The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-07-27
R|CHMONO'S PART
N ART MOVEMENT
Chicago Paper Gives This
City Credit for Enthus-
iasm Hoosiers Show.

rhe Chicago Record.Herald in to-
days issue has an article on How In
diana Fosters Popular Love of Art"
and Richmond is given credit for
starting the movement The article
follows:
While Indiana has long enjoyed the
proud distinction of being one OF the
national hot-houses of literature, the
impression seems to have persisted
that Indiana culture was lamentably
one.sided 1t must have struck many
observers as odd that state which
was SO astonishingly prolific OF poets
and novelists should show itself indif.
ferent to the development of the plas-
tic and graphic arts. Could Indiana
rest content under such charge?
Those who know the Indiana spirit
felt that It was impossible.
Hence, when Indiana began to be-
stir herself several years ago to ex.
pand the scope of her influence SO as
to embrace the fine arts there was lit.
tie surprise. The inevitable, though de.
layed, had come to pass. The para.
graphers pointed their puny para.
graphs to hurl them in vain against
the impenetrable armor of Indiana's
self-esteem. Secure in the sense OF
past achievements what had Indiana
to fear from the filings of petty NAL
ice? She moved straight to her goal.
She had simply made up her mind to
bring into being an Indiana school of
art, just as she had already developed
an Indiana school of literature. Her
poets had celebrated the beauties of
the Wabash in immortal verse; 1t re-
mained for her artists to translate
those beauties into terms of form and
color. Had not Indiana woods and
streams, clouds and sunset? Was In
diana less attractive as a model than
italy or France? Indiana refused to be-
lieve that such could be the case. All
that was needed was school of art.
Her attention was first directed to
this deficiency six or seven years ago,
when, with characteristic energy, In
diana sought to supply 1t. The begin
nings were small; perhaps they
should be referred to as beginning.
But the germ was planted in the most
fertile of soils, SO that now Indiana's
art impulse is almost coextensive with
her literary impulse. and scarcely less
vigorous. Those who have followed
the Indiana school of literature have
often deplored the proneness OF her
authors to cross the seas for romantic
settings. Indiana art is more homely
in it's pretensions and does not foam.
1t Is an art of the people which az
fects even Indiana's policemen and
rouses poetic aspirations in the bucol-
ic breast at milking time. How deeply
1t has stirred the popular Imagination
ID made plain by Ella Bond Johnston
In the Outlook.
To the City Of Richmond belongs
the honor Of having pointed the way.
Richmond began as long as fifteen
years ago to hold exhibitions which
were open to all the people. Muncie
was quick to take the hint Art asso-
Citations were formed in other Indiana
cities and towns. and pictures were
exhibited throughout the circuit. To
show how enthusiastically Indiana
welcomes culture It is only necessary
to quote the writer's words:
IAN art revival was started to in
crease the number of cities taking the
exhibit, and there we're preaching and
praying, exhorting and singing around
the state in true evangelistic spirit,
until In 1910 seven of the most import
ant cities in the state were ready to
Join circuit with art associations or
ganized and funds raised. to handle
and display locally an art exhibit. The
exhibition that was collected to travel
this circuit contained sixty-two paint
ings and thirty-two small bronzes and
was personally selected in the studios
OF artists in New York City, Chicago
and Indiana"
At first the problem where to hang
these exhibitions in the smaller towns
was a puzzling one. But the citizens,
with characteristic hospitality, flung
open to the pictures courthouses, high
schools. Y. M. c. A. buildings and pub
lie libraries. or course the light was
not always of the best for exhibition
purposes. but the effect was, on the
whole. satisfactory. The labor of hang
ing the pictures is cheerfully shared
by the townsmen. who convert them
selves for the occasion into band Of
willing workers. Thus a typical scene
upon the arrival Of the exhibition in
Lafayette is described by the writer
as follows:
"'Who Is that gentleman on the
stepladder that seems so anxious to
get that landscape in just the right
place. ..
THAT is Judge Blank. our presi.
dent; he has helped faithfully with the
hanging
"'And who is this other man, on his
knees In the corner of the room?'
"'Oh. that is Professor Blank, from
the university. He is arranging the ex.
ira lighting for the pictures
WHO Is the tired lady who just
left the room?'
"'She is Miss Blank, head Of the art
department at the university. She has
worked SO hard for the success of this
exhibition that she must rest before
the opening tonight"
At Terre Haute the chief OF police
assigned an Irish policeman to guard
the exhibition and during the Arst day
OF the view the policeman used the
word beautiful quite naturally. The