The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-06-18
MRS. GgiuiN'S wOHE.
rpktu frCutNG A. TuI AUr
IiNDtI INHinfrtoN.
sample. ct Noritorious wood Carving
An Egyptian Lotus stuoi-Art ~
NntiVc woods. Itc.

There is branch Of worl, at the Art
League exhibition that, at first glance,
perhaps. attracts less attention than it
rightly deserves. I. 2. the exhibit Of
wood.carving 10y Mrs. A. II, Graham.
From the earliest times artists have
recognized the capabilities that lie in
wood for representation of certain
ideas, particularly in decorative lines Of
work That such material slightly used
can be made to reflect the thought of
the artist, there is ample proof in the
cathedrals and museums of Europe.
The beauty of such work is becoming
better known and appreciated and is
found repetaed in the homes Of those
whose aesthetic taste leads to surround
! ing themselves with objects of art and
/ beauty-not the least among which
| Not the duplicate machine work,
| turned out by rule and made after rigid
principles, but the direct outcome of
the designers own idea and the result
of his own handiwork. bringing the
work into touch with the personality of
the artist designer.
Mrs. Graham's carving shows this
personality. built upon foundation of
practical training at an art school, that
takes her work out of the domain of
the commercial wood carver and places
it among that of artists.
An interesting example of the course
in carving, No. So on the catalogue
shows the advance from the simplest
forms to work from nature-a finished
leaf modelled and then carved in WOOD
from the object itself The COURSE
involves the study of modelling princi
Piles of designing, architecture and com
position in addition to technical prac
tice of handling the tools.
Mrs. Graham has certainly improved
her time, and has talent for the specia
line of work she has chosen. She
shows several examples of different
styles of woodcarving. That in high
relief is perhaps best shown in the
Study of Sunflowers,' where the de
sign from nature, has been modelled
and fixed in plaster, ready for tn,
artists skill in transferring it to wood
What the result would be can be judged
by the "Begonias in Spanish Cedar,
work in high relief that requires a care
ful and sure hand.
Very effective work can be done il
''incised carving"-cut below the sur
face-and several examples of thi
style of carving are shown in frame
and card receivers, all in the artists owl
designs: that, in addition TO the skill
shown in manipulating a variety o
woods shows an originality that en-
hances the value of the work.
Poker etching is a process of burn
, ing design into wood with "a red.ho
point, generally aluminium, instead o
outlining it in paint or pencil. 1t i
I specially adapted TO fixing designs OF
| fat surfaces and can be used mos
effectively on wood. 1t is also used il
leather work. The design being burne,
. in the same as on wood.
| In the Paris Salon at the Champs
Mars last year were some very strikin
examples of poker etching and it
interesting to be able to study the wor
here as shown in number of Mrs
T.. Graham's pieces, the most effective q
which is perhaps the "Mahogo,ty Fir
Screen" Another fine example is tn,
series of Marguerite Frames wher
the design is carried through tire
- frames. A paper-holder, decorated b.
the same means. shows an artist
capability in transferring local subject
to wood, while "Koa Mirror Frame
y shows a strong originality in designing
= Attention should also be called to til
- design and execution of the "Egyptia
Lotus Stool, an entirely original worl
: Mrs. Graham proposes to execute
L number of pannels of Hawaiian frui
i carved in native woods, and an interes
ing showing of her work can be locke
Il for at the next exhibition of tn