The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-06-08

The Kilohana Art League opens
its doors every Saturday night dur
ing the short time the exhibition is
open. Of that time more than half
has expired, and there are only two
more chances, viz, tonight and
next Saturday, in which the public
will have an opportunity of view
ing and criticizing the efforts of the
combined artistic talent of Hawaii.
On these evenings the new exhi-
bition rooms at the corner Of Hotel
and Fort streets will be lighted by
electricity, under which the works
are seen to the best advantage,
music also being provided. These
evening exhibitions are specially
intended for those whose vocations
during the week make it difficult
for them to attend during the day
time
It should be remembered that
the league is in no way money
making concern. The small en-
trance fee goes only a little way
toward the expense of lighting. The
aim of the league is chiefly to raise
the standard of art in Hawaii, to
encourage work, and not the least
important of it's aims is the stimu-
Iation of interest in art matters
among the people. 1t is a mistake
to suppose that only the artist is
responsible for the life and vigor Of
his work. The public have in the
main much more to do with the
standard of artistic production than
they are aware of. Nothing is so
killing as Indifference. It is not
necessary to become patron, or a
buyer of work to encourage it. Crit
icism of a fair kind is a healthy sign,
and even unfair criticism is better
than neglect. If the public would
only take the trouble to go and see
what the art-workers of Hawaii are
striving to produce, between their
semi-annual exhibitions, the great |
point has been gained.
In such a small community, the
standard Of work could not be up|
to that of great countries where |
work is selected from thousands of |
competitors but it is probably |
relatively as high as the standard |
of appreciation in this place. In this
spring exhibition Of the Kilohana
Art League, which closes on the
22d instant, there is much work
and real study which deserves at
tention. Taken as a whole, the |
exhibition may be said to be the
best that has been held since the
league was formed.
The oil paintings are not as nu
merous as they were last year, nor
is Mr.. Hitchcock so well repre-
sented. His portrait of himself,
with that of Mrs. FL. n. Castle,
divide the honors of the work he
sends this year. The former is
work of exquisite tone and texture,
but it is, perhaps, in Mrs. Castles
portrait that he gives promise of
style; there is subtilty and har-
mony of color about this portrait
which is very pleasing, and it has
deservedly the place of honor
among the works in oil. There is
a small marine piece in blue of the
Waianae mountains by P. H.
Dodge (No. 48) which claims at
tention. It is full Of feeling and
dreamy suggestion, and we'll merits
it's position. A Poi Lunch (No. 50),
by Miss Grace Robertson, is both
and strong. Still Life (No.
52), by Mrs. Pierre Jones-a tea
set-is well executed. Another,
Still Life (No. 64), by Miss May
Mott-Smith, shows vigor and dar
ing No. 40, a panel of ohias, by
Mrs. W. NJ. Graham, should also
be carefully examined. 1t shows
strength and dexterity in manipu-
Iation, and there is good judgment
used in composition and arrange
ment.
It is in the water color section of
the exhibition, however, where the
standard rises above that of last
year. Miss A. H. Parke is as