ART EXHIBITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 14

ART EXHIBITION

THE ELAM SCHOOL STUDENTS' FINE WORK VIGOUR AND INDIVIDUALITY An exhibition, the second of its. kind, of work by senior students of the Elarr\ School of Art was opened in the Art Gallery yesterday. In a short address Mr. .T. W. Yarnall, chairman of the City Council Library Committee, complimented the school on the high standard attained by its students and said that his committee was glad to cooperate in making their work known to the public. The exhibition, which comprises just over 100 items, is extremely creditable to the Elam School, and shows clearly that the marked progress it has made in recent years continues unabated. There is also much evidence that the students' individuality is encouraged and that they are given every chance to work along the lines for which inclination best fits them.

Paintings, drawings and sculpture alike have plenty of vigour. They reflect what many people identify as the typical sincere outlook of the New Zealand artist, and in very few cases is it possible to see any obvious following 'of borrowed styles and conventions.

Among nearly a dozen pieces of sculpture thero are two works of the highest merit by Noel Ireland, a young man whom competent authorities believe to have gifts such as are rarely met with. His head of a girl with downcast eyes is instinct with life and has an austere beauty which should impress even the most casual visitor. Differently treated, but just as distinguished, is a head of a girl with parted lips and wind-blown hair. A sketch model represents a flute-player seated upon a rock with three enraptured listeners about him. The oil paintings include a most attractive head of a girl by W, Jones, two nudes by J. Farquhar and a number of very capable still-life studies by various hands. Landscape work in oils by A. F. Whyte, F. Hunt, V. Vickers and L. Waller shows a distinct advance. Most of it is in a broad style, and no difficulties have been shirked. There are numerous pen drawings finished in monochrome wash, of houses, shipyards and industrial scenes. Another popular medium is a mixture of chalk and gay water-colour. Both give plenty of scope for practice in drawing and the work conveys the pleasure which the students had in doing it.

A pen and wash drawing of a factory scene, by C. Murray, shows a fine colour sense and the effect is most pleasing. The same student has a couple of excellent imaginative studies. Etchings by A. Thompson are ambitious, but remarkably natural, and good aquatints are shown by A. F. Whyte, P. White and L. Lipanovic. There are some fine pencil drawings of buildings and trees by C. Murray, a number of pencil studies of the nude and good examples of lettering and book-cover design. The exhibition will remain open for three weeks.