The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-02-09
The Utilities of Art.

The greatest enemy to art itself, as we'll as
the chief obstacle across the path of it's popular
zation, is the almost universal falacy that It IS
a kind of ornamental superfluity, serving very
we'll as plaything Of the rich and idle classes
but useless for any purpose OF the poor or labor
ing classes. This piece of superstition is foster
ed by the habit of thinking of art as being mere
ly matter of pictures, statues and bric-a-brac
and by our custom of quarantining these various
art things in museums and expositions.
Art is anything in the world but piece of
ornamental superfluity. 1t is as practical and
necessary as bread and meat An artistic thing
is one that fufills it's purpose and which ex-
presses Joy taken in it's creation by the worker
who made it. 1t can no more be separated from
the common purposes of daily use than breath
can be divorced from the lungs.
All classic and ancient art produced in
response to daily and common needs. Those ex-
amples which prize so highly, left to us by
early prophets of the beautiful, almost entirely
consist of things then in constant use: the vases
pictures, stools, garments, brass and iron work.
which we place in glass covered cases, were
by them used just as pots and pans Even
the paintings and statuary were part of the
daily utilities of church and temple.
Art is in the home and the workshop what
light is in the skies. It suffuses the glow and
play of the wonderful divine human spirit over
everything about us. Without it work and life
fall to the level of british existence.
William Norris great modern prophet
of this essential and vital conception Of art. He
more than any other, showed us how carpet
on which we tramp and grind continuously, a
chair in which sit to read or sew or talk, a
curtain hung at the window, the leather cover
Lo do o+io
1t was he who launched the 'Individualistic
Movement that resulted in so many organiza-
tons in Europe which foster this popuarization
of it and which seek to make art and work twin
sisters.
The Outlook reports further extension of
this movement in New York. John Cotton Dana
has there organized democratic Movement"
in which he hopes to get the masses of people to
take more interest in the ministry of beauty
One of the unique methods evolved by him for
realizing this aim in what he has called a "Circu-
ating Art Museum" This museum is managed
after the fashion of library One may borrow
from it such pieces of pottery, textiles, wood
work. or such pictures and statues as he may de-
sire and use them in his own home for limited
period.
This scheme may fall through and receive no
support but the spirit of it is fine and admirable
If such enterprises and movements as this
can be made successful, if art can be brought
home to the business and bosoms of men, it will
mean deepening and enrichment of our social
life. 1t will add to our existence sincerity and
g joy. 1t will keep US perpetually reminded that
we live and move and have our being in the Eter-
nal World. Art is as much manifestation of the
divine spirit in the universe as a sermon is A
thing made beautiful is kind of prayer formed
by the hands Of worker. It is as much a
means of grace" as anything else can be-