ARTS AND CRAFTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 204, 2 October 1914, Page 4

ARTS AND CRAFTS.

A GOOD SHOWING. The fourth annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition, now on view at the Art Gallery, was formally opened last night. There was a good attendance, and, in the absence of the president, the Hon. j E. C. J. Stevens, Mr W. Reece declared [the Exhibition open, and made an appeal ! for the patrons of art not to-refrain | from purchasing ndw, ' or tightening their purse-strings because of conditions i brought about by the war. The artists j were also affected by the conditions, and if buyers refused to buy, their position would not be made any better. Judging from the number of red •wafers that already marked sales last night, the purchasers of arts and craft /work are not less inclined to buy now than before, and the 'Exhibition contains much to justify the expenditure of a few sovereigns, or shillings even. The most interesting exhibit in- the collection is the etchings, mostly by Miss Hermina Arndt and Mr F. Nicoll, both young New Zealand artists, who have been studying in Europe for some years. With both artists, their smaller plates are the best, -having more of the true etcher's quality. Miss Arndt's larger plates have a vague formlessness, which comes of a mixture of mediums; they lack' that delicate strength and definition which is the quality of true etching, because the artist has helped out her etched line with the use of. mezzo-tint methods, and i possibly, aquatint. But there is good quality in her work a poetiq feeling, and she gets this most admirably in her smaller plates. Mr Nicoll is not so skilful an artist with the copper plate as he is with brush and pastel point. His etching also lack the delicacy and' directness of true etching and variety of tone. His large plates, such - , as, for® instance, '' Usher Building by Night." (No. 16), have a rigidity of line and a certain harshness. They are carried out in two tones, and the heavy blacks are dead, merely the impression of ink plentifully applied, and they lack the rich tonal quality that the blacks of mezzo-tint give. The point is that etchings give effects that no other medium can give, and both Miss Arndt and Mr Nicoll have produced that could as well be produced in several other mediums. But in the smaller"plates, such as "Regent j Arch" (No. 18). and "Perthshire Village" (No. 19), Mr Nicoll's method and effect are excellent and proper to the medium * employed. Mr R. Wallworth shows a mezzo-tint having all the richnes of tone that belongs to mezzo-tint in "Below the Mill" (No. 5), and his small etching, "In the Orchard," though not remarkable, is an example of j the legitimate effect of etehing. j Amongst the craft section there are

a large number of specimens of tooled leatherwork. The pupils of the Elam School of Art, Auckland, show some interesting work, but the best examples are by Miss I. Locking (who shows the greatest numbeT if pieces) and Mr W. H. Wraight. .Most of the students' work in various mediums, is not worthy of comment, but there are exceptions, i and the chief exception is the display of | metal work and jewellery. Possibly C. j Clark, who has on view some very good I examples of metal work, and A. Atkin- ! son, whose jewellery and metal work ! shows excellent idea in design and callable craftsmanship, are, not students, | but those who are indubitably students | of the School of Art show themselves j capable of producing equally good i workmanship, with imaginative design. I The needlework section is large, and j here, too, much invention is shown in j producing harmony of - design and j colour. There is a'great deal "of really f beautiful work in embroidery, crochet, i lace, and stencilled work, which dej serves to find buyers readily, the more ! especially in that it is comparatively j inexpensive. Of the paintings in oil, j watercolour, and pastel that are shown, there is also much that merits attention, though nothing very striking. Mr A. P. \ Nicoll shows a couple of good pastels. \ Mr. Menzies Gibb shows a number of his quiet watercolours, and Mr Edward Tristram a couple of examples of his decorative style. Mr Fristram 's work is not as god as he can do, but it is a taste of his quality. Miss M. O. Stoddart also exhibits one or two of her poetic watercolours, studies in rich greys, treated in her delicate yet vigorous manner, and- full of atmosphere. Another exhibitor, Mr - N. Welch, though his work is quite unlike Miss Stoddart's in effect, yet has the same fine quality. Mr J. W. Baverstock has one or two quaint drawings in pen line, really caricature in decorative line, which are good. And of the students, the most original in idea and treatment are R. Zeller and M. Munday. Miss Violet Nelson is very like someone else, and E. G. Freeman is Diilac, without Dulae's rich colour and bold line. The photographic section does not call for \any mention, but there is some excellent furniture and leadlight work in the trade section of the craft work. The leadlights shown by Messrs Smith and Smith (F. Mash designer, F. Few and R, Piper executants) and Bradley

Brothers are good examples of this form of craftsmanship* Altogether, there is a great deal of excellence to be found amongst the great variety of- exhibits, and this Exhibition compares more than favourably with any of those previously held.