The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-01-19

i y - ~ y ~ " NBo II YOUNG
1nuian girl Of the yRinnebago tribe
came East Tor her education. She
Idisplayed so great an artistic talent
mat she was urged to enter q reg
uiar art scho 81. She went to Philas
Iaetphta and inferred Dre1el Institute
where her criginal conceptions won
quite Us much attention by their
lartistic merit as because they were
iexecuted by the first full -blood ed Ih-1
dian girl who had attempted the seri-
lous study OF the fine arts. For sew
1eral years Angel De Cora worked at
her art in Philadelphia under the
special instructions OF the late How
lard Pyle, who was most Impressed
with her talent: Afterwards she
went to Smith College aud COM
lpleted the art course there before
opening studio in New York,
where her work became we'll known
Ito the best American art critics. NJ
Miss De Cora then married Wit
liam H Deitz. a Sioux Indian who
IS trained artist and since then they
have worked earnestly together In.
their efforts to perpetuate and sdeyel-.
Top the native arts Of the Indian
Realizing how valuable the work of
these young people might be in the
leducation of their own race the for
inner Indian commissioner prevailed
upon them ofenter the faculty of
I the Indian school at Carlisle, where,
Mrs. Dietz has since organized a reg
iular art department in which In
Istruction in the highest branches
lare given to the exceptional pupils
i who exhibit special talent while in
dustrial drawing and textile design
ing are being taught to the others. q
The instruction Is based upon the
idea that Indians are gifted In origi-
nal ideas or ornamentatfon as evil
denced in the personal belongings or
members of the different tribes. The
art instruction at Carlisle aims to
train and develop this decorative in
stilict Of the Indians to modern
methods and apply It to up-to-date
house furnishing and other utilita-
lrian purposes. Indian art is formed
upon a purely conventional and
geometric basis. which is treated as
q conventional system Of designing.
An analytical study has beea made
OF the various tribal styles, the Ara
pahoe which represents the tribes of
the mountainous regions, the Win
nebagc, which treats Of the forest
and lake country and the Navajo
which show the character of the
desert country The .Zuni Pueblo
I! and Hopi styles offer still more de-
IcelNped forms Of decoration, which
lend themselves admirably to inter-
Isior wall decoration.
For centuries Indians have ex-
pressed their individual moods and
sentiments in decorations Of their
baskets, rings, blankets, bead work
and pottery. Many deterioratedA
forms Of these designs have been ip-
ltroduced by manufacturers OF vari-
Gus household furnishings. and these
are apt to give misconception to true
Indian art. This was well recog-
nixed by most of the visitors to the
| Jamestown exposition who studied
| the Indian art exhibition made by.
the United States government under
the direction OF Mrs Dietz.
Most OF the. Indian art was the
work Of the women since the men
did not devote much time to cultf-
waiting manual skill. The Important.
exception to this is the silversmith
ltWQAA vi tt4cf &NttNt1JOpt W 0USdAT.
| tiful both in conception and finish.
A genuine Navajo bracelet is a true
Repression Of art revealing some
definite ideal of the maker. The.
placing OF semi-precious stones. the
blending Of their color with the
graduated polish Of the silver inter
spersed with quaint forms indicating
mystic tribal faith make simple
Combination Of beauty, which the
lciviiized ieweler tries in vain to
copy. Mr.. Deitz has lately intro
lduced the silver work as part OF
the art training Of the boys attend
| ing the Carlisle school.
In most Of the Indian tribes some
ldistinct form OF art work has ex-
listed for centuries and might be al
flowed to lapse by the broadening in-
fuences of civilization. Such a
lapse would be a distinct loss to- the
h art resources of the world as well
as Il detriment to the Indian race.
The Indian commissioner is making
every effort to prevent It, both by
encouraging the work Of the Carlisle
school and arranging for public ex-
lhibitions and offering prizes for fine
productions from the different res-
iervations.
Fine basket making is becoming q
ioet or% hncouoo x tho ivn,tn cor. Ind