THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ART

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4332, 16 April 1901, Page 7

THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ART

A TALK BY MR KEELER

Ylr Charles Keeler, in his lecture - foro the Educational Institute last night on the subject of ".Recent Tendcm;: s in Art,” offered many suggestions a- lo the fostering of the love ef art in the homo and in the school. Our modern houses, ho said, were nut constructed ; they were thrown up on the cheapest plan, and covered over with boards ami plaster and wall-paper in such a ...iy that construction ira.i completely hidden. In tin; interior, unvarnished wood shoilhl ho used, for the glo-s on the surface spoiled the soft tones and gave it a hard, unsympathetic feeling. Then, in this land where flowers grow in such prolusion, ir wo wanted to colour our houses we should do it with brilliant geraniums and other flowers; our wall paper should ho of a soft, rich brown or dull red colour wit limit any ornamentation, and it would Gins form a beautiful background for our pictures. As a rule, Furniture was too ornate. Insdead of having furniture which had been manufactured with a buzz saw, wo should have our furniture carved by hand or have it absolutely plain. As for pictures, if we coulct not have pictures which were tiio greatest works of art the world had produced, we should have hare walls. It might he said that wo could not afford the works of tk? old masters, but we could.. HI allo.d copies of such works. Ho believed that our only hope for reform in those matters was through the schools. Everything in the schoolroom should reach the child that which was beautiful as well as true. The walls should be beautifully coloured, and ornamented w;' !i the works of the old masters in painting and sculpture, and with photographs of the greatest architectural' works in:; world had seen. The children should sing th.e- greatest music—the , simplest songs of the. old masters. They should sing Beethoven, and hear Beethoven played; they should hear beautiful poetry ; they shetlld bo taught to love birds, and work for their protection instead of. -their extermination; they should bo taught to study nature, ami should bo trained in sympathy with all that is good and true and beautiful. IE; related at some length the progress el this movement in America.

On the motion, of the president of He institute (Mr Gill), seconded by Air T. W. Grundy, a hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr Keeler. A number of those present remained to talk with Mr Keeler as to some practical method of organising in connection with tho schools in Wellington such a movement as he had described.