New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-10
Washington Irving Highs
Municipal Gallery Has
Formal Exercises.
LIKE "DOWTOWN
METROPOLITAN"
Other Similar Projects Soon To
Be Undertaken if This One
Pleases Public.

The Metropolitan Museum OF Art is not
To have a monopoly OF requests from art
collectors hereafter. 4 rival to this mu-
scum has arisen, and yet it is not rival.
for, being situated in the Washington
Irving High School for Girls, at No. 40
Irving Place, II is meant TO cater to the
needs Of downtown people who are too
busy to go TO the great museum.
The Municipal Art Gallery is the name Of
the new institution and it was opened yes
terday with appropriate ceremonies. There
were speeches by Thomas w. Churchill
president of the Board of Educatlon'
Frank u. Wilsey. chairman Of the build
ing committee, and others Mayor Kline
was represented by Grant Esterbrook'
president of the Board OF Aldermen, ana
Mayor-elect Mitchell sent telegram III
which he said he was very sorry other on
gagcments prevented Mrs. Mitchel ana
himself from coming.
The officers of the Washington irving
Schoolgirls Association-Ilelen GrcenWald'
Winifrcd Cantwcll. Rose Napta'eson' Ma
tida Wohl. Ethelinda Stock, tlizabeth
Shatzman. jennie Bishop and Viola An
thcs-acted as hostcsscs and introduced
the speakers. There was singing by
choir Of white-robed girls.
All around the great entrance nan oi
the school were hung the paintings the
beginning o. the new museum. some are
bv Herman Dudley Murphy, young
laudscapc painter and art instructor at
Harvard University, and some by tttore
Caser. a Venetian painter largely sci'-
taught. The pictures are loaned pN tne
artists and the Washington IRVING il'h
School girls hope that other artists VIII
be inspired TO equal generosity ana al.
collectors likewise. so that the Munlc'pa'
Ar Caller, may become a aourishinS IN
stitution.
II is seldom anything takes place ~ t''S
school without Patrick McG""an. VINO "SS
called its patron saint. being remembered
and Mir. Churchill began his speech nN
recalling Mr.. MCGowans ambitions lot
tho big building that was finished not long
before he died.
cit was his wish" said Mr.. Churchill
that this place might become a municipa'
IIuI House or Toynbee Hall. what pr
yate endowment mad done for settlements
he hoped the people themselves through
their public servants. might do here. \
school cant perform all the functions OF
n settlement. but an art gallery II can
we'll shelter, and ! remember MI. Nc
Gowan often remarliing how forInidaplc
the trim to the Metropolitan Museum is tot
he downtown worker. and how desirable
il would be 20 have branches OF that IN
rtitution throughout the city.
Mr.. Wilsey alluded 10 rumors OF war
between the City Hall and the Board oil
I,ducatlon. and said that the Washington
Irving High School Building was
monument 10 the peace and amity be
tween the two. Here is a building he
said. "oper from o'clock in the morning
until $50 o'clock at night, with lectures.
concerts. evenings Of social recroatCn' q
restaurant giving day and evening service
and now an art gallery, TO which the pup
lie is most welcome"
John w. Alexander. president OF the
National Academy Of Fine Arts; william
Laurel Harris president Of the Municipal
Art Society: G. Grant La Fargo chair
man. of the Creamery Neghborhood As
ISOLATION. and Mr. Churchill arc the com
mittee that fostered this project II the
public responds e. the opening OF this gal
lerv others will be opercd in various
parts OF the city.