Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-30
Mu,s,R aA,....uA
omA 9ntlNs1AA.,s


RI, AsTE for and appreciation Of Art something that
has 20 be cultivated. and the only way 70 produce
art-lovers is 70 Eive people plenty OF oppof-
tunites 20 and study real works Of art Few
realize what has been accomplished in developing the
artistic taste right here in Omaha by such art ex-
hbitons those that promoted by the Society OF
Fine Arts which puTsues its object with presidency
and with comparatively little ostenatoR To develop an
art center takes time and must have something TO
build and. fortunately for Omaha. the beginnings
Of our art culture were laid long
The first art exhibition in Omaha that remember
was what called The Art Loan" conducted
benefit for church or charity, and held in the
old Christian church. brick structure with large
seTnby room. located Seventeenth street between
Dodge and Capitol avenue. All the homes Of omahas
best families ransacked for art which
were borrowed and assembled spread out to adj
miring public. II in truth eye-opeBer to
people 10 discover by this partial inventory
how many art possessions had accumulated with
out realizing a. The paintings and other pictures
rather Heterogeneous, ana have doubt the hang
ing committee had its troubles such a. are en-
countered BY all hanging committees only many fold
increased by the necessity OF considering tho feelings
and social prestige OF the of the borrowed
articles wen their intrinsic merit exhibition
however, not confined TO pictures but included
brc-asrac. bronze. china. antiques and heiooms OF
various kinds Ny recollection leaves me uncertain
whether not q department left for patchwork
quilts and fancy needework but nothing aspred
TO be known art intentionally neglected. One
OF the OF The Art Loan az 1 recall was
game Of chess played with living chessmen on chess
board chalked out the floor. which two sets
Of living figures posed boys and Girls in costume
moved about from square square until retired
out OF play. TO correspond with the moves OF the ivory
pieces in a regular chess piaye1 by two OF
most skiliful amateurs Despite Ms crudeness and
entertainment features 'rhs Art Loan gave a
able impetus at the time to the art activities
community.
The art exhibition that gave Omaha greatest
publicity art center perhaps I should say
notoristy. the that eliminated in the mutila-
ton of Of Bouguereaus canvases by mortas-
erased fanatic hurting chair through II. The poor
fellow was possessed with the idea that the artists
portrayal Of the nude was altogether too realistic
was away from home at the time 80 that my knowI.
eeEe OF the affair is wholly from hearsay and from
the accounts in the papers which everywhere put
Omaha on the art map with serious satiFical dis
eussohs OF this startling manifestation OF
ton Of great painting THE Return OF Spring." ror
such was the title. patched up and returned in
the spring 70 the owner, but not without entaiing
law suit over disputed responsibility for the damages
This art exhibit was held in the store building at
Thirteenth and Harvey. previously been occupied by
a Wholesale grocery house that had shortly before
removed to larger quarters.
Omaha art lovers havs many creditable pictures
In their collections which outsiders seldom see, ]
referred not long to the contents OF the old Col
Inns house. gathered together from the hooks and
corners of Europe The Lininger collection every
ono who has seen II knows. includes not few reai
gems. and several noteworthy canvassea hung on the
walls of Happy Hollow when Patrfcks lived there
We have. furthermore toIerably good start OF a
municipal art gallery In public library building
dating back TO exposition days when the exposition
company bought several Of the przewinnIng exhibits
in the art section and donated them the city II e
only question OF time when will have municipal
art gallery worthy Of the name. which in due time
will be the resduary iegatee OF whatever Artistic
worth has been conferred here.
II Is reassuring 10 be told that hit the target at
least once in while in the following from the
Western Laborer
Victor Rosewater threw out q hint last Sunday
for reply from readers OF his Views and Interviews
column in The Bee. I prefer that column TO any
In the paper. There is a something about IL
that Is different-he writes like he talks in that
column and II is lot human. His few words
after the death Of Jack Bonner, for instance. II
Views and Interviews interfere with editorials In
The Bee, cut out the editortais.p
Small and large favors are always gratefully re-
ceived. Thanks. Brother Kennedy.