MAORI ART.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1927, Page 1

MAORI ART.

DECORATIVE WORK

AUCKLAND, Jan. 12

‘‘f am confident the newly-formed Maori Arts and Craft Board will bo successful in its endeavours to foster Native handicrafts,” said Dr P. H. Buck on his return from Rotorua, where ho attended the iirst meeting of the Board, of which ho is a- member.

iJ.itely there had been a great stimulation and advance in practical steps toward the study of the Maori race, added Dr Buck. First there was established a, Benrd of Maori Ethnological Research, and that body bad funds for tbe publication of data and material and for assisting in research work. The establishment of the Board of Maori Arts and Crafts concentrated on what might be termed tbe decorative side of Maori handicrafts or the artistic work of the Maori. Tbe Board would be an organisation under which all material hearing on those things iould bo brought together, and one of the effects of the establishment of tbe Board would bo the collection and amalgamation of all information on such crafts as carving, plaiting, and weaving, painting of bouse natters and decorations of the wall panels of flic larger meeting houses. Tho Maoris themselves in many parts were experiencing a desire to use some of their own decorations for the embellishment of their homes, but the trouble had been that there had been no craftsmen in many districts, and the art had passed completely av.ay. Tho estali ishmeul of a school where students could be taught would probably havo a big effect in supplying that, want.

‘'Tilt' view i* hold by many i>o<'-p!f t Im.t the Maori hits an innate aiti-.tif sense.” added l)r Buck, “ami (be establishment. of Ilia school will enable him to develop it and err? to new ideas ratbor than slavishly fol ow old models, and to make it a living nrl hind op ting it to suit modern requirements. Many of our la roe public buildings have nothing olnu: U-tcrislic of New Zealand about them, and ii might be that the work of the school and its collodion of data and material might help to develop cerfnin dements in decorative art ttmt could torm pail of a national art (Tutracteristio of the country. At present, outside the Native districts, there is practically no nrt or decorative work distinctive of New Zealand, and the new Board vi" create an opportunity to use and adopt some of the Maori features in public buildings. The Auckland War Menuir.nl Aluscum will incorporate some such features.” The new Board A to cstalj ish a school at Rotorua, and there will be collected photographs and casts ot al good Maori work now scattered throughout the Dominion.