The Group Catalogues, 1927 - 1977.

The Group was an informal art association formed in Christchurch in 1927 by seven ex-students of the Canterbury College of Art. Its main purpose was to provide an alternative exhibition opportunity to the local Canterbury Society of Arts annual show. The Group exhibited annually in Christchurch from 1927 to 1977, quickly gaining a reputation for representing the latest trends in contemporary New Zealand art and attracting artists from around the country, including now well-known artists such as Rita Angus, Colin McCahon, Doris Lusk and Toss Woollaston.

It appears that no catalogues were issued for 1927, 1928 and 1946 while only two pages of the 1931 catalogue have been found. There was no show in 1930, in 1933-1934 (when the New Zealand Society of Artists replaced The Group), 1937, 1939, 1941-1942 and 1944.

(Adapted with permission from The Group 1927-1977: an annotated bibliography by Elizabeth C'Ailceta).

1929	1931	1932	1933 New Zealand Society of Artists
1934 New Zealand Society of Artists	1935	1936	1938
1940	1943	1945	1947
1948	1949	1950	1951
1952	1953	1954	1955
1956	1957	1958	1959
1960	1961	1962	1963
1964	1965	1966	1967
1968	1969	1970	1971
1972	1973	1974	1975
1976	1977

Thanks to the Robert and Barbara Stewart Library and Archives at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu and the Macmillan Brown Library, University of Canterbury for supplying this material.

The assistance of Mary Bensemann in supplying catalogues, granting permission for their reproduction and offering other valuable advice and information is gratefully acknowledged. The permission of The Caxton Press to reproduce this material is also gratefully acknowledged.

Related:

The Group 1927 - 1977: an annotated bibliography

by Elizabeth Louise C'Ailceta Cooke

Survey

Digitised publication of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery (Christchurch) 1971-1978.
Includes the Group Special Issue Survey 16 - November 1977.