SCHOOL OF ARTS SHOW.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 16, 24 February 1914, Page 6

SCHOOL OF ARTS SHOW.

STUDENTS WHO COUNT. FOREMOST IN WORK. [Specially written for The Sun.] The standard of work produced by the students of the Canterbury Society of Arts is remarkable in any case, but it is to be cpnsidered eyen more remarkable when one has seen the limitations in space and convenience under which the students work. The school holds first place, with the Wellington Technical School second, amongst the public schools of art in New Zealand, and, since the Board of Governors must realise this, it is a pity that it does not bestir itself to make the school buildings more suitable to their purpose. Nowhere in New Zealand is there Better work done in painting and in the applied arts than in Ghristchurch. About, a year, ago there was formed in Auckland an Arts and Crafts Association—an organisation of young enthusiasts. desirous of breaking away from the formalism and stereotyped mediocrity of the Auckland Arts Society —and though in the association's largest exhibition there was much promising work, the most noteworthy examples, apart from those shown by instructors at the Auckland Technical School, were contributed by Christchurch students.

FBOM THE" ANTIQUE. The exhibition of students' work which has just closed at the School of Arts indicated that the high standard of accomplishment is well maintained. The applied art's section contained some very fine work in design, in metal and enamel work particularly. The tapestry and repousse work at least showed a thorough grounding in the principles of design and the technique of the crafts. The deadlight in three panels by Mr W. Stape-y was. especially;, good in its decorative balance and 'its colour treatment. The studies from'the 'antique showed nothing very remarkable, as was natural, considering that in this section the students are merely being grounded in the rudiments of light and form, but it can be said that two of the students in the antique room, .Miss Sadie-Osborne and Miss .Marie. .Buckhurst, show original tendencies a& far as treatment is concerned. " :

Possibly it is best that students'drawing from the.cast should strive most for definition and accuracy of draughtmanship, but, even so, it is permissible for a student to .try and achieve that quality vaguely known as ' f feeling':.'.. in a study from the cast. This seems to be the object of the two students mentioned — Miss Buckhursts's drawing is not sound, but she achieves vigorous, effect; Miss Osborne, on the other hand, apparently strives after unusual effect, and sometimes attains delicate, feeling in somewhat hesitating ■ draughtsmanship.

PROMISING WORK. The architectural drawings were not striking in any <«vay, and had little originality of conception. But amongst the time studies from the life was some entirely- praiseworthy w#rk, though most of it was rather crude, even allowing for the time limitation. The best work, that of more mature students, of course, w,as in the. South Kensington examination work and in the designs for mural decorations for a Hall of Commerce: The theme set for the students -was the interior decoration of a, room devoted to commercial interests, and in designing suitable decorations Mrs G.'E. Butler, Miss,Buby Partridge, Miss Stephanie Buckhurst, and Miss - Carrie Poison produced the best work, A plaster sketch for a j>anel by Miss A, Sugden had its merits lesssened through being 1 not altogether true in modelling and being mechanical in composition. Convention in design may be so easily reduced to the mechanical. Mrs Butler's decorative poster for the exhibition nicely achieved a balance * between convention and realism, and her broad, decorative treatment and fine colour sense made it altogether pleasing.

SPECIAL MERIT. Miss Buby. Partridge is evidently the star student of the school —her work is beyond the "shows promise" stage and approaches the point when promise is fulfilled. Two portrait studies shown by her are executed with a verve,.a decisiveness of brush stroke, and yet with a truthful subtlety of tone that prove certainty of knowledge of effects and intention. Her flesh is flesh, and her tone, the whole arrangement of'her colour, make her merest studies harmoniously . whole. Two portrait studies and a still-life group that were shown at the exhibition were in themselves proof that Miss Partridge takes a first place amongst the few fine painters that the Canterbury School of Arts has produced. In her decorative sketch in oils for a panel, she was by no means so. successful, however —the colour .was harsh; meant to be warm, it was hot and glaring, and the group of figures did not compose well. The sketch needed much pulling together with regard to both tone and composition. It can also be said that in her water-colour landscape work Miss Partridge is not nearly so successful as in her portraiture.

QUALIFIED MERIT. Miss C. Poison also exhibited good work in her two sketches for panels. Both were landscapes, and both were marked by their decorative sense, their effects of atmosphere and perspective and their subdued harmonies; in these panels the colour has rightly been subordinated to their intention as interior decorations. Miss Stephanie Buckhurst is another student whose work contains good ' quality. Miss E. Munday is one who ' seems likely to do good water color work some day—when sheis more certain of what she is aiming at and of the means to the effect. At present her colour is hard and bright, and her touch is uncertain as her drawing is indecisive.

SOME DEFECTS. • The School continues to produce artists, and those here mentioned are without doubt the foremost of the more mature students of painting at present working in the school. Little has been said of the jewellery or modelling sections, but though little was shown in these classes, what was shown was of good average student quality. The'jewellery section of the Wellington, school, under Mr Pitkethly, is the o»:ly other section in this class of work 'in' tie'tJbminion to equal Christehurch; but - then, in Wellington the metal wording ! anjd jewellery class-room is quite apart; 'from all otilxer classes —in the Christehurch .School, on the contrary, the modelling, repousse, and jewellery classes are forced to work in one room, which is not'large enough for any one of them to work in comfortably and I procltice the beet l That such good work

i 3 done in a building Which could be made much more suitable to its pur- ] pose should be sufficient incentive the Board of Governorsto remedy the: defects. DICK HARRIS. ■„ •. .. v. ■ :-■: ■ : - ■