New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-14
THE PRESIDING GENIUS.
MISS WILDE DID MUCH TO MAKE MARD'
GRAS FAMOUS.
A YOUNG ARTIST WHO DESIGNED THE FLoAT'
AND COSTUMES FOR Ew-oRLEANs's
ANNUAL FESTIVAL

AND COSTUMES FOR NEw-oRlEANss
ANNUAL FESTIVAL
,.. ,.,.,.o-, ~ Sev-Orleans will be interested
.. Low, that A great part OF the designing ana
",s,,,nr up" o, the carniva! was the Work OF
,'oran who Is moreover. pioneer among her seN
IN this particular branch OF art
Miss Jennie Wilde OF New-Oreans. enjoys '"o
distinction OF being the first woman VINO nas w.
heen regularly employed by the carnival orsan'za-
.,or. az designer She is typical Southern GIL
norn and sunny in manner md belongs TO an ole
Ncw-Oreans family.
When seen at her studio few days oelo'e 'i''u
Gras she said.
II suppose my work for this year Is hnisneo' ou'
7 never saw IL is because something may appear al
the last moment be done. Just as soon as one
oo-,,vaI ,s over begin 20 design for the next so
that my work really never finished II is an an
year-round occupation ! like II thoroughly ana en-
toy every part OF It so much that 60 TO Sreat
deal Of unnecessary labor in working out little oe
tails that are hardly noticed by others
y believe 7 am the only woman VINO mas ever
eone this work I know OF a few others who have
been assistants but not one who has designed ana
had charge vs. have or course in preparing TOT
carnival function a great many people are re-
ou;red 10 Go the work as in the building OF mouse
mere must be builders and laborers as well as an
architect NY part corresponds TO that OF the arch
.ect though sometimes do good deal OF the real
work vel.
In the parades for example. each person repre-
senis some subject. mythical. historical fahclu
exc Sometimes suggest this subject and some
times to study II carefully, reaoihs
and searching everything that would give me any
information IN order thoroughly 10 INFORM III! seIi
I, the subject historical taken from literature
or mythology as K often is can easily imagine
the labor this requires There IS the time TO be con-
sjdered the place. the surroundings, the costumes
and the whole setting II Is Ike staging play only
as nv actors do not speak the taOeaus must de-
scribe everything. | have been doing u FOR I'VE or
unique work and Is unlike anything else in this
country. did little designing while IN New orK
valentines cards, etc-and also some Illustrating.
but there is really demand for that sort OF Work
IN New Orleans so spent most OF my time teach,
ing until began this carnival designing ] still
have class but can take only limited number OF
pupils. as j can give only a few hours day 10 II,
Miss Wide student OF the Art Students
League, in this city. and is still member She was
q pupil OF Kenyon Cox.
When asked about the cost OF the parades, she
said: Every one who has seen the carnival knows
that nothing is spared make both the paradcs
and balls as attractive possible, think the most
that one organization has ever spent for parade
and ball was about $4,000, and when one considers
me many organizations that take part every year IL
will be readily seen that the amount spent must be
great.
The carnival does a lot OF good In giving employ
ment TO hundreds OF people here" she continued
MY work increases every year. and try 10 live
I'D my theory that anything we may find 10 do IL
worthy OF the best that is IN US.
Miss WIlde's studio is in Itself an interesting
study as II suggestive OF the particular line IN
which her art Is cast. Everywh one sees swords
shields umbrellas. bits of glittering arnor. masks
dragons rich draperies. soft furs and sparkling
gems all souvenirs Of some festive carnival Occa
s.on, for she is not only designer. but guest and
participant well.