The herald., 1894-11-11
comment ON ART PROGRESS,
The Art Gallery at the Cham
Der Of Commerce.
The Esthetic Outlook in Los
Angeles.
A Stop FROM tho Orange Wood Plaqu
Potb0iiers TO Works of Genuine
Value-The Art Associs-
tion's Exhibit.

A visit to the art gallery connected
with the chamber OF commerce will fill
the dilettants with hope, and go far
toward proving to those who have be.
come skeptcal regarding the artatic
outlook OF Los Angeles, that long step
has been taken in the right direction.
To the eye and mind O! the average
connoisseur this toe oft repeated delinea.
tion OF cluster of oranges, adhering 10
slate OF orange wood, or q bough OF
pepper leaves and berries arranged in @
painstsking manner on black tin
panel, or 8 branch o! eucslyptus leaves
and blossoms carefully draped across
porcelain platter is not an unmistakable
s!sn OF either heaveH-ssDt genius or
superior talent, and although Bome of
the orange and pepper and eucalyptus
SPRAYS have been technically correct,
most of them have bsen boldly and
BADLY bad ; and even at their best. they
are more suitable as q trophy to the
guileless and misguided tourist than as
an example of even one branch OF real
art. Yet until quite recently the studios
and the windows of the art aud other
stores have been full OF lurid, indestruc-
tibe oranges and fam boyRnt pep
pers, etc, until the brain OF the art
lover reeled and no turned and fed to
the hills, where he found the nature
that he loved in all her picturesque and
maiestio variety, and wondered why,
when he, with his untutored eye. could
find go much in her TO revere. and satisfy
his highest cravings. the average artist
would sit in his studio and paint down
10 the level of the handiwork Of men,
instead of going afield and painting up
10 the level of the masterpieces o! God.
Nf course the utiltarian and prosaic
Hnswer to this dreainer's query has been
and is. succinc,ly-bread: the multifari-
GUS. not to say nefarious, evidences of
misdirected energy and m sguded talent
have been thrust on suffering COM
munity on account OF necessity on the
part of the painters (they cannot in JUS
tice be called artists ior gaining liveli-
hood; and it is because OF the success,
not only artistic, but financial. of few
men who have had the courage OF their
convictions and the Independence OF
action to live up to them that the dawn
of better days in this department of art
ieems at hand. When such men IA j
Bond Francisco. Elmer Wachtel, Henry
Koch and others turn to never r-faiiEg
nature Tor their sub sets, or, in their
studios, and using life for their models,
they turn their attention 10 portraits
or figure painting; when such men
hot only make that stride forward in an
artistic way, but find ready sale for
The result of such work, then would q
firm and substantial ground seem laid
for future excellence and progression in
a local art, both actively and passively I;
ihe reign OF the orange, pepper and
Nuca U nina ynuv ha ronaidarad ovar and
they may be relegsted severally to their
Iightful places-the orange as an article
vi consumption at home and abroad, the
pepper "a house decoration for wed-
.,dings and receptions, and the encaly D.
tus as q healing remedy Tor rheu matism.
etc.
During the summer months that are
Just passed, number of local artists
who had in mind the cultivation OF an
intelligent love of art in the commun-
iv. and felt at the same time q desire to
give an impetus to and stimulus for
higher aims and more serious work
among their fraternity, convened for the
purpose OF establishing a permanent sx-
hibit in some central placs. The cham
Der OF commerce, in which 80 much
good has been accomplished along other
lines. WAS considered on all accounts
the most desira BILE and practicable place,
and as consequence fine, large,
well-lighted room on the upper
floor OF their new quarters at
the corner of Fourth and Broadway
was placed by the directors of the cham.
ber at the disposal OF the artists for a
gallery, and the exhibition was formally
opened on the evening of October 10Th,
at the same time that the rest OF the
rooms we're thrown open to ths public.
The room was furnished by the chambe
and for it's use is paid per cent of the
purchase price OF each picture as it is
sold; while the directors of the chamber
who were at first opposed to an art an
mex, are now more than satisfied with
the class Of people, and the number OF
visitors it attracts. There is no consti-
tuition, nor are there bylaws in this in
formal organization no officers except q
secretary, (Miss Helen E. Cosn,) and
the chairman OF the jury for admission ;
said jury of five artists having been
chosen for the purpose of judging OF the
eligibility OF pictures offered for exhibi-
tion, thereby keeping up the standard of
the exhibit. The names Of the jury are
Messrs. j. Bond Francisco (who is also
the chairman), Elmer Wachtel, Henry
Koch, and Misses Fannie K. Duvall and
Edith White. There is also a hanging
COmmlLC6o COu1pO6eu Vi mlbb o. II.
Jordan, Miss Margaret Ashmead, and
Messrs. Eugene Torrey and Charles S.
Ward. A set OF rules have been framed
nnd viii be enforced regarding the re-
Geipt, disposition and treatment of pic
lures sent for exhibition, that there
may be no Misunderstanding and that
all exhibitors may receive the same
treatment; they are, in brief. ae fol-
lows:
Paintings will be received betwesp 8
.. m. and p. M, and they must be sent
between the let and 9th OF each month;
none being accepted after the 9th each
picture must be accompanied by its
titie, price. and the name and address of
the artist; no picture will be hung un.
III u mas been accepted by the jury
neither will any picture be hung with
hut frame; after having been hung they
must remain until the end OF tho month,
unless, as In case of sale. there be writ
ten permission from the secretary for
their withdrawal; accepted pictures
may remain in their place longer than
month, unless the Jury need
tneir places for others; ali pictures
must be delivered and removed
IT the expense OF the sender; recei DTS
Tor pictures will be given by the super
intendent of the chamber of commerce
building, and must be presented, ooun-
tersiIned by the Secretary of the art