REVIVING MAORI ARTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1927, Page 8

REVIVING MAORI ARTS

WORK OF THE NEW BOARD

PBOPOSED SCHOOL.AT EOTOtttTA,

"I am confident the newly-formod Maori Arts and Crafts Board will be successful in its endeavours to fostor Native handicrafts," said Dr. P. H. Buck at Auckland on Tuesday on 'his return from Eotorua, where he attended the first meeting, of the.board* of which ho is:a member (states the "New Zealand Herald").

Lately there has been great stimulation and advance in practical steps toward tho study of the Maori race, said Dr. Buck. First there was established a board of Maori ethnological research and this body had funds for the publication, of data .and; material and for assisting in research work. The establishment of the board of Maori arts and crafts concentrates on what might be.termed the decorative side of Maori, handicrafts, or the artistic work of the Maori! Tho board would be an organisation under which all material bearing on these things could bo brought together, and ono Of the effects of the establishment of tho board would bo tho collection and the amalgamation! of all information on such crafts as carving, plaiting, and-weaving, the painting of house rafters, and the decorations of tho wall panels of larger meeting houses. <

The Maoris themselves, in many parts, were experiencing a desire to use some of their owa decorations for:'the embellishment of their. homes, but the trouble had been_ that there had been no craftsmen in many districts, the art had passed completely away. The establishment of a^schoolwhere students, could be taught would probably have a big effect in supplying that want. "The view is held by many people that tho Maori has an innate'artistic sense,'' added Dr. Buck, "and tho establishment of a school will enable him to develop it and create , new ideoa rather than slavishly follow old models and to. make it a living art by adapting it to suit modern requirements. Many of our large public buildings have nothing characteristic of New Zoaland about them, and it might be thxt the work of the school and its collection of data-and material might help to develop certain elements in deco? .- tivo art that could form part of a national art characteristic of the country. At present, outside the native districts there is practically no art or decorative work distinctly of New Zea land, and the new board will create the opportunity to use and adopt some of the Maori features in public bui'dings. The Auckland War Memorial Museum will incorporate Borne such features."

Tie new board •is to establish . school at Eotorua, and here will be collected photographs and. casts of all the good Maori work now^ scattered throughout the Dominion. A report en the question of tho school building will bo presented at the next meeting of tho board. .