The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-09
THOUSANDS SEE
ART EXHIBITION
OPENING OF BEARD ROOMS AT
THE DAYTON STORE.
Dayton Pronounced a Success-New
Departments Charmingly Arranged
Many Choice Pictures on View.

There was a veritable art exhibi-
ton, which thousands Of people took
advantage Of, at the Dayton Store last
night. It was the opening night
Of the Beard Art rooms and the beau
t1ful tea-room on the fourth floor Of
the Dayton Building, and Minneapo-
lis, with her best clothes on, seemed to
be out en- masse to enjoy art and
music, and the people were well paid
for their visit, for the new depart
ments" were revelations from an ar
tistic standpoint. Everybody was
charmed by the simple, elegant style
Of the new features. -
The elevators open into large re-
ception hall, where a fountain plays
in the center, surrounded by plants.
The walls are hung with burlap, a
light golden brown, and white Ionic
pillars rise supporting a lattice work
which permits subdued light to fl
ter. thru. Here and there by the cases
Of vases and curios and pieces Of
statuary, seats are placed inviting rest
and observation. All art merchandise
is displayed in green room facing
Nicollet avenue, with woodwork STAIN
ed a dark brown, and the art gal
lures Of the collections Of Thomas
Lowry and T. B. Walker, is just ad-
joining.
This room will always contain some
thing interesting, work Of local art
list or pictures from the east. One of
these, a wonderful scene in mid-ocean
by Thomas Moran, has just arrived
rooms opening from the larger one
In the northern suite, is full collec-
ton Of Copley prints loaned Mr.. Beard
by the publishers. but later the room
will be fitted up for artistic pho
Biography. In the large room is a
full collection Of prints and framed
reproductions, which show up beauti-
fully against a background Of golden
brown. The little room on the corner
will be reserved for handcraft, where
the art magazines will be kept for the
use of the public.
Just opposite the gallery, opening
from a small anteroom, Is the tea
room, bright and inviting in red and
white. The same idea is carried out
in its decoration, the Ionic pillars be-
ing used with lattice work by the
windows on both sides of the room
where white curtains diffuse the light
The soft yellow of the ceiling is barred
with beams of white. There are two
small rooms adequate for the use OF
| private parties; one is done with greer
and the other with light brown. Halt
| of the dining room can easily be
screened from the other for banquets
| One Of the most tireless and en-.
thusiastic supporters of art in the
cities is Harrington Beard, but alone
he could never have done for Mime
apolis what the generosity Of the
Dayton company, coupled with his
own ideals and experience, has made
possible. In occupying the fourth
floor Of the Dayton building, Mr.
Beard has obtained lighting effect.
that he could not possibly get else.
where; he has an arrangement o.
rooms combining the needs Of a store
with the beauties demanded by an ar
| tistic sense and has almost entirely
eliminated the counter idea.
The plan Of an art gallery Of thi.
! sort has been in the mind Of George
D. Dayton, president of the Dayton
company, for some time, and the ex
cellent opportunities offered in thu
way of space and light interested Mr.
Beard at once. The realization O
the plan gives Minneapolitans some
| thing to be proud Of.
Mr.. Beard has not taken his societ,
stationery to the fourth floor, but ha
the department on the first floor
where Miss Foss, who has been II
charge Of 1t for fifteen years, will
continue to look after the business.
The arrangement on the fourth foo
was made by Mr.. Beard with Harr,
i w. Jones, who obtained all the archi
tectural effects and the two evolved
the scheme Of decoration which j
most pleasing.
The Journal newsboys' band playe,
during the entire evening on the thir,
floor, which was also opened for tn
public.