Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-01
ART STUDENTS WORK
Awards Made to corcoran
School Prize Winners.
COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS
Addresses by Director Mcclure and
Principal Messer.
CONTEMPLATION FOR STUDENTS
Lured by Illusive Hopes-optimisti
as to Future-Names of
the Winners.
CONTEMPLATION FOR STUDENTS

vi wings anu paintings winch CONSTITUTED
the exhibition were shown in the henri
cycle and In the opposite school room, but
the entire gallery was thrown open to the
students and their friends
Never since its institution has the Corco-
ran Gallery contained as valuable a collec-
ton of paintings now, when its perma-
ncnt collection is supplemented by notable
works loaned by Senators Clark and Dry
den and other private collectors. Never,
also, it is said, does the gallery show to
better advantage than at night when bril-
liaItly illuminated. 1t was, therefore, I'M
der the most suspicious circumstances that
the reception opened.
At 9:15 o'clock a bugle sounded calling
all to the main staircase, on the landing
of which Mr. F. b. Mcclure. the director
of the gallery; Gen. John NJ Wilson repre-
senting the board of trustees; Mr.. e c..
Messer. the principal of the school; Mr..
Richard n. Brooke. the vice-principal Mr..
james Henry Moser the instructor in water
coiors; Miss Mathilde Mueden, the teacher
of the antique, and Mr.. Powell Mnnege oie
the assistant director, had assembled.
Remarks by the Director.
Mr.. MCGUIRE stepped forward:
Before announcing the awards as re-
ported by the committee of eminent artists
elected for this work. he remarked Mr..
Messer wishes to say Il few words touch
ing the advantages of an art school, even
though the student may not intend to fol-
low art profession Judging, however,
from the present exhibition of the students
work in this school, | feel sure that more
than one of our students will eventually
follow art as a profession, as the exhibition
shows SO marked an Improvement over
similar exhibitions of preceding years. For
this most gratifying result l beg, in the
name of the trustees of the gallery, to
thank Mr.. Messer the principal of the
school, and his most efficient corps of in
~4,., tIaf, obi ifx- and nnT-
scientious devotion to the interests of the
school have made it possible | must also
commend the students themselves. for, after
ALL 1t is they who have actually done the
work. and to them belongs the greatest
credit
Mr.. Messer addressing the audience, said
"A multitude of students are enrolled In
the American art schools of whom small
percentage are to be practical workers, a
very small percentage effective factors In
the evolution of American art. Is 1t wise
or necessary to train or to attempt to train
as large body of students since the great
majority must fail to take any active part
In the art work of the period? This is
question that is sometimes asked by the
layman, and that rises like Banquos ghost
in the pessimistic moods of the educator
We know, those of US who have had eX-
perience. that no amount of academic tram
ing will produce an available genius. NO
system of training devised can take the
place of that spark which fllumines and
energies the great painters mind. SUCH
mind can be directed, warmed and heart
ened by wise counsels and by appreciative
interest but the creative power that dis
tinguishes the workers of high rank is In
herent. self-sustaining and unassailable.
"Of this great mass of art students many
will fall out by the way; some Will plod on
patientIy and indefinitely lured by Elusive
hopes; a few will fall into the lighter and
more commercial lines of work, adapting
their manual skill and tnyentiveness to the
innumerabe small uses of art-the menu
card the Christmas and New Years novel
ties OF the gentler sex larger number, l
trust will marry and carry their increased
love and appreciation OF the peautiful lnIo
their homes A few, the very few, Will,
through tribulation and much striving,
make an impression the greater art OF
our immediate future
Reasonably Optimistic.
at am reasonably optimistic as to this
future; how far a prevailing commercial
ism, how far a lax public interest, how far
the whims and humors of changing fash
| IONS how far an unpatriotic attitude by the
| American men of means may hinder the
| free and wholesome development of our
! national art, no one can predict. Through
| the schools home and foreign, the Ameri-
| can painter has learned his trade He can
paint He is, perhaps. overconscious OF
| that fact and obtrudes it too much upon
| the consciousness of his public, but 1t is Il
| great deal to say of the painters OF race
| or period that they knew how to use their
| tools Now 1t is the Use of these tools that
| comes within the province of the art
| schools; 1t is In that part of art which is the
| trade that the schools can be effective
| More than this. in schools where methods
| are flexible in which the spirit is spirit
| of revelation rather than convention, In
| which the Individuality of student is held
| sacred In which formulas are respected,
! but not .revered, something more than the
| trade may be gained-latent power, latent
/ aspirations may be awakened or revealed.
| but we have not answered the question
| with which we started. Admit that schools
| NAV aid the gifted student, may tit the
| mediocre talent for It's more limited sphere
| of usefulness; we still have the great mass
! to account for that drifts away from the
| schools and loses its identity. Shall all
| fort be directed to the evolution of gifted
few? One good school could certainly ac-
| commodate all the great talent.
What is the excuse then for all this
| to explain It seems to be a law of nature
| that through many failures success shall
| be achieved; 1T is not only the survival
| of the fittest, but the achievement of long
/ striving The potter who fashioned the
| vase which will bring fabulous price In
| the worlds markets may have scored a
| hundred failures to secure the one perfect
! example Each vase as he placed 1t In
| his oven was a possible ideal So. too,
! the painter-each canvas may be the mas
/ terpiece.
Future of the Gifted Pupil.
/ 1t is difficult, it is commonly impossible,
| to predict the future of the gifted pupil
| It is by the friction of mind on mind. 1t
| is through emulation, II is by that spirit
| of desire, that flame of enthusiasm aroused
| by united effort. that the latent talent is
| revealed and becomes self-conscious. /. too,
/ am a painter said Correggio, when he first
| saw great painters work. In great con-
| migration like the burning of city a
heat Is generated that makes stone or
iron finder and flax. In any general
/ and combined effort to achieve a desired
/ end there Will be evolved a more than nor
NAL desire that will force men or races 10
| some momentous act or achievement. IT
| a paints well he must have some one
/ to paint for He demands. he requires the
/ interested observer. However much of the
| martyr spirit he possesses he must be able
4 to take some one into his confidence. I have
! seen this he says, you too must see
/ 1T In short, the appreciation is as import
| ant factor in the development of art
| as the producer, and the schools are train
i Ing a large body of appreciators
| we must not forget the lessons of the
! past, we will do we'll not to overestfmate