Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-13
A R T N 0 T E s

The annual convention OF the American
Institute of Architects, which was held at
the New Willard Hotel this week, proved an
event of general interest. Its sessions,
while given over in a measure to routine
business, were largely occupied with the
presentation and discussion of matters of
local as we'll as national import. Municipal
art is not a Thing of mere mechanics nor
esthetics. but genuinely art; the beautify-
ing of city no less tangible than its ma
terial upbuilding. Architecture is neither a
science nor a mystery, but rather a matter
of good taste and common sense. This for
several years the American Institute of
Architects has been trying to demonstrate
TO the people. Better art and higher stand
ards has been its motto. Through its in
fuence, largely, the Park commission was
appointed, and by its active aid the project
which that commission placed before Con-
gress has been made known to the people
in all sections of our country Outdoor art
is as real and sometimes even more instruc-
tive than indoor art; the house man lives
in is bound to affect his ethics, the scenes
which on the street attract his eye must
influence his esthetic sense, therefore the
special papers which were read before the
institute relating to these subjects were of
practical value as well as potent interest.
Nor were they purely technical. To the
average listener and to the professional
delegate they were equally Ineligible.
| Again the public has been reminded that
architecture is truly the backbone of art.
Not only does the American Institute of
Arcnltects encourage municipal improve
| ments, but it fosters the fine arts The
American Academy at Rome Is in a way
its ward, or was until it received It's char
ter and endowment Last year at the ban
quet given by the institute a distinguished
sculptor and painter of renoWp were
among the chief nd
when at its convention in this city the Or
ganizatfon's semi-centennial is celebrated 1t
VIII have as guests an assemblage of the
leading artists, sCulptorS, mural painters
and writer's in America. Such a broad
minded comprehension Of art cannot but be
beneficial and such a gathering as that
projected for 1907 must tend toward making
the national capital an acknowledged art
center.
At the Cosmos Club this week there was
placed on exhibition an exceedingly at
tractive collection Of seventy-one etchings
by David Young Cameron, a contemporary
Scotch painter. AS the introduction to the
little catalogue truly says: Mr.. Cameron
is one of the very few etchers who has
struck into new path and has success
fully carried his strong painters personality
into his etchings." They combine the force
of a painting with the subtlety of an etch-
ing. and are both vigorous and poetic. He
has Furthermore achieved, as few before
him, equal success In rendering both archi-
lecture and landscape. His designs are
either elaborate and infinitely studied or
simple and impressionistic, according to
their theme. Their technique, however
never obtrudes itself, and in their tone is
a mellowness which lends a quality of rich
ness. He has been frequently compared to
Meryon chiefly, it has been suggested. be-
fny he
resemblance ends. Those who are best
qualified to give an opinion have declared
that he does not seem to be an imitator,
but a genuine cOntinuer, OF Meryon's ideas. -
MI Cameron was born in 1865, and pub
| lished his first etching when he was twenty
| three Since then he has issued over two
| hundred. He is his own printer, and takes
| Infinite pains with every detail of his work;
| thus every print is individual and almost
| equally good. A portion of the present col
| lection, which, by the way has been got
| together and is owned by Mr. A ]. Par
sons, was shown in 1902 at the Library OF
Congress, and will doubtless be pleasurably
recalled. All the examples which it COM
prehendS are keenly artistic, and many or
them are exqufsitely refined and pictorial
Such art is of enduring worth but owing
to the interest recently awakened in the
work of the Glasgow School it's present ex-
hibition is peculiarly timely Intended pri-
marily for the benefit of members of the
club, arrangements are being made where
by, later, il may be opened to those outside
who are especially interested.
"a
"The Making OF an Artist" was the sub
1ect of the January Art Talk given by
Mr.. James Henry Moser in the lower hemi-
cycle of the Corcoran School of Art on
Monday afternoon. Learn to draw and
paint in school and then go out and do as
you please was the terse advice with
which he began his remarks to the stu