The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-26
AN "AMERICAN ATHENS,

According to story In a New York
paper, the little village of Glen Erie, far
up on the Hudson. is to be transformed
into an American Athens, having been pur-
chased by a colony of the foremost think
ers and artists IN America" for that pur-
pose. The intention Is not to reproduce
there an architectural copy on a small
scale OF the ancient Athens, but to create
an art atmosphere that will develop our
culture to the highest" Artists will es-
tablish themselves there, forming an "art
democracy" whatever that may mean, not
a socialistic community. Nothing" the
president of the organization is quoted as
saying, will be copied from Europe. Amer
lean ideas and American instincts will be
cherished and developed. We have inhcr-
tied the art treasures and culture of the
centuries, but we shall not copy. We shall
develop Americanism. We can make as
beautiful things in America as in Rome or
Paris" This sounds very we'll at first hear
ing, but Philistine, after a months reflec-
tion, will be disposed to inquire why it is
necessary to withdraw to the wilderness
in order to create an American art. There
is no law and no public sentiment requiring
any artist no matter where his home to
copy slavishly after European models. And
Americanism is not by any means exclu-
sively a thing of the rural districts. Dis
tinctive landscapes are there, II is true,
and the farmer and villager in unconven-
tional and more or less picturesque attire,
but the characteristics that make the
typical American and the outward mani
festations of the American idea" are to be
found far more abundantly in cities. Then
why not study them there? Is Ii because
they are not surrounded by an art atmos-
phere, and. therefore, out of harmony with
the mind artistic? This, again, is a term
always puzzling to the Philistine. Exactly
what is an art atmosphere? When he pur-
sues his search for information into art cir
cles he finds no two definitions agree The
association which is preparing to retire to
phere to consist in the preponderance in
the community of thought along one line
that of the creation of, things beautiful. To
be surrounded by beautiful objects, as may
be possible in small community of beauty
lovers, and to be in touch with people of
harmonious and aesthetic ideas, is held by
some to be the desirable, the coveted, con-
dition for those who would do the best
creative work. If this is true, then su-
perior productions may be expected from
the colony at Glen Erie. Shut away from
all the fret and Jar of crude commercialism
and from contact with an unsympathetic
world they will be in the ideal position
for untrammeled effort. The results will
be looked for with interest Again the
Philistine will be prepared for disappoint-
ment. for he will recall that though the
artists of old Athens may have been in
spired by a sympathetic atmosphere. il is
not by any means certain that the atmos-
phere was not first created by their pro-
ductions. Also, he will remember that the
''old masters" of a later day were not
members of mutual admiration society,
but did their work in an unassuming way,
not differing greatly, II at all, from the
ways of mere artisans in other lines. He
Will reflect that this Is true also of the
masters in literary art The greatest of
them, Shakespeare, did not find it necessary
to isolate himself. On the contrary, he as
sociated with his fellow-creatures until he
knew their hearts and souls as no man
has known them since. Perhaps pictorial
art is more of surface thing. but never
theless it will remain a question in the
mind Of this doubter whether or not the
painter of American life should not live
where he will see this life in all it's phases
Surely he cannot get it from exclusive con-
temptation Of fellow-artists