MAORI ART

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 21

MAORI ART

"Art in.New Zealand" for December devotes most of its pages tp the art of the Maori, which, as Mr. H. Hamilton, of Rotorua, writes, is "entirely confined to New Zealand," notwithstanding some remarkable similarities of design in the art of North-American Indians and that of ancient peoples of South America. Mr. Johannes C. Ahdersen deals with Maori musical instruments, but ho states that there-was no such, thing as Maori instrumental music. Mr. James Cowan has much to say of great interest, on Maori art craftsmanship, with particular reference to wood carving and architectural decoration and ornamentation of flax and feather garments. He- points. to solecisms perpetuated by some present-day Maori decorators working too much under pakeha influences, as, . for instance, adorning a carved portrait of Rangi, the "Sky Father," with a collar and tie. , "The Origin of is the title of an. article signed "PoutokoManawa.'' These articles on Maori art by authorities are fully illustrated with appropriate selections taken from George Frederick Angas, -'The- New Zealander," which are in colour, and by line and half-tone blocks the work of H. Linley Richardson, Stuart Peterson, Connie. Space has been found for original work-in verse by Eileen Duggan and a story by Mona Tracy. Christopher " aerkins 6 intributeo an info -matiye and' kindly criticism o r> the refc'/nt 'show of; the „ Wellington- Academy, with selections of the:pictures exhibited this year.