The herald., 1893-06-14
ART SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT,
A Happy Event Pleasantly Gel
ebrated Last Evening.
Excellent Progress Made During the
Year by Art Students.
The End Of the School Year-The Grad
uatss - Addresses Made by the
Examining Committee and
by Colonel Ayers.

A brilliant assemblage gathered last
evening in the chamber of commerce
building to attend the sixth commence.
ment of the Los Angeles School of Art
and Design. A large audience filed the
rooms OF the institution, and by the ex-
pectancy upon their faces showed the
deep interest they took both in art itself
and in the success OF the many youthful
patrons of the goddess.
The occasion was an important one
the most important since the founding
eof the institution, and reflects great
credit upon Mrs. Garden Mcleod for her
persistent endeavors to awaken an inter-
est in art throughout Southern Califor-
mia. Last night the school sent forth to
the world its first graduate, Miss Laura
M. King, and from the many certificates
of meritorious work which we're won by
other students it would seem evident
that ere long many more diplomas will
follow this first one. 1is al
The exercises opened by an address
from DR.. s. Fl. Weller, president of the
Occidental college, who occupied the
chair.
81 want to extend my congratulations
both to the promoters and to the patrons
of thie institution on the return OF
another anniversary. AS | look over the
audience l notice one thing, and that is
that with each succeeding year increased
interest is shown in the success and the
progress OF art. [ notice many new
faces here tonight, and | am confident
that next year there will be many more.
In our time we all seem to be in
hurry and great deal of surface work
is done, especially in this line.
A pupil will commence taking lessons
in painting, will so along for several
months, long enough to paint picture,
in which he is helped continuously by
his instructor, who really winds up by
doing three-quarters OF the work. Then
the pupil has accomplished the great
purpose, he has painted a picture and
come out before the rest of US and poses
as full-fiedged artist. [ am glad that
this institution permits no work of such
nature. 1t is placed on a substantial
basis. Every person must begin at the
simplest things, and his progress is es-
sentially from the ground up. Each
step being perfected before another
is attempted. Two OF the pupils OF the
school sent their work to the worlds
fair. 1t won recognition, was accepted,
and today hangs on exhibition in the
White City as an evidence of art work
in Southern California. These two pu
pills entered into competition with IL
others, all OF whom were professional
artists, and they won. That itself alone
proves the progress and success with
which this institution is meeting.
This last year has been one of greater
interest and larger enthusiasm and goes
to show that the work going on is good
and deserves your patronage.
A piano solo. a fantastic, followed by
Mrs. Bruce, which was admirably exc
cuted.
Rev. J. G. Fletcher made a report on
the result OF the examining committee.
which was very favorable and showed
good work had been done during the
past year.
Mr. Harrison then magnifcently sang
baee solo, The Armory Song, from
Robin Hood. His accompaniment was
executed by Miss Grace Crawford in an
admirable manner.
Miss Graham delighted the audience
by the artistic way in which she sang
A Swiss Echo, and again on an encore
amused them by On admirable rendition
of Don't Think So, Do You? Miss
Grace Crawford accompanied her charm
ingly on the piano.
DR.. Altar, the other member of the
examining committee, then entered the
hall. He sa1d l made thorough
examination Of the pictures brought
before me. both regarding merit and
progress, but more especially in regard
to anatomy as applied to art, and
confess | was surprised at the result.
Bones are very dry subject, and
when it comes to thorough acquaint-
ance with them and the putting them
in an artistic way, it requires very close
attention to the minutia.
DR.. Weller then introduced Col. +. j.
Ayers, who spoke as follows: II cannot
tell you how much have been gratifed
to hear the encomiums which have been
passed on the school of Art and Design
of Los Angeles tonight.
Il am greatly taken with the idea in
troduced by DIR. Weller that it is work
from the ground up. The result will be
lasting and the accomplishment much
in the end. None who have passed the
middle age OF life can fail to be struck
with the great advance the people of
our nation have made in art
alone. l can remember when in
architecture building OF fine
NhahChaAohc ohu VI Dodubliui QeElEu
was rare. At that time the humble
dwellings were little better than pack
ing boxes. Now we find in them an
evidence OF good taste and rising ap.
probation of art. So it is with interior
decorative art. My early days passed
in this state. In those days little OF art
was seen; every one was seeking to
make his pile and had little time to de-
vote to art. Now 60 to any town, any
large city, and you are struck with the
architecture of the business houses and
the grounds and appearance of the resi-
dences. IL shows that great taste for
art has grown up. In every town is
school OF art, and among the young peo-
pie creditable desire to give to the
world something which it will appreciate
and admire.
But it is not my purpose to deliver an
essay upon art. In the time allotted one
can merely hastily glance at the rapid
advance this new country has made in
esthetic culture. Whilst generation
ago one could count on his fingers the
names of the persons who had distinc-
ton as painters, we are now confronted
with long list of these who rank high
in their profession. But it Ia not in this
fact that we take the greatest
pride, it is the fact that
we have q great host OF artists
to be than gala@y OF those that are.
In every city in the United States we
have training schools where young peo-