New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-11
Old Hope of the National
Academy of Design Is
Again Revived.
PARK DEPT. REMOVAL
MAKES 1T POSSIBLE
Money Promised for New otruc'-
ure, Says J. W. Alexander
Art Societies Interested.

with the news that the Ola HI90ii'
,...,ia,,s E, Central Park would be
abandoned as the headquarters OF inc
Park Department. members OF the Ma
,ional Academy OF Design who I'VE
years ago were in favor OF erecting I"
large building devoted TO the auNdH0e
mont Of the fine arts on the site oil the
,arlx structure have again taken up 'he
matter. and it IS hoped by them tha'
tho Arsenal will be torn Down ana us
site made available.
Jobn w. Alexander. president Of the
academy. said yesterday that the SUD
,ect had been taken up informally
..Tbe Arsenal site" he said, is the
only logical one for the fine arts stru'l-
IRE. as l have always contended. y
number Of men stand ready at Ihe
present time to advance the money
necessary for a structure which VIII DE-
q credit 20 this city If the Arsenal
site IS available. then it would be pos
eible 10 take into account the saving
on land. The building would cover the
site Of the Arsenal and it would be a
MACE where every kind of art would
have an opportunity to'show itself.
While Mr.. Alexander was not in
tposition TO say how much would De
subscribed it has been reported thai
the sum ranges anywhere from Sooo'-
200 to S1,50000
I'VE have the promise of these men
20 contribute just as soon as the site Is
!secured." he said. They believe the
nArsenal site 10 he the best one for the
proposed building"
As explained BY Mr.. Alexander the
National Academy OF Design was only
one body in an association Of ten that
would make this structure its home
The societies that are members OF the
National Academy Association, as TINS
organization is known, include the
American Water Color Society, the
New York Chapter OF the American In
stitute OF Architects, the Architectural
League Of New York, the New YORK
Water Color Club, the National Sculpt-
IRE Society. the Municipal Art Society
the Society Of Beaux Arts Architects,
the MUld al d4ilAtiS oAN '''N
society Of Illustrators.
II was 'in April, 1909. that the Ma
uonaI Academy Of Design. by vote OF
II to :. Endorsed the Grady-Francis
bills. which provided that the Arsenal
was TO be torn down and the academy
given the right to erect a structure
there at its own expense 10 be occu-
ried in part by the Park Department.
SO much opposition was aroused on the
score Of park invasion that the project
fell through But ever since then the
spark, though burning dimly, has
needed only tanning TO make 1t blaze
ND again And this is what has been
done through the reports, which are to-
day confirmed. that the Park Depart
ment will move downtown.
Several plans have been considered.
At one time some OF the members OF
the academy favored Bryant Park.
Then again it was a site facing the
Public Library. The latter was con-
tldered impossible because OF the value
OF the land sought Then the site OF
the Fine Arts Building, in West 9th
6trect. was considered and finally the
National Academy property, at 1O9th
street and Amsterdam avenue, had its
supporters.
Through It all. however, Mr. Alex
ander and some others have believed
that eventually o site might be found
.n Central Park. the one occupied by
the Arsenal.
When. d March, 1912, application
WAS made FOR incorporation by the Ma
tional Academy Association it was rep
resented as aiming 10 develop and en-
courage the study Of the fine arts, to
aid artists and associations Of artists
and 10 disseminate the knowledge of
and 10 stimulate an interest in the fine
arts The structure IL was proposed "a
erect would be provided with galleries
exhibition spaces. lecture rooms and
accommodations for artists and associ-
otions Of artists.
Officers Of the association are John
W. Alexander, president: Howard Rus
sci Butler yice-president; Dom Bar
Der. treasurer, Bert Hanson, secretary;
James Speyer, chairman Of the finance
committee and Herbert Adams, chair
man OF the committee on exhibitions
Failure TO agree on site last March
caused a temporary abandonment OF
al plans. Lately there has been much
discussion because OF a lack Of hanging
space IN the Fine Arts Building, anc
an independent exhibition was held by
those who for that reason could not b,
represented there. Therefore. the
present possibility that the Arsena
site may be available for an adequate
building s. OF keen interest 20 all the
Art folk.