or draw. Ile did some Mr. Wieneke himself seems unruffled by all mural decorations, and he painted signs. the fuss. "Where public positions are concerned I In war -time he became an engineers' sergeant, suppose you have to expect different factions - and in New Guinea spent much of his spare time and that they'll have their say," he says dlf- drawing scenes of Australian troops and their fidently. Japanese captives on old envelopes and other He is 59. lean and trim, looking younger than scraps of paper, which he regarded as a record of his years, with laughter lines on his face. those days. He Is director of the Moreton Galleries, and After the war, these were published in book even his present critics concede that since he form under the title "Sixth Division Sketches." took them over, he has Increased not only their It was his first big effort, and when he re- clientele but also their prestige. turned to Brisbane after planning the book's publi- cation in Sydney, he received his first commis - My life, job, hobby osilt-JoWsepsinLhaerieniradedegiorAirtiieoti)1 fore the dome He was born in Bundaberg, but spent most of Art was now very much a full-time career, As his childhood in the West, where his famili were well as painting pictures, he was teaching on the well-known saddle -makers and he talks about the history of art and drawing at the Technical College West with the same warmth he talks about art. and writing sit reviews for a newspaper. About art he says: "There's a very special Joy In 1951, John Cooper, of the Moreton Caller - In being able to sit down and relax with your les, who had been selling some paintings for him. gear and material and see what you can do with the offered to sell him the galleries. He accepted. landscape. Art is my life, my Job, and my hobby." He has one one child, Catherinr 9, who, he says MR. JAMES WIENEKE "I had to organise myself and conform to th principles of business, which meant accountin and correspondence and all the things busine men are caught up in." He enjoyed it. "You make countless friends a business like this, and have clients who rely 0 your advice, Many more people here now collect pictures, and it's li most interesting, full of har work, humour, pathos, and much satisfaction." As well as running tile galleries, he is in wid demand as a judge - for the Redcliffe A Prize, the David Jones Art Prize, The Sunda Mail Children's Art Competition, the Roya National art competitions, - and also for ar shows in country centres. Show anything He claims that he has tried, whenever possible to show a cross section of Australian artists' work and, at present, has a show by the Sydney con- temporary artist, Maximt Ian Feucrring. He says he is interested in thawing anythin from the convict painters up to contemporary ar lists, judgir.7 the paintings only on whethe they are good enough to be shown and whethe they have some value in the art world. He is an enthusiast for art, which he think is heading for an exciting time In Queensland and for art galleries, which he thinks should pla bigger parts in our lives, "The pleasure, enjoyment and belief r untold, but you need sonic encouragement visit them," the says. "I became Involved In a life much different from "They have got to be made attractiv the happy, carefree life of a painter," he says. enough to prompt people to take the s.ep. " 111111111111111111111111111M1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111 1111 1111111111 11111 1