The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-30
FOREIGN CRAFTS IN THE NORTH
WEST

Among the thousands who come to
the Northwest from foreign shores
there are many who have skill, &C.
quired through generations of proc
tice, in the old world industries, such
as weaving, wood carving. embroid-
cry, fine cabinet work, lace making,
basketry, and metal work. Through
lack of interest and appreciation and
a market, this skill is in danger OF
becoming lost. Can we conserve II
as they are doing in the Scandinavian
countries, in ireland, in Hungary, and
in Italy?
To help to do this is the object of
the industrial art committee of the
Womans Club of Minneapolis, and
this committee would like and needs
the cooperation of the clup women
of the Northwest.
The way to discover those who
have skill and to interest the public
is to have exhibits and sales OF for
eign crafts from time to time In diff
erent places. with the idea that even
tually there may be established in
st. Paul or Minneapolis a foreign
craft shop where these things may be
bought and sold. This shop should
not be a money making institution.
1t should be made to pay expenses by
charging only small commission
and should maintain the idea that
the price for the maker must be rails
ed, as this class of work is generally
underpaid.
The first foreign craft exhibit and
sale was held in Minneapolis in May
of this year. The use of new store
on Nicollet avenue was given the COM
mittee free of charge. For some
weeks beforehand the work of adver-
Using was pushed. To different
members of the committee different
nationalities wereassigned. These
were reached through newspapers,
churches, and settlements, and
through great deal of personal Wis
iting. The results exceeded expecta-
ton, not only as to the number and
variety of the things shown, but the
very great interest shown by the COM
munity. The exhibit lasted a week
and throngs visited it daily. In vari-
ETY. of nationality it resembled a shop
in European capital, with its Scan
dfnavians, Germans, Greeks, Italians,
Poles, Armenians and Indians, as we'll
as the Fashion of the city. About
eight hundred dollars worth was sold
fifteen percent commission was
charged to defray necessary expenses,
and the committee came out ten dol
lars behind, but as the enterprise was
In no sense money making under
laying, the result was most satisfac-
tory. On certain days there were
Scandinavian women in native cos
tune working at their looms. A b.
hemian woman made lace on a pillow
and in the afternoon there were folk
dances by children of Scandinavian,
Russian and Irish parentage, in ma
tive costume.
There was an especially interesting
display of lacehmade by Bohemians,
Belgians and Indians. There are
many accomplished lace makers with
in hundred miles of Minneapolis--
many of New Ulm and Sleepy Eye.
The lace Is made by the older women
who do 1t as pastime. The younger
momen do not care for 1t as 1t does
not pay well enough. and they consi-
der it old-countrified. These young
Or women are drifting to the cities
and into the factories, and unless
their art can be made popular by bet
ter prices and greater appreciation 1t
will soon die out. " I
A fine collection of Indian bead
work was shown, also woven wool
tapestries from Norway in old pat
terns and the soft colors, only posi-
Bile by the, use Of vegetable dyes;
Norwegian and Danish national en-
oroideries. and woven goods in linen ,
and cotton. There were also bed
spreads representing the crocheted
work of different nations, and few
of fine wood carving and
cabinet work.
The committee is planning Sec
md exhibit at the State Fair, al
hough on smaller scale, hoping in
his way to reach the women in the
country districts who have skill in
he old arts, and wishing also to dir
'ct attention to the superiority of
hese handicrafts over the modern
fancy work The club women of c
he Northwest can help in this move t
nent BY getting up such exhibits in q
he larger tons, and so reaching those r
Who have skill; or by sending such
york az thew NAV find tn tha Min G