CHILDREN’S ART

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25303, 13 August 1943, Page 6

CHILDREN’S ART

EXHIBITION TO BE HELD An exhibition of children’s art, including painting?, carvings, drawings, and crafts, which has been arranged by the Otago Art Society, and will be opened in the clubrooms on Tuesday, is the first display of this kind to be held in Dunedin. The work of pupils from schools throughout' the city will be on view. The changing attitude towards our education for children has resulted in emphasis being laid on the importance of freedom of expression, and whereas a set course of study was previously arranged for pupils, young children, in' many cases, now draw and paint from imagination. Two members of the teaching staff of the Art School yesterday expressed the opinion that a young child draws for Its own pleasure and not for the satisfaction of adults It does not see things from an adult’s point of view and draws rather from its own imagination than from what it sees. This enables a pupil to express itself, and the drawing is usually more realistic than if the child had copied an object which it did not understand. The speakers stated that teachers, by supplying the atmosphere and material and giving help when it was asked for could do much to encourage the artistic development of children. There should be no restrictions on the pupils so far as their work was concerned.

The display, which comprises a large number of exhibits, will be open for two weeks.