Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 3, April 1965
We quote from the Wellington "Evening Post" 20.2.65.
"One of New Zealand's best known painters, Eric Lee-Johnson of Waihi won the £200 prize in the National Bank Art Awards with his water-colour depicting Hokianga River. It is a fine picture, somewhat dark in colour, but beautifully and vigorously patterned.
The judges showed praise-worthy enterprise in giving the first prize to the one water-colour on the walls that stands out from its competitors for original treatment of its subject matter."
And from the New Zealand Herald 20.2.65.
"The picture has been bought by the Bank Management to present to the National Art Gallery and is the second painting by Mr. Lee-Johnson to be presented to the Gallery within the past year. A painting of Karangahake Gorge was given to the Gallery by the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts last year. As well as his paintings, Mr. Lee-Johnson is represented in the National Gallery by five drawings. The Auckland Art Gallery has two of his paintings in its permanent collection. Mr. Lee-Johnson will be showing his work in a one-man exhibition in Auckland later in the year."
We extend our congratulations to Mr. Lee-Johnson to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for he was one of the prime movers in the establishment of our Art Centre and Museum and urged the formation of our Historical Societies. His artistic talent and his recording of the rapidly changing New Zealand scene in picture and drawing are of the highest order, and merit the recognition the critics have accorded them.
Note; We now have no reserve copies of the first issue of our Journal, and are still getting requests for this number, especially from Libraries (including University and School) who wish to maintain complete files. (Recently we had a request from New York Public Library.) Could any members please help by returning their first copy to the Editor, Secretary, or Treasurer?