Art Exhibition

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 25, 20 November 1946, Page 5

Art Exhibition

HUTT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

SUCCESS OF NEW SCHEME

The Hutt Valley High School's art exhibition hist week, which included work done by over 700 pupils under the new experimental art .scheme, was very interesting, and greatly impressed parents and others who visited the school assembly hall during the live days' display. All the walls of the hail were covered by samples of the pupils' work, starting at the scribbling

stage and passing through all periods of development until the mature

composition was reached. Every child at. the school takes the course, the aim not being to make artists of all the children but to enable them to be proficient in art expression so that they can interpret an idea. "The abstract work seen here is not futuristic art," said Mr. H. J. B. Coe, art master. "It is one of the stages used in teaching good composition. We sacrifice technical knowledge for balance and colour and form. Technicp.l knowledge comes later as the pupils become more proficient and are able to make representational pictures. The aim is eventually to reach ordinary adult art work.

Pupils Taking Up Teaching

"The majority of the pupils who have gone through the complete course have done very good work and one or two have reached a very nigh standard of excellence. Two of the senior pupils—Margaret Joyes and Richard taking up art teaching, and will sit for their preliminary diploma in fine arts this year." Illustrations of the various stages of the art course were set out on the walls, making a fascinating study, and showing the great progress made by the pupils as their studies progressed. Some of the work was bold in design and colour, while other samples were softer and more insidious in conception and performance. Particularly striking were the "movement" in the action sketches and the depth and perspective in others. Some were done from life and others in the classroom, and all were excellent. Mr. Coe said that his aim was to encourage and guide the pupils in the expression of their artistry. The .-.access of the exhibition illustrated that his teaching is having splendid results.