The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-14

since the troublous times when Tippe-
canoe trod in with swift moccasined
feet, still held its terminating acorn
l might say its four acorns. for four
young men who wanted to become
painters started the RambIer's Sketch
club. which later grew into the Rich
mond Art association.
One of these, Albert Clinton Con-
ner, is well known to us all, for he has
lived and painted in Los Angeles over
twenty years. His brother Charles,
too. who has since died, lived here for
time. The Conner brothers, with
Frank ]. Girardin and NJ. T. Nordyke.
were the original founders of the
They were shortly Joined by J. E.
Bundy, who came to Richmond to
teach painting and drawing in a
neighboring Quaker college.
Girardin, Nordyke and Charles Con-
ner were interior decorators, Albert
Clinton Conner was a pattern maker
and invento. Their only time for
painting was Sundays and holidays,
but as stony limits cannot hold love
out" even SO time limits cannot
daunt the man enamored Of art ex-
preston. The rented an old cottage
at the outskirts of Richmond and here
they met, compared note, discussed
art, entertained visiting artists. Quite
an ambitious acorn, you see, a rapid
eXpander.
/ So they painted apace, and every
now and then held an exhibition of
their work in the Garfield school
ed. Every body in Richmond became
interested and everybody came to the
exhibitions.
After a few years the two Corners
went to California, though Charles
did not remain here long, as he felt
homesick for the art atmosphere OF
Richmond.
The Rambler's Sketch club was
metamorphosed into the Richmond
Art Association. Every year picture
is purchased with a fund of $500 that
is given annually by Daniel G. Reid of
New York city, who was formerly a
resident of Richmond. Over twenty
pictures no belong to the association,
among them being canvasses by
Frank J. Girardin, J. E. Bundy and
Charles Conner.
Frank J. Girardin has been Gin Los
| Angeles for a year and half. Since
he left Richmond permanent art
gallery has been built on to the Gar
field school, one large enough to &C.
commodate any exhibition and to hold
the art treasures the association is
gradually accommodating. New land has
been bought around the school house
SO that the gallery will never be
cramped for room. Before this, the
schoolroOms were utilized for the eX-
Ihibitions, which were held only once
a year. No there will be exhibitions
twice a year, in the spring and fail.
Girardin will return to Richmond in
few weeks. but he is SO delighted
with Southern California that he hop.
es to return. and to remain, at no very
distant day. He will bring East with
him more than a hundred landscape
sketches in oils, and upward of five
hundred pencil sketches. These he
will utilize for his finished pictures.
which he will show in Cincinnati and
Richmond.
/ recently spent pleasant after
noon looking overd his sketches in
oils, and suggested that he ought to
| show them in Los Angeles. but he
feared he wouldn't have time for that.
| Besides" said he, Il don't know that
the public will stand for mere sketches
they might not understand them.
Artists and critics like them of course,
but the general public is apt to de-
ride the mand call the painter daub-
ing faker."
Albert Clinton Corners home and
studio are at Manhattan Beach. A few
months ago, J. e. Bundy and NJ. T.
Nordyke came out from Richmond
and joined Girardin and Conner and
only one, Charles Conner, was missing
from the original Rambler's Sketch
club of Richmond. What an interest.
ing reunion that was. How much
these old friends of varied experience
must have had to talk about!
The rented bungalow at Manhat-
tan Beach, and every day sailed forth
to sketch together. as they used to do
thirty years ago. One of their favor
lite haunts was the beach and hills two
miles beyond Port Los Angeles. Our