Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1913-03-20

many cities ana towns, ACCOMPANIMENT
by lectures by the director. 1t is
bringing about d better. reallzationH|
If the5Nalue of training in the. funl-
damental principles Of artin schools
and colleges. 1t is prevailing upon
Minnesotans, especially those who
Lave come from abroad with native
skill, to devote themselves to the
profitable handicrafts, the home in
dustries, thus adding to their indi-
vidual incomes, and the states eco
homie wealth. I; is showing the
manufacturers how, by making
their goods more artistic, they add
I 10 their value, and increase their
stability. 1t is proving to others
that art has a very real and impor
liant relation to everyday business
and home life.
The Exhibit a Demonstration.
The annual exhibition of the soci-
ETY. is, in a sense, demonstration
cr all these efforls--and Of the ef-
forts they inspire.
Virtually every kind of work to
which art bears a relation will b.
shown sculpture, Sketch
IS, etchings, water colors, iliustra-
lions, posters, designs for weaving
and printing. photography, jewclry,
metal work, wood carving, pottery,
bookbinding, leather work, book
plates, lace weaving, embroideries,
stencils, stained glass, block print
ing, wrought iron, press printing,
book decoration and illumination.
They will prove how a close study
of the arts, and All Intelligent appli-
cation of artistic principles, will
make possible a fuller realization Of
Minnesota's varied resources. This
in addition to the distinctly valu-.
able, though more abstract, benefits
which the people will get in the
way of mental training and person
al pleasure from the pursuit of any
form of art. 81 "
The Value Of Handicrafts
The society has taken the position
that handicrafts have an especial
value because they are a stimulus
along creative lines, and provide
both pleasure and profit for those
who engage in them. They are par
ticularly valuable because they can
be followed in the rural districts,
Especially by the women Of the
farm who crave an opportunity to
use brain and hand in the produc-
ton of things that are at once use
ful and beautiful. The society pro-
vides encouragement and instruc-
ton in all Of these lines. and it
seems certain that this will have an
important effect both economically
and socially. s ~;I q. .#
Minnesota has thousands Of men
and women who have come here
from European countries with skill
in certain native crafts, but who do
not use that skill because they are
not familiar with the nature and
business methods here, they fail to
find the required raw materials or,
if they do find them, are unable to
dispose of their products on ac-
count Of unfamiliarity with the
market conditions and methods. III
their native lands these people find
these crafts very profitable. They
would find them so here. if encour-
aged along the right lines. 4
Some Things Already Accomplished
The State Art Society is assisting
them. it's first notable work having
been among expert German anC
Bohemian lace makers in the vicin-
lily of New Ulm and Sleepy Eye. The
laCes manufactured there which
formerly were made Of cheap ma
terial and TRADED in" at local stores
|are now being made Of excellen
linen thread on new and highly ar.
|tistic designs. The Art society ha!
exhibited these laces in many East.
ern cities, and each exhibition, ha
resulted, in a surprisingly larg'
number of orders. This industr!
has grown to real Importance in tn
Ivicinities named, and many Of tn
children of the lace makers, wht
formerly spurned the labor of theil
|parents, have taken up their occu'
pation. In order to supply the de-
rnand for instruction in lace max.
ing among these people the Art So
ciety has planned to establish ;
school conveniently situated TO-
these people. The people Of tn
1 state are coming to realize that sucl
4 work means direct economic saw
\ ling for Minnesota.