The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

The tableaux vivants to be given this month in Birmingham>unde the auspices of the Birmingham Art association bring the work of that organization again prom inently before the public
 One of the most valuable members Of the association and of the study circle connected with it is Miss Della Dryer, who has charming studio in the Forbes building, where a party of serious young artists gather almost every day for work. The studio is a cooperative one but was organized a few years ago by Miss Dryer and Miss Alice Rumph, both of whom are deeply interested in the plan, as they feel that thus a number of artists who would not otherwise have d studio are encouraged to do systematic work. Some of Miss Rumphs more ad- vaneed pupils are painting there this sea- son. There are several society girls who. possessed of marked talent. have kept mp with the sketching classes steadily this winter. even during the distractions of busy seasN1, and it is a picturesque group indeed that gathers each morning in quaint sketching aprons about the mod el chosen for the day. When Miss DrYer
 
 done by the class this season she said
 T really don't know what we would have done if 1t had not been for this model and that"-naming a pretty bride and several society girls. You see, they have been during Lent professional mod els, in that way earning their church money. They are very faithful too, com ing promptly and staying the allotted time. Every fourth day they are paid the regular models fee, S150 and they are just as glad to get it as the little street urchin that we may choose because of the picturesqueness of his rags"
 l pictured the different models, each a daintily nurtured, smartly gowned, ap- parently pampered person, earning her lit tie stipend as a pretty Lenten penanee, and 1t recalled the seriousness back of nearly all the frivolity in Birmingham society. There are few of even the gay est and most pleasure loving among the debutantes well as matrons who arc not giving their earnest efforts in some soods cause There is the young matron who, though few know 1t, is educating three girls besides doing other charity and improvement work. Then there is an other who, recognizing her inability to excel in any of the finer arts, has begun compiling a cook book which she expects to leave to her children as a memento of the one thing that she can do well. And
 
 Daughters, with it's yearly bazaar assem- bles a group of lovely young women drawn together in work for a common cause The auxiliary to the Y. W. C. A.. the chapters engaged in work for the Boys club, as well as other charities in which women who are prominent in the social life of the community are the mov- ing spirits. emphasize the point.
 So the Sketching club has been very busy during Lent with these models. Among those who have ssxetehed in the studio aTe Miss Dryer, Miss Montgomery, Miss Human Elliott, Miss Giennie Mose- ley, Miss Cary Johnston, Miss Mary Kirkpatr ick, Miss Dorothy Orr, Miss Will lie McLo ughEn and Miss Emmie Barnett. There Is great deal of talent in the little coteTie. Each of it's members has contributed charming bits of work at the yearly exhibitions. They are to paint the scenery for th tableaux vivants, thus as- suring decidedly artistic setting for the beautiful Twin g pictures which will rep- resent the worlds religions The study circle of the Art club will also assist in the preparations for the tableaux
 
 Miss Dryer was most enthusiastic in discussing tho, plans for the entertain ment. She is an unse1fsh worker for art in Birmingham, giving of her talent and influence wherever it is needed Every ono who atten ded the last annual exhI- bition of the Birmingham Art associa- tion was impr essed with her paintings which are exquisitely artistic and exe- cuted with warmth and delcacy of treat ment that make strong appeal Her sketches are hung on the walls of the studio. They are quite varied as to theme, but possibly her most popular paintings are those which were done during her past summers stay in that exquisitely artistic atmosphere to be found In Prov incetown, which has become famed as the abode of so many of the country fore most artists She made a series of sketches of the sand dunes, the little