Studio: international art (86.1923)

EXHIBITION OF STUDENTS’
WORK AT THE L.C.C. CENTRAL
SCHOOL 0 0 a a 0

AVERY wide range of activities were
represented in the exhibition of stu-
dents' work held recently at the London
County Council Central School of Arts and
Crafts, Southampton Row. The School’s
outlook in relation to handicraft and the
minor arts is so catholic and comprehen-
sive that it is no easy matter to estimate the
precise value and significance of the work
accomplished. The very high level of
achievement attained in certain sections
must be freely acknowledged, and the staff
are, on the whole, to be congratulated on
the evidences of definite and encouraging
progress. Unfortunately a careful consider-
ation and analysis of the exhibits taken col-
lectively reveals certain weaknesses of
prime importance to which reference will
be made later. It is a more pleasant task to

record the successes, and prominent among
these must be reckoned some attractive
groups of coloured and glazed pottery,
including a number of animal and figure
subjects. These particular manifestations
of the potter’s art have perhaps received
from students a degree of attention some-
what out of proportion to their value, but
the results are undeniably attractive and
show an intelligent appreciation of the
nature and limitations of the material used.
There are so many pieces of merit in this
and other sections that it is not possible to
refer to them individually. A few represen-
tative examples are illustrated herewith.

When estimating the value of the results
obtained one must consider their relation
to the production of pottery as an industry.
Those of us who are concerned with the
advancement of the applied arts appear, in
these days, to be divided into two camps.
Some desire to see the creative talents of
designers applied to raising the level of

CERAMICS AT L.C.C. CENTRAL SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS

J. D. BELL
E. HANDLEY

77

J. D. BELL
E. RICHMOND

J. WILLIAMS
J. D. BELL