The Washington herald., 1909-08-15
New Orleans Leads in Work
of Drawing and Design.
TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tulane University Maintains Depart
menfs OF Art Education - Exhibit
south Advances i'm Architecture.
Lacks an Eminent Sculptor.

\ ana the production OF pictures, sculpture,
and other forms Of modern art have
gained gratifying progress in New
\ Orleans. On the general subject OF the
/ progress Of art in the Gulf States VII
liam Woodward, senior professor Of art
In Tulane University, La, furnishes The
/ Washington Herald with the following
statement:
There is increasing interest IN art edu-
ton throughout the Gulf States and
much may be expected from the Rice
4 Foundation az Houston. Tex. which has
several million endowment. but Louisiana
ie so far in the lead as 70 warrant more
being said about her position.
A department Of drawing was first add
ed TO the Southern Educational Associa-
alton when it met in New Orleans.
The law now requires the public schools
OF Louisiana 10 furnish instruction IN
drawing and manual training, as well as
music and the usual subjects. The city Of
/ New Orleans employs seven supervisors Of
drawing and manual training
Advance Art in New Orleans.
A devoted band OF professional and
amateur artists has advanced art in
New Orleans for over twenty-five years
wish varying success. and the Art Assocl-
alton Of New Orleans. which now at
tends TO the exhibiting OF works OF art.
is. as roU know, represented on your
board og regents by it's vice president.
S. W Weis. One OF our strongest artists.
B. A. Wikstrom. recently died IN New
York. where he was called 20 design the
/ floats" for the street parade OF the
/ Hendrick Hudson terceuteuary. He had
for a quarter Of century been engaged IN
designing Nardi Gras parades. His ma
rine painting is as important contribution
10 the easel art OF the country and viii
hold is reputation.
The standard Of our annual exhibitions
is fully up 10 the usual American stand
ard. and some twenty or thirty local
artists gain admission A majority of
these have received the benefits Of travel
and education in Europe and Northern
centers 4 gold and silver medal is an
nually given FOR the best work Of local
artists. r. 3. Mayfeld and 4. J. Drys-
dale are holders Of the gold medal, both
for landscapes
Tulane University Leads.
The leading force in art education in
the Gulf States IS tie Tulane University.
Of Louisiana, at New Orleans. which
added art instruction from the time OF
its establishment as the re-organized
university OF Louisiana IN 1854 A liberal
policy In giving free instruction al that
time made ii one Of the first wide fields
for extension work, now so generally
recognized IN college activities.
The later establishment Of the II. So
phie Nowc0mb Memorial College for wOrl-
en-. furnished a home for what has grown
70 be one Of the most important college
art departments in the country in many
ways. one Limitation. that o. excluding
study OF the nude, shows the state Of
thought as 70 education OF women OBJ
tanning in a largely Catholic community
remote from the currents Of creative art
No doubt. however. this feeling viii wear
of. even although IN a way II is credit
able 20 the community which shrirks
from some Of the liberties accorded mod
ern women.
A faculty OF seventeen professors and
instructors In art, drawing and hand
work IS employed by the Tulane Univer-
sity. and S. per cent Of the students OF
NeWcOmb College attend art Instruction.
Has Pottery Department..
This college has taken a position in
advance in that Il has established a
manufacturing pottery. in which the
graduates and students Of the school pro-
duce the wares, and Il maintains agencies
in large cities for the purpose OF selling
the product. This pottery has been IN
/ operation nearly twenty years, and IT'S
( success has won recognition at exposi-
tions in bronze silver, and gold medals.
It's department Of embroidery, more
recently established. Is important and
shows a firm artistic handling OF units
OF design. All OF the srt-craft work de-
pends on Southern fora for its inspira-
ton and flowers can be had every day
{ in the year.
Architecture Gets n Start.
The new department Of architecture
/. IN Tulane University is expected 70 ex-
ercise a strong influence in art develop
ment. and special attention viii be given
10 the local colonial buildings OF Louisi-
ana. which are strong in picturesque
qualities as is indicated in the writings OF
Mr.. George ". Gable and IN Mr.. Joseph
Pencils Illustrations for the same. not
20 mention the recent work OF other
artists.
The last few years has seen a great i'm
provement in the architecture OF the
buildings erected in the South. as the
taste displayed IN the period following
the civil war was not OF a high order.
There were few buildings OF scholarly
type erected In New Orleans by James
Caller just before the civil war. notably
the city hail. a hne classic design in
marble. following the order Of the Erec-
thieum az Athens
We must now mention some OF our def
ciencies- We have no sculptor establish
ed In the Gulf States. and there is not
single important example OF mural deco
. ration as yet A few days ago I saw men
painting the bronze statue IN front of
. the city hall. and the glistening surface
seemed 20 give the painter a feeling Of
satisfaction. The old Cabildo had its
sculptured flag in the pediment group.
picked out IN stripes by the commission
er of public works who affixed his name
70 the pediment. which dates back 20
French and Spanish occupation. in black
letters which can be plainly read from
the street.
Not in New Orleans.
7 do not think New Orleans the only
city. however. where such poor taste
and judgment IS displayed. The city.
which calls Itself the winter capital of
America, and not without proper claim.
IS richly endowed with hospitals and
libraries. but has as yet no public art
4 gallery, although the small galleries OF
Tulane and Newccmb colleges are open 10
the public freely. ard IN them the annual
exhibitions Of art are often held. There
is. then, a splendid opportunity for A
memorial endowment, and also for the
school or architecture. which is not VET
properly endowed. although struggling
) hard for recognition and doing good work
Il Is significant that the Cotton Centen-
NAL Exposition of lSS4-S5 left the city
Horticulture Hall, where other exposi-
tiOns have left art galleries The lawns