SCHOOL OF ART

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27801, 28 October 1955, Page 7

SCHOOL OF ART

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OPENS The annual exhibition of the Canterbury University College School of Art this year is the most absorbing ever staged. Supporters who have attended for decades and several visitors from overseas described it as ■‘thrilling.” There is scarcely an item not marked by originality. The subject matter is mostly quite new for the school and the formal work which cannot change much is enlivened by novel settings and treatment. For several years the rooftops, river scenes, and fruit, once so common, have been disappearing from the school’s shows. This time they have gone altogether. In their, place are a host of unusual sidelights on the contemporary scene executed with real vigour. The whole show breathes with youth and life. It is interesting, too, that craft in all its forms apart from painting this year is equally represented, and perhaps will appeal even more in interest.

In both galleries it is the fresh sense of colour and design which pleases most. The paintings are warm and vital, gay splashes in the modern style which lose nothing in their power or honesty. In a day when the colour camera leaves little to be desired for purposes of record, this kind of work still more than holds its own to portray mood. How each individual artist has something to offer is shown in the displays of honours students. The work of each is grouped in bays. Several subjects are the same or similar. But the differing approaches are a revelation. There is strong figure work, authentic portraiture, classic detail, and intriguing design in pictorial record. Murals are present in numbers for the first time.

Fabric Printing This novel approach carries over into all craft sections. Fabric printing catches the eye first. There is a splendid array with quite the best selection of original design ever seen in Christchurch. The design panels from which much of this grows are equally impressive, particularly in the unusual combinations of line and colour. Weaving and embroidery seem to be experiencing a revival in popularity and the examples shown are exquisite. There is more sculpture and modelling than usual, and it has fine finish. There is wood engraving, etching, and lithography. Metal work also has greatly improved and is notable for its function, whether in domestic vessels or jewellery. Penmanship is customarily represented by a few sampels of illuminating but this year it ranges through all the classic forms of lettering to plain handwriting. “This is one of the occasions we like to have quite frequently when Canterbury College shows its work for inspection, praise or criticism,’’ said the chairman of the college council (Mr D. W. Bain) when he opened the exhibition last evening. The School of Art was showing more of its work in these shows, on the streets, and in the theatres. Science and engineering went on show at the college. “It is good that applied culture should appear as often as applied science when the world seems to be devoting more than adequate attention ’ to ballistics and satellites.” Mr Bam said. “It is a pleasant reminder, too. that these samples of the thinking, of our generation may be just as Jim* portant as those in the past which give us inspiration.” For many years the School of Art has been functioning in difficult conditions—in buildings never intended for art in which the spgee was quite insufficient and lighting was unsuitable. It was an achievement that the school should have produced artiste of note and that the average standard was of such high quality, Mr Bain said. The exhibition will remain open until next Thursday evening in the Durham Street Art Gallery.