Prophet without honour: Margaret Butler and the status of sculpture in New Zealand, 1937–40
Abstract
This article consists of two parts, an introductory text, followed by long-forgotten primary source publications from 1937 to 1940 in the Evening Post, Dominion and Art in New Zealand. Predominantly letters to the editor, they address the reputation and profile of the sculptor Margaret Butler who had returned to her native New Zealand in 1934 after a prolonged stint overseas. Their authors include the literary figures Charles Marris and Alan Mulgan. They all note the critical acclaim she achieved in Paris and Vienna, and the merits of her sculpture. The writers also ask why native artistic talent appears to be neglected by institutions such as the newly-established National Art Gallery in favour of expensive overseas art, and press for the acquisition of more of Butler’s works. No official response was recorded and in any case Butler’s sculptural career had effectively ended by the time of the last such letter, dated November 1940.
References
“Art Notes.” Art in New Zealand 38 (1937): 225-226.
Blackley, Roger. Te Mata: The Ethnological Portrait (Wellington: Adam Art Gallery/Victoria University Press, 2010).
B.W.S. “Brilliant Work. New Zealand Sculptor’s Achievements. Margaret Butler. Lack of Recognition in Own Country.” Dominion, 30 November 1939: 6.
“The Catholic Pavilion.” Dominion, 2 February 1940: 11.
“Clever Sculptress: New Zealand Girl.” Evening Post, 5 September 1933: 11.
Connors, E. Letter to the editor, Evening Post, 5 February 1937: 6.
Duggan, Eileen. Papers. Archdiocesan Archives, Wellington Catholic Centre.
Dunn, Michael. New Zealand Sculpture: A History. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2008.
Exhibition of paintings, drawings and sculpture by artists of the British Empire overseas, May 8th-29th, 1937: representative work by artists of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand & South Africa at the Royal Institute Galleries (London: Royal Institute Galleries, 1937).
“Here and There”: ‘Five O’Clock’ Party.” Evening Post, 6 October 1933: 18.
John, Prester [Charles Marris]. “Open Letter to the Editor and Publishers of Art in New Zealand.” Art in New Zealand 38 (1937): 195. Levy, Mark. Letter to the editor, Evening Post, 9 March 1937: 8.
McAloon, William, ed., Art at Te Papa. Wellington: Te Papa Press, 2009.
“Maori Leaders. Work for Ministers. Suggestion by Minister.” Evening Post, 16 November 1940: 13.
“Margaret Butler Returns”, Art in New Zealand 23 (1934): 160-163.
Mulgan, Alan. Letter to the Editor, Evening Post, 27 November 1940: 6.
“Ourselves.” Art in New Zealand 41 (1938): 5. Perplexed. Letter to the editor, Evening Post, 27 February 1937: 8.
Stocker, Mark. “‘Our local lady Praxiteles’: Margaret Butler and her Sculpture.” Art New Zealand, 81 (1996): 74-79, 87.
Stocker, Mark. “Butler, Margaret Mary,” first published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, v. 4, 1998. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/4b55/butler-margaret-mary [accessed 25 June 2017].
Stocker, Mark. Francis Shurrock: Shaping New Zealand Sculpture. Dunedin: Otago University Press, 2000.
Stocker, Mark. “Pakeha Praxiteles: The Sculpture of Margaret Butler.” Melbourne Art Journal 6 (2003): 93-106.
Stocker, Mark. “‘Give us peace in our time, o Lord’: W. T. Trethewey’s War Memorial in Christchurch, New Zealand.” Burlington Magazine, 157 (2015): 776-780.
Stocker, Mark. “Margaret Butler: An Invisible Sculptor?” http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2016/03/14/margaret-butler-an-invisible-sculptor/, 14 March 2016.
T.-S. [François Thiébault-Sisson]. “Art et Curiosité: Margaret Butler,” Le Temps, 16 June 1933: 4.
“Work for Science. Professor H. B. Kirk. Memorial Unveiled. A High Tribute.” Evening Post, 16 November 1940: 13.
Copyright (c) 2017 Mark Stocker
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