Editorial: Let's see more from our artists

I guess I reflect the old saying which goes along the lines of not knowing much about art "but I know what I like".

What I like is seeing young hands wielding crayons or felts or pastels from the time they can stumble up on to two legs.

Although it has to be said that on some occasions, when your attention is distracted, they tend to bypass the sheet of paper you gave them and use the television screen, a couple of books on the shelf or the nearest wall as their canvas.

Innocently, they immediately become tagger tots.

The drawings they create are simply colourful scrawls, but the important thing is they are creating.

You see them drop the yellow crayon for the purple one - and outside the concrete path to the washing line becomes chalked street art.

Creativity ... it is to be encouraged and admired.

Last week I attended the final wrap for the EIT's art and design students.

Our son had completed his three-year degree course and his swan-song project, built around graphics and music, was among a startling and colourful array of works created by the students.

We were proud of his achievements of course, and delighted to take in the diversity and imagination, and the skills in transforming thoughts into artworks, of those who created the displays.

There is talent in abundance out there.

From a remarkable design and construction of a board game to spectacular architectural designs.

Fine paintings and prints. Sculptures and startling T-shirt designs.

Creativity, plain and simple ... although not plain and not simple.

We weren't alone in vocally appraising the works.

People stood and admired and discussed what they were seeing.

They critiqued and they verbally applauded.

The whole display revealed the creativity of inspired people, as well as a tribute to the tireless tutors of the EIT and of the focus and management of the whole establishment.

But it was interesting to be told that the top four award-winning design and art works would be going on public display - in Hastings.

Apparently there was nowhere in Napier to host them.

The art gallery and museum is under long-term renovation close-down, and other options are effectively commercial galleries.

There is really nowhere for aspiring artists and designers to publicly show their creativity.

The city needs a community art gallery ... where schools and institutes can display and embrace the creativity of their students.

And somewhere even the daubings of children can be shown.

It's called the first step ... the spark for inspiration and aspiration.