Arts and Crafts Club.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 26, 26 June 1912, Page 4

Arts and Crafts Club.

The newly form.-u. Arts and Crafts Club was encouragingly inaugurated on Friaay evening at the rooms in the Artists* Flats, Palmerston Buildings, about two hundred people being present by invitation. The president (Mr. R. A Armstrong), the secretary (Mr. E. Warner), and the committee and other officials looked after their guests admirably. In the course of some interesting remarks explaining their aims and objects, the president said the elub had inaugurated a movement that might be of benefit to the whole Dominion, and he emphasised the fact that it embraced all forms of art. There must he a constant creation of vacancies in the ranks of artists, and it would only be by making practical the following of art and providing at least a decent living for art workers that we could hope for a future generation of artists. Commerce and industry almost completely occupied the public mind, but by the application of its highest principles •to eraft productions art would gradually insinuate itself into the daily lives of the people, uplifting and refining the public taste. Mr Armstrong urged members to endeavour to extend the membership of the elub.

Several of the studios on the flat were thrown open, and there was also in an adjoining room a very fine collection of work by the members of the club. Sketches in oil and water-eolour, modelling, etchings, photographs, the more artistic processes, stencil work, jewellery, cartoons, blaeK and white work, architectural drawings, stained glass, etc., were inspected with much interest, and most favourably commented upon by the guests. During the evening songs were rendered by Miss McLean and Mr Barry Coney, and Mr L. Abraham gave a musical monologue.