Wieneke Archive Book 3 : Moreton Galleries 1960-61 Presscuttings

Aruntas art at Moreton By The Courier - Mail Art Critic. Dr, Gertrude Looser THE Moreton Galleries this week exhibit paintings by Albert hlarnatiiro and 11 other members of the Arunto tribe. There is little one can add to what critics have said about Narnatjira, who learned to paint in the Girtin tradition of British water colour and handle so well the tricky medium, and of the other members of the tribe who paint less skilfully in the western manner their strange native it ndscape, Critics .have doplored the departure from their own tradition and decried the mass productions of the less skilled members of the tribe, who are "almost in- distinguishable from each other." It is fallacic is to think of Namatjira's achievements as something short of miracu- lous "for an aboriginal." It can be proved (and has been in other fields) that, given opportunity, the aboriginal is quite capable of learning many skills of the white man and absorbing a good deal of his knowledge. "New" skill But let us consider, whether creating their ab- stract paintings and engrav- ings with primitive mater- ials and tools did not de- mand at least as much "skill" as water colour paintings. What distinguishes the art of an advanced civilisa- tion from art in primitive society, Is individual ex- pression. Individualism is the fruit of a richly varied culture, to infinitely varied activities and per- sonalities contribute. Namatj ire proves that white man's skill and wis- dom may be acquired by a gifted individual as soon as the desire arises. The art of the tribe, even in western disguise, proves that the practice of. art is still tribal, not individual SI) a cr 7 is freshness and direetnees of handling in some oils d water colours by Max Regis's et the PAINTINGS STIMULATE MELS1111.1.1: IIIATNONI A stimulating collection of oil paint- ings, water colors and drawings is being shown at the Moreton Galleries, AMP Building, Edward Street. It is b George . e Lawrence. ay top-ranking StreetN ight Scene Georg and the major Australian landscaoe ar- works. Lavender Bay and list. One feels that economy of series'hasregard tor the means comes, from concentra- decorative effect of the sta- tion and spontaneity from as- face, and he varies his corn- surance. positions, assuming in each a But while the technique different point, or area, where looks simple and straight- the eye comes to rest after forward, designs in the best travelling ovr the whole 7,;Teee:--- Tr- -----e-es - -- Famous painter on show By MELVILLE HAYSOM Twenty-three water-colours by famous pointer and writer, Sir Lionel Lindsay, ore now on view of the Moreton Galleries. Sir Lionel's work is widely known and for n long period has been noted for the rendering of sunlight, particularly that of Spain. These paint- ings are typical examples of his art in depicting the romantic architecture of oth"r lands. They are of a high standard in the traditional manner, and though in most cases pic- torially sound are dis- turbed here and there by the weak drawing of the figure interest. Outstanding in quality ire the well handled Cot - dove Gate. Baeza. Gyp- sies Camped in a Ruined Monastery, Zaire, Aka - ear. Segovia and Gateway Indrannt, Delhi. the last- named being an excep- tionally fine specimen of traditional water-colour painting. The large The City of Amber, Jaiper. and Close it the Convent, Santa ,ufemia, Antequero, are also worthy of note. British poster ' display After the official opening today by the Minister for Education (Mr. Pizzey) an exhibi- tion of British poster art is being presented to the public in the art branch of the Central Technical College. The show will be open from 1 pm to 9 pm until Saturday. The beauty of coast and countryside to be found in Scotland and England, together with places of historical inter- est, are depicted in many styles. Technicall Culberrs. are Pleasing. y prof' !lent Red Barn, Redfern, is end endowed with ce,taie striking but is disturbing poetic appreciation, he with Its isolated. forced has produced many fine perspective and the un- paves with interesting balanced mass of red. t ures supported by in ['omits Street 1(.11 considered color re- Surry the reds action, New England Land- have bens satisfactorily seape is a fine piece. uSseadt.urday Afternoon Also attraeive is the carries well and Kernel!, small, quiet,riand. Snow at Tewkesbury. Gloucester_ Hyde Park, Lane Cove shire, Coastal Squall and Afternoon Landscape dis- t iver. Swamplands. Kur- play attractive qualities. Outback scene in paintings MELVILLE HAYSOM. The Moreton Galleries, A.M.P. Build- ing. Edward Street, are presenting an exhibition of oil paintings by Max ltagiems. sin Auvirrdinn pointer of note. For some years Mr. Ragless has devoted him- self to depicting as far as possible within the limitations of pigment, the brilliant and some- times harsh glare of sun- light. with its subtle conditioning of the strong coloration to be found both in coastal and hin- terland districts of our continent. In retrospect. the story of his search is clearly reverded when one regis- ters the varying tech- niques he has employed from time to time. In this show. he ap- pears to have found a very satisfactory solution to his problem. Craftsmanship excellent His craftsmanship is excellent. Rarely has he to add another stroke of the brush to qualify a previous one, In his interpretations of the interior, he has succeeded very well in portraying the searing dryness, offset. sometimes by the suggestion of cool limpid pools. Even the stark and the sordid take on a new look by means of his treatment. The intelligent use of impasto under top light- ing brings about an al- most uncanny feeling of realism in such items as Loading Barley a n d Flowers In the Desert. His attempts at cap- turing the illusion of mirage are successful in such works as Mirage to Winder's. Sandhill in Mirage and Mirage near Innaminka. Here are the titles of. Paintings which show the artist at the height of his power: Bedourie, Birdsville Hotel, The J. C. Canterbury, Pools in the Diamantina, Mungeran- nie Creek. Anthill Coun- try, Mount Warning. Flowers in the Desert. Australian Summer, Car- penters Rocks, On Mora - lane Creek, Morning in the Ranges, and Loading Barley, In FRESHNESS IN RAGLESS' P Colour AINTINGS painting. keys are less varied. With few exceptions, his landscapes are painted in a very light key of complementary colours. A number of paintings sug- t a dry atmosphere and 'canines arid ges Moreton Generiee. the are considered and well bal- anced light, in which main masses stand crisply de - fined, yet the forms can breathe in a generous spaciousness and also by vir- tue of open brushwork, "Autumn, Piccadilly Valley," "Dry Creek, Aroma,' and "Hayfield and Lake" are typi- cal of the best in oils. tlfW"' Of the water colours, "Road Between Trees ochre Creek" have the molt vitality. " and "Will - 28Z