The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-16
ART WORKERS CLUB
Group of New York Models Form a
Unique Organization-Life Of a
~ Model Not an Easy One.
Many Girls From Good Families
( Have Taken Up Posing as
a Profession.

the only one Of it's kind, not only in this
country, but In the world. ~. I'D
It Is always spoken of as the Models
Club" though "Art Workers Club" is it's
official title. And as a matter of fact the
membership is almost as largely drawn
from among the prominent painters and
illustrators of both sexes in the metropolis
as 1t is from among the young women who
pose for their pictures.
The. association Is purely one Of COM
any other club might be. It was organ
lied to bring the young women Of this
profession together. It is entirely In
sympathy with their work. and for it's |
encouragement AS for reformation, that
is the one point upon which the officers
Of the club will talk freely. Artists
models, they say, are little in need Of
reformation as any respectable working
girls Of any other class. And In this
statement they include those who pose
for the figure with those who are costume
models only. /
OF course, the club attracts the most
serious workers Of the profession. There
is a lower stratum with which it never
comes in contact. Nevertheless, it is GER
tain that the character and social stand
ing of many of the young women who have
taken up posing as an occupation to-day
would be revelation to those who con-
slider 1t, of necessity, degrading. Many
are girls from good families Of other
states-handsome daughters Of the south,
whose family fortunes have been swept
away, ambitious, energetic young women
from the west, and Intelligent girls Of
good New England families. Always, it
is the same tale. They came to New York
intending to make their living by other
| means with no knowledge of the condi-
lions against which they must contend.
| And when their original plans fell through
they turned to a means of livelihood which
To f~
or figure, no matter how inexperienced She
| may be. !
However, the life of the model is any
| thing but an easy one, and not the least
of its hardships has been, until recently,
| the situation of the fashionable studio
region. This is in AIN expensive part of the
| city, far from department stores, libraries,
or other public buildings where the girls
might rest between poses. 1t is without
restaurants where they may obtain
| lunch for little cost. Until the club opened
it's hospitable doors the young women
had to choose between wandering about
| the streets between the hours Of their
engagements or spending a car fare going
| home for the interval.
The situation Of the club places it within
easy walking distance Of the largest studio
| buildings. Its two long, cheerful rooms
are open from 8 in the morning TIL 9 at
night. They are prettily furnished with
comfortable arm chairs, sofas, and dtvans.
| The walls are artistically papered and
hung with reproductions of the old mas
ters. There is a small library open to the
! members, and copies Of the latest mag
aZines are on the tables.
| Every day at noon a lunch Is served at
| the club, at cost, for all members who care
to drop in for it. It is simple, but whole
some and well cooked. Every day from
to 8, moreover, when the work of the
artist and their models is ended, after
k~@ &C. 10 %l4 r3r~1o ofo1 hni
friends by the matron. This forms a. de-
lightful social hour, when the models may
meet to chat over the work of the day,
help each other by comparing notes, and
form new friendships. In winter time the
girls flock there to fortify themselves
home.
The club is really the only means which
many of the models have Of becoming &C
quainted with others Of their profession.
Coming as they do from many different
cities and. from varied walks of life there
is no natural sisterhood among them. They
rarely meet in the studios, and the mutual
aid which workers in every field can rem
der each other was impossible among them
before the club was established.
From business standpoint, the Art
3 Workers club is as advantageous to the
artists as it is to the models. It keeps
the names and addresses Of its members
in both fields of the work. The artist
applies to the club for a model OF any de-
!. scription, and the matron in charge gen
orally knows which girls will come near
est to his requirements and what hours
= each has engaged. The model knows that
/ she is sure of good treatment, In any stu
dio to which she is sent by the club, ano
g the artist knows that any model sent him
by the club will be required to keep he1
, engagements with him or forfeit all aie
n from that source thereafter.
At present the Art Workers club has
2 about two hundred members among the
r | models Of New York and almost many
among the best known artists Of that city
q The subscription for either class is onl,
|, 81 year. making membership within thu
7" reach of all. OF course, this does not be-
- gin to pay the entire expenses of the club
- It is supported mainly by private dona
Il lions from the women who founded 1t ant
| from their friends. The one requirement
= for member, is a sincere purpose to ele
l. vate the profession and for serious worl
| therein. ".