ART EXHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1926, Page 11

ART EXHIBITION.

WATER COLOURS AND ETCHINGS. I SKILFUL HANDCRAFT WORK. i There is a very creditable show of watercolours at the annual exhibition j of the Auckland Society of Arts in i Kitchener Street, taken as a whole, how- j ever, the standard is not so high as last < , year, several of the exhibits, in fact,' being by no means entitled to a place on i the walls of such an exhibition. Prob-' ably the most workmanlike pictures are [ those of Sturgess, who is presumably one of the Australian exhibitors, and j Daryl Lindsay, also from the other side of the Tasman. has two Goulbourn , j scenes which stand out. The mere man ■ ■in the street will view with amazement | | the remarkable Xo. 212 "The Country '■ Cottage," by Ronald McKenzie. A vivid ! blue roof is not the most bizarre of the artist's idea of the colours to be found . [I in the country. It is rather a pity he j , ' has irons to such extremes, as the picture j : I otherwise shows great skill, and it is. ' j only its undoubted cleverness that saves ! j it. A striking piece of work is No. 244,! ' j "The White Ruffle." Elizabeth Wallwork. \ and there are two likeable portraits by j I Kathleen Salmond. There is a wealth ! of good sTfbjects on the Auckland water- | front, and it is rather stranse that more use has not been made of it. The possibili-1 , ties are well illustrated by two sketches j I by Alice F. Whyte. j , In the "miscellaneous" section there is j . some exceptionally good work this year, 5 and it is rather a pity some of it can- , not be better displayed. Speaking gener- ) ally, however, the hanging committee . and others must be congratulated on the [ way they have carried out their duties j It is always an unpleasant task to weed j out work, but if a society is to do any • real good it is a task which must bf j i discharged by someone. If the com | ' mittee would like a suggestion for the ! 1 improvement of tbe show it would be I lin the matter of tbe actual hanging of j ' the pictures. As it is now done, with j every frame flat against the wall, it is j i quite impossible to see properly. some ' of the larger works, and especially thos< ' which are above the level of the eye > If the top pictures were brought out i say only six inches, it would make ali i 1 the difference, and do away with those I I irritating reflections in those pictures j ' that are glassed. It is a small thing | ' but we are assured by an expert wlic I has had yaers of experience that the j difference would be a distinct advantage j There are two clever- little plastebusts by A. Hansen, one in the mail . gallery and another in the room below The only other figure is a fine bronze II statuette. "Hesitating.'' the nude figure 'I of a girl. An inlaid teak cabinet by I -J. \V. Ash shows infinite pains. Anothei j -i exhibit which shows much patience i | ' the tapestry, "Surrender of Mary Queen j 1 of Scots," by B. Wendel. There are some " beautifully executed articles in French i cut work (a sort of drawn thread work • •by Mrs. Kenneth Mackenzie. Excellent specimens of Batik art are shown by E | H. Purdie and Minnie F. White. Admir : able in every way is the handsome dis I play of hand-painted china by Leah O : ] Haynes. .1 There is a small collection of etch- ' j ings and otherwwortk t which, however [\ are not up to last year's display. The I most noticeable work in this-room is I J sent in by Leonard. Studd, Olive Lloyd | "land H. Linlcy Richardson. The photo j graphic section is small but admirable . I the most effective exhibits being thosi ■! of E. Anthony, W. Revell Reynolds i Gerald Jones, and Janet Finn. •i i 1 GOOD CHEAP COAL \ li FROM PUKEMIRO COLLIERIES. 'i I An exhibit at the show which no careful housewife can afford to miss is ' the practical demonstration given by 1 the Pukemiro Collieries, Ltd. The company has actually installed two fire- ' places in which bright fires are kept :'i buring throughout each day and evening. The object is to give definite and convincing evidence that with the right ' kind of grate ordinary kitchen coal can , be made to serve all domestic purposes ji and give satisfactory results. A form jof grate has been designed which can he i 'iused in any fireplace at a minimum! ■of cost. The principal feature is that j sufficient space is provided to allow a g 'l plentiful supply of air to get underneath j I the fire and keep it bright and active. Instead of poking the fire in the ordinary way, it is recommended that the lower bars be cleared by a horizontal movement of the poker, thus allowing g the fine ash to fall through below and . give the air free passage. The fires .' burning at the show undoubtedly prove r both the methods and the grates to be • most effective. The company par- ~ ticularly desires that builders and* .' architects should view the grate, so that they may be in a position to recommend what is the most suitable for their clients. The design and ornamentation of the fireplaces can be left to the architects to treat as they chose, as the grates will lend themselves to the most artistic treatment. The lesson is also useful to the general public, because I many people building houses do not perj sonally consider the question of installing any particular grate, with the result that frequently both comfort and , economy are sacrificed. The company aims at giving something which will popularise the consumption of local coal, and it is pointed out that by taking the products of the Waikato many of the difficulties of shortage in supplies could '■ be overcome. There is really no need ! " to have all big coal for domestic purn poses when the kitchen, or small coad, fj will fill the bill equally well. Furtherd more the latter is 10/ per ton, or 1/ per V bag, cheaped than the former grade, '" which is a consideration no housewife h can afford to overlok. Although the n "kitchen" class is referred to as small r coal is does not follow that it is in the c nature of slack. It is all put *over 0 screens which drops all under one inch n and retains up to three-inch pieces. i such coal is admirably suited for all f purposes, and the Pukemiro Company c is confident that with the use of proper 3 grates the fullest satisfaction will be c given in all households. The exhibit 1 also contains an illustration of how open V. wood-burning fireplaces in country s houses can be quickly and effectively s changed for the use of coal with aclvanta age and economy.