Antanas Rukstele artist. Exhibition review

Pleasing Art Exhibition by New Australian

The exhibition of watercolours by Anthony Rūkštelė, to be opened this afternoon by Mrs. T. Slaney Poole at the Curzon Gallery, will confirm the widely expressed opinion that the influx of New Australians from Eastern Europe will prove to be a valuable asset in the cultural life of this State.

Anthony Rūkštelė hails from Kaunas, Lithuania, where he was an art teacher in the National Museum. Although he has only been here for something less than a year he has already assimilated the Australian atmosphere and bids fair to becoming a leading artist.

He has the true artist's eye for beauty, and his subjects in both oils and watercolours are selected with confidence and experience. His work is clean, and decisive, restrained where necessary, and always delightful in composition and colour.  Though the exhibition under review is confined to watercolours, he is equally good in oils and more in this medium will no doubt be seen at some future date.

Though many of the seascapes and landscapes portray familiar scenes in and around Adelaide, patrons will probably see fresh beauties in these.  By reason of the smoothness and softness with which they are handled.

'In the South Parklands' is nice composition and has pleasing colour tone in the well-modelled trees.  'Kingston Park' is another delightful colour study, with its wide sands, and a quiet sea, and a few figures carefully introduced.

Views of 'Adelaide Town Hall.' 'St. Peters Cathedral.' and 'City Bridge' are correctly draughted, and true to colour suggestions and detail.  'King William Street.' is also an at tractive scene.

A group in 'Children' is natural, and picturesque, and both foreground and background help the general effect. The beauties of Sydney Harbour have evidently appealed very strongly to this artist, and 'Afternoon in Sydney Harbor,' and 'Manly Beach. Sydney.' are among some of the best on the walls.

Rūkštelė has also included some exquisite scenes of home spots. 'Valley in the Bavarian Alps' and 'Late Chiemsee' are particularly attractive, the blue shades in the Alps expressing the cold atmosphere being most realistic.

Rūkštelė shows his versatility in several figure subjects, both nude and clothed, and these have been care fully modelled, and due attention, given to flesh tints.  In 'The Violinist.' the concentration of the musician is particularly well-expressed.

Art lovers will find a lot to admire in this exhibition, which will be open until March 28.

The Advertiser, Wednesday 15 March 1950