The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-06-20
Modern Arts and Crafts.

Modern Arts and Crafts.
[Synopsis of paper by Mrs. Amos Clements.
read at the June meeting of the Belfast Soci-
ETY. of Arts and Crafts.
To William Morris fertile brain we
owe the modern revival of Arts and
Crafts. Morris was man of diverse
gifts; poet, artist and writer of ro-
mances. He, with Rossetti, Burne Jones
and other friends, started shop about
1861 for the hand manufacture of arti-
cles for household use and interior deco
ration. From this old workshop at
Merton Abbey, near London, have come
some of the most beautiful of art pro-
auctions. In this little corner William
Morris realized his dream of cart made
by the people, for the people, as joy to
the maker and user"
| Someone has said, mo nation, however,
can equal the American in the develop
ment of creative art. To do something
and to make something is the mark of
the true Yankee"
The Indians were the original crafts
workers of this continent. Their work is
an absolute expression of religious sym
bolism or some natural force. In form
there never was an Indian basket found
that was not natural and artistic until
the aboriginal weavers began to copy
something of the white man. They
show great versatility. and the baskets
all had practical use-the cradle, like
birds rest, the waited home, the cook
ing utensils, etc. The worth of a wo-
man was largely determined by her skill
as basket maker, and the standing of a
dead chief measured by the number and
quality of the baskets used at his
funeral
| In the mountain sections of the South
| there has been revival in the making
of coverlids. These are woven in cotton
or cotton and wool and many of the de-
signs are old family patterns. At recent
exhibitions, gotten up by club women of
the South, these workers and the public
have been brought in touch with each
other.
Among village industries, those of the
Blue and White society at Deerfield,
Mass, is perhaps one of the best known.
An effort is made to revive the work of
their Puritan ancestors in spinning and
weaving and the embroidery of the blue
on the white. Many old patterns have
been used which are family heirlooms,
and could no more be bought than the
family silver.
In our own State some interesting Art
and Craft work has been DONE AT
Lowell there is rug industry fostered
by Mrs. Volk of New York, These are
pulled rugs of wool, pulled through WOO
foundation and tied, this giving them a
wearing quality equalling the oriental
rug. At Cranberry Isles the pulled OF
hooked rugs are also made in artistic
shades and patterns. One of these rugs
is on the floor in the Maine room in Con.
tinental Hall, Washington. At North
Arson are the Carrabassett Industries
where orders are taken for fine needle.
work of different kinds and where wover
rugs are made. Miss Essie Thompson Of
Portland does independent Art and Graf
work that shows much skill and taste
Most of the industries in our own State
owe much to the summer guests who
come in such large numbers.
A critic, writing about a recent water
color exhibition, said, after studying it,
that he was convinced that anyone see
ing it must realize that no longer coulc
painting in water colors be considered
merely as pastime for old maids Of
both sexes. And the same thing may
now be said of handicraft work. Ir
spite of the fact that the comic papers
are still making fun of the hand painted
sofa pillow and the burnt wood umbrella
stand, there is an ever growing number
of people who are doing excellent work
in the handicrafts, artists whose tech.
nique is perfect, whose knowledge OF
design is good; some of whose work can
stand beside the work of the old craft
masters and not make us blush for it.
In the 18th century all the arts came
under the head of crafts; they were all
part of one great family, merely greater
or lesser. To the high place once occu-
pied by the handicrafts in the estimation
Of the people, it is the duty of the handi.
craft workers to restore the crafts.
However, there is one thing to be said
for the present; and this is, that things
which have some artistic value are now
more easily procured by greater num-
Der of people than ever before. Ugly
house furnishings may, as we know,