San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-08
AGENTS FOR THE LIGHT.
THURSDAY, MARCH, 8, 1888.
AWARDS BY BALLOT.

Inc V an dyke ART cluD Ol tnls CITY 10
becoming too we'll known in Texas TO
need much advertising as the leading
art school OF the state. Under the
efficient management OF Its board of
directors it is coming rapidly
to the front, as genuine art
school where the principles Of art are
taught and intelligent methods employ
cd. The design Is to make the school
permanent, give 1t home here, build
for 1t good building, equip 1t for good
art work, employ q competent corps Of
instructors and make such an institution
of art culture as Texas will be proud to
recognize among the established insti-
tutions Of culture in the state.
This OF course in the future, but 1t
Is what this art school now opened
and about to give its second
annual exhibition aims to accomplish
and towards which 1t directs Its energies.
The constant interest that the LIGHT has
taken In furthering the interests Of this
school Of art and encouraging its work
by every possible means is known and
understood by the ladies who have this
matter under their charge. A criticism
upon their action. therefore, would
probably come with as good grace
from this journal as from any other
source because the motive for such oriti-
cism could not be misunderstood.
In putting before the public their pros
pectus for their second art exhibition
the Van Dyke Art club of this city have
as follows: Medals and awards are to
be decided by vote Of the visitors to
the exhibition. The LIGHT understands
this to mean that every person who
buys one ticket to The art exhibition is
entitled to one vote for such ticket, and
also to vote for every additional ticket
purchased, and this without limit.
The person buying one ticket during
the exhibition gets one vote, the person
buying one hundred tickets gets one
hundred votes. Considering the rivalry
so sure to be engendered for prizes,
medals and awards, no one will for q
moment question the financial shrewd-
ness Of this move. 1t Is neither more
nor less than q plain, open, direct bid
for votes at SO much per vote, and up
on these votes will the awards be made
and the decisions rendered as to the
merits or dement's of artistic work. In
the judgment OF the LIGHT this method
OF making award will accomplish three
principal and special objects. The first
will be to relieve judging committee
from the very undesirable work OF max
ing awards upon an artistic basis. purely,
In . comparatively local community,
where the few are not as yet swallowed
up In the many, and where the person
stands for more than the work per-
formed. Second - IL will bring
money into the treasury Of the
Van Dyke Art club as no
other method could, and for the very
reasons set forth 10 the proceeding SEN
tence, The Personality of the artist
will stand for more than the work OF
such artist artistically judged by pure art
standards. As result, the most popu-
lar exhibitor, and most Of them will be
ladies, or the richest exhibitor, or the
one who has the most friends with long
purses, will poll the most votes, and as
the votes decide the merits the prizes
will, In more senses than one, represent
lust so much cash value. Third-It will
cause the Van Dyke Art club to be con-
sldered mere art lottery, or auction
room, where prizes are put up to be
knocked down to the highest bidder, and
the whole work OF the school and Its
name and influence made to stand
ponsor for vicious system Of confer
ring prizes according to the ability Of
the exhibitor to corral votes and not &C.
cordIng to the merits Of the work pro-
duced. 1t will encourage artistic vanity
and discourage artistic excellence. The
LIGHT cannot condemn this feature OF
the exhibition as strongly as it seems to
deserve condemnation, for 1t would seem
ungraoious, but it cannot do otherwise
Rs q friend Of the Van Dyke Art
club than point out what 1t believes to
have been mistake In the method Of
making awards.