Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-07
ARTISTIC BUILDINGS
Public Art League Has a Well
Defined Mission.
TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT WORK
How It Was Formed and for
What Purpose.
PAST INARTIsTIC WORK

A good many people are of the opinion
! that higher standard could be attained
In the designs for public buildings and in
works of art purchased by the government.
Some of those holding these views have
co-cperated in the formation of an organ
ization known as the Public Art League,
and as the officers selected having signi-
heo their intention of taking the positions
assigned the organization is now ready to
begin its work. The officers are as fol-
| lows: Richard Watson Glider, editor Gen.
| fury Magazine. New York, president;
Richard NJ. Hunt, architect, New York.
first vice president, deceased since elec-
| tion; Augustus St Gaudens, sculptor,
New York, second vice president; John
La Fargo, artist, New York, third vice
president; T. NJ. Clark, architect Amer
lean Architect, Boston, Mass, record
ing secretary; Glenn Brown, architect
Washington, ID. c., acting corresponding
secretary.
The Object.
The list of directors comprises the names
of many prominent men throughout this
country, and is follows: Henry Van
Brunt, Kansas City; J. Q. A Ward, New
York city; A. T. Goslorn, Cincinnati; East
| man johnson, New York Charles A Collier,
Atlanta Ga Halsey C. Ives, St Louis, Mo;
d. c. French, New York; W. NJ Chase New
York; F. l.. Olmsted, Brookline, Mass; Mrs.
Bellamy Storer, Cincinnati; Joseph Jeffer-
son, ID. III. Burnham, Chicago; J. w. Ellis
worth Chicago; +. ID. Millet, Chicago; J. r.
Proctor, president civil service commission;
Montgomery Schuyler, New York; Charles
| Dudley Warner. Hartford; c. F. McKim,
| New York; F. A Walker Boston; G. G..
| Hubbard. National Geographic Society: Mrs
| VI. S Van Rensselaer,. New York: A. l..
rockingham, jr., Princeton. y. ]. The
~ he 1p. 81 tod in f1a
constitution, is to promote the passage
of a law or laws by Congress re-
curing that before purchase adoption
by the government of any work of art
sculpture, painting, architecture. land
scape design. coin. seal, medal. note, stamp
or hond), the design model for the same
snail be submitted to a commission OF eN-
perts for an expression OF opinion to
its artistic merit, and the approval of such
committee shall me a prerequisite to its
| adoption. The means proposed of ac-
| comprising the object Of the league is a
| persistent agitation of the subject before
Congress and the promotion of agencies for
/ the educa lion of the masses Of the people
Persons interested in the objects Of the
league may become members by author
ling the secretary to sign their maine to
| the constitution.
In speaking of the league Mr. Glenn
Brown, the secretary, who has been active
in its organization, said to Star reporter
that during the summer of 1895 number
OF members belonging TO the Washing
ton chapter of the American Institute of
Architects and of the Cosmos Club held
a meeting to consider the ACCESSIBILITY of
forming a public art league. 1t was de-
cided at this meeting that such an organ
lZatfon might lead to good results. After
repeated meetings a constitution was
adopted and list of officers selected who
were invited to take charge of the league D.
The permanent organization was made
conditional upon a majority of the officers
accepting the positions which Were ten
dered them. The required majority hay-
ing accepted, said Mr.. Brown the organ
| fZation of the Public Art League of the
United States is an accomplished fact
Greatly Needed.
There is an evident desire on the part of
TIE community continued Mr. Brown ..for
| the government to have the best art work
| that can be obtained. That there is need of
Improvement in the method of selecting such
work is felt, | might say known to profess
sional artists and the cultivated community
generally. How to increase this Feeling
crystalize ii and bring it TO bear upon Com
gress so as to get practical legislation was
| the question to be solved. The Public Art
| League is an effort from which / expect ricn
| results in this direction.
"An who desire the advancement of the
| people in culture and taste will have through
this organization an opportunity given them
| to exercise their influence in accomplishing
| The desired legislation. New York, Boston,
| Baltimore Philadelphia, Chicago and DOS
| siby other cities at the present time have
municipal art commissions who have more
VI HISS iocdi III Selec1lOn or art
adornments for streets and parks. The
Public Art League without doubt will have
| the assistance of all such local associations
| as Well as the cooperation of art societies
| throughout the country.
The present methods the government has
| of selecting works of art and the results
| may he briefly summarized as follows: The
| designs for government buildings depend
| upon the department under which they are
erected.
The Treasury Department, through the
| supervising architect and mis- assistants. has
the larger portion, including post offices.
government court houses, custom houses
| and marine hospitals. These buildings have
| been proved by careful investigation and
comparison to be inferior in design and con-
struCtion and to have cost al least fifty per
I cent more than private work of a similar
character.
Inartistic Designs.
'"The buildings erected by the War De-
partment are in charge of the quarter
! master ge, erals office, with carpenter
| in charge 1t is unnecessary 10 say that
| nothing artistic is the outcome from such
an arrangement. Other government build
| irgs are given directly to members of the
engineer corps architects selected be-
cause of friendship or supposed fitness. A
| limited number have been given out
| through public competition. That some of
! the selections made under the above meth
DDS have been happy ones was due more to
! good luck Than good judgment.
"Monu' IS. statuary and paintings are
| usually ed 10y congressional Grand
Army committees who have had
neither on nor training to make
| them ldges"
Mr.. J. lerIed TO the efforts which
| had alre. made in this direction
| such as the McKaig bill. and said that the
| difficulty was that the laws We're not man.
| datory- For this reason he thought the
| league should endeavor to have their laws
mandatory. He said that one of the first
| objects of the league will be to increase
| the membership. The larger the member
| ship, he thought, the wider the influence,
and the fee of one dollar from each men,
| Der will give the board of directors a fund
! 10 print and distribute literature and pay
| the expense Of committees who have in
| charge the matter before Congress.