The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-24
AN ART SCHOOL FOR HELENA.


AN ART SCHOOL FOR HELENA.
Practical Suggestions ~ to How Ono
Could Start.
Why could not Helena have. nm art
school?
There are many talented children In the
city and In the state who would patronize
such an institution. and their training in
art would raise the standard OF Intelligence
and usefulnoss among the people Of the
state.
We have In tho city 4 young woman who
IL thoroughly qualified TO conduct guoh a
school aud to make IL useful and creditablc.
! refer to Miss Wheeler, the talented young
artist whose works have attrnctsd the at
are OF q very high character in all respects.
In q conversation with Miss Wheeler In re-
gard TO this matter, / found that she would
be perfectly willing to undertake this mis-
sion. n her views on the subject are to
this effect.
The first object Of the school should be to
give the best possible art instruction to
pul lis at tho smallest possible cost. TO at
tain this object IT would be necessary for .
small guarantee fund to be raised and for
the incorporation Of the Helena art school,
or art association. or sueh other title as
might DO chosen. The fund wonld have to
DO sufficient to pay rent for the first year
Tor = room large enough to Accommodate
forty or nifty pupils, for the purchase Of a
good set OF plaster casts. a set OF reproduce
tions of drawings from the old masters,
substitution TO some of the best art jour-
nal. at home and abroad, and furniture
such az easels. stools. curtains. benches.
etc.
II would BE- Miss Wheeler's wish that
Dnpila sntoht ha ah1n ar eoCnro tniki0u nv
the year At about S8b. the half yearly tuition
being $50, and the quarterly. 412. payable
in advance. This would entitls every pupil
to the right TO study and use the school
from nine to -four each dav. with special in
strnction I ON the director two days a
the school year would be from September l
Everything purchased in tbs beginning
foI the school, would form the foundation
for a future institution of magnitude and
importance which might grow into the
loading art school of the west. From the
beginning Of the work, regular public e1-
pupils and also that the public might be
informed o. to the progress being made,
1t ia estimated by Miss Wheeler that there
would be sufficient revenue after the first zeal
10 pay oil expenses, but the guarantee fund
should INCLUDE q proper compensation fol
nor curing tue ur6t year.
It is we'll known to the people of Helena
that Miss Wheeler has had an excellent arr
schooling III Europe, and that she is her
self An Hitist Of unusual talent and ability.
Her works have been exhibited with suo-
cess in New York, and she holds certificates
from the leading schools of Paris in which
she was taught. II is a self-evident propo-
sition that Y school of this kind would be
of great importance to Helena and would
give a nav alcmanf IN iEa aOCia1 and do
nestle life which could not fail to be bone
fetal in every respect. During the frat few
years Miss Wheeler would be able to give
all the inst, uction that would be needed I
the pupils of the institution. and when the
time came TO increase the staff, or il Mis-.
the work. other teaohers could be obtained
and the work sof tbs school advanced al
the requirements demanded. There arr
many wealthy people in Helena whose chill
d en- have natural artistic tastes, but most
Of the pupils would come from homel
Of parents who are not wealthy and Wit
would be pleased with the opportunity Il
have their children begin their artistic edu
cation in q home institution of this kind.
An earnest endeavor will be made to or.
ganize such an institution in Helena. Int
ladies in particular are certain to give l
their hearty endorsement and support. an
there are, no doubt, many men who Gal
spare enough time and attention from thei,
business concerns to give some little though
to this important question. My own belle
ia that the re is nothing SO ensily to be &C
quired, which would prove of such Rrea
benefit to Helena. There is a disposition
in all new countries for the people to ocoup,
themselves wholly with money getting T.
the detriment of interests that are of equa
Importance if properly understood. Al
appreciation of art ~presupposes culture an
intelligence. and l believe there are enough
people in Helena who are Interested in in
tellectual pursuits to make an art school al
immediate and pronounced success. If TIL
INDEPENDENT will promote the idea, l d
! Helena. j. A., MACKNlGHT,