Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

about how to become an artist that the
divine CALL like morning light. comes not
at the bidding of the suppliant and that
the knowledge Of art. like love, comes not
by appointment. but springs forth as
freely as a mountain spring.
But say a girl does find that she has
the gift that she models In clay because
she cannot refrain from doing so any
more than she can help breathing the air.
that genius can claim her-then what?
There are now living great sculptors who
are women. There are many who have
already passed out of the annals or time
into the hall of the immortals. / say
again that genius has no sex, and l be-
lieve that women, when they have call
ing can make as enduring fame as men.
But 1t is at tremendous sacrifice. For
women to be artists 1t means to lose much
out of their lives that they should most
value. Art Is Jealous and permits no other
love. 1 tell a girl who has the true ar
tistic instinct even if she does not pos
sess the gift Of genius. to let art be her
only love. She must put aside al tnougnts
of love and marriage If she is true 10
the gift so rarely bestowed. If she per-
mits herself to be handicapped by mar
rage she has already made compro-
mise which cheapens her work. Marriage.
l admit is noble institution. and should
be the end and aim Of the ordinary wom-
an; but the woman who is predestined to
be an artist is not an ordinary woman,
and cannot be bound by usual standards.
X
Then the women of genius must put
aside all the conventions which bind her
sex In other avocations. I advocate draw
ing from the nude. and this idea is rather
shocking to women in general. But the
study Of anatomy is certainly vital in
art and there is nothing unwomanly in
studying the human frame from the best
att aina BILE types. All the surroundings of
art are elevating and its environment re-
fined The girl who feels a shrinking
from awaiting herself of every aid is not
a true artist and her expressions will
always be weak. Experienced teachers
can do much for the budding sculptor.
but it is in herself whether she will DE
stamped with the mark of greatness. Be
ing sculptor does not mean giving up
the privacy Of life, unless one is so in
clined. The best work of men and women
is accomplished far from public laudation.
The woman who wants to keep her life
secluded can do so in her studio. 1t is
only when her creations are stamped by
public approval as creations of genius
that she must face the world with it's
critics as well as its laurel crowns.
Il think 1t puerile to enter into the
discussions as to whether a woman's eye
is as true a mans, whether her hand
is as firm. whether her touch, while deli
cate can ever have the strength. For
il is not the true eye or the strong or
delicate touch which bespeak the grand
result. The workman who can reproduce
beautiful statues in marble may have
all of these things. 1t is the seeing of
things in the minds eye before they take
form in clay which marks the artist. 1t
is being able to feel these things in the
soul as the poet feels his verses. the
orator his theme. that makes the work
of genius. We must feel deeply ourselves
before we can reach the hearts of others.
The mind of the true artist must be filed
with noble purposes, with great ideals
and generous resolves before he can set