Page Eighteen Te PAINT BOX

“Cross “Roads”

AWAII, the ‘“‘Cross-Roads of the Pacific,” has been called the ‘Artists’

Paradise. The casual tourist who “does” the Islands in a_ fortnight,

and rushes off to see something more exciting elsewhere, knows
nothing of Hawaii’s true charm or of how that charm is being interpreted by
the little groups of artists who have come from many countries and made
their homes in this land of eternal sunshine. The Cross-Roads Studio, a
small house in a quiet street in Honolulu, is the gathering place of these
people and the centre of the art-life of the city. In its three small rooms
monthly exhibitions are held, both of the work of Honolulu artists and
transients. Occasionally, too, exhibitions are secured from the mainland.

Among the artists who have come from far countries is Huc Luqiuens,
a Frenchman, who, having fallen in love with the tropics, stays on and on in
Honolulu, delighting her people with his etchings and aqua-tints of the
swaying palms and the surf that pounds forever on the guardian reefs of
Oahu. His etchings of the queer tropical fish, to be seen in the Aquarium
at Waikiki, are also very fascinating, and would give a clever designer many
inspirations.

Of other artists living in Honolulu, perhaps the most widely known is
Charles Bartlett, an Englishman, who, coming to the islands nine years ago
for a month on his way back from India, has remained there ever since.
His wood-cuts and aqua-tints are a great attraction at the Cross-Roads Studio.

Another interesting and widely-travelled artist is Madge Tennent, whose
charcoal and red-chalk studies of Hawaian types are recognized as an unique
means of preserving a record of this fast vanishing race. Her clever and
unusual portraits are also much admired.

It is chiefly owing to Mrs. Tennent and to the interest of some wealthy
citizens that an Art School was started about a year ago, which, it is hoped,
will be of value to many a student at present handicapped by the expense of
the journey to the mainland.

P. M. KirKPaATRICK.

We're a Cosmopolitan, Metropolitan, Neopolitan class,
An Occidental, Oriental, accidental mass,

And we endeavour, failing never,

*Cause we're clever, to succeed,

Art for Art’s sake, Art for Pete’s sake,

Art for my sake is our creed.

M. A. WILLIAMS.