Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-01

ton to Mrs. c. L. Drake and honora Bile
mention to Mrs. c. G. Abbott.
Composition class-Silver medal to
Miss Mary E. Mcnamara, honora Bile
mention to Alfred G. Schmidt and hon
CRADLE mention to Miss Constance
Weaver.
Water color class-silver medal to
Mrs. Myron A. Cole. honorable mention
to Miss Lottie Lee Fahrenbruch and
honorable mention to E. s. Thomas.
Address of Principal Messer.
Preceding the announcement of the
prize winners and the distribution of
awards. E. c. Messer. the principal of
the school. made a short address. He
said. in part. as follows:
We may ask ourselves Just what are
the obligations of a school of the char
acter of ours? What should be its le-
climate aims. what part may it be ex-
pected to assume in the general en-
deaNor on the part of the American to
work out the problem of American art.
Il suspect this problem is already
more nearly solved than we might
imagine. We hear very frequently
When shall we have an American
art? with an applied assumption that
1t is thing underlined and unrelated
to the far future | do not undertake
TO say that American art at this mo-
meht is an adequate expression of our
NE or experiences, or even our emo
tlons, but ] do undertake to say that it
| is already developing characteristics
| as a national art. America believes in
! herself-she believes in her future in
spite of a complication of conditions
that can hardly come TO any other peo-
pie. but if we look largely at our eff
forts, at expression in art literature
in philosophy. we shall find that we are
! interested. curious. experimental with
touches of audacity in our experiments
with an interest that does not wsne. a
| curiosity that wins determinate results.
In current exhibitions of our art we
realize that the American painter has
ceased to grope. that as a rule he has
! learned his trade. He is, indeed.
rather more concerned with his art as a
trade than we may desire. The art for
art sake idea insures a good under
standing of the mechanics of art. The
painters touch becomes assured TOO
assured. perhaps: he expresses what he
had IN mind with authority. We NAV
NOT be altogether satisfied with what he
does have in his mind; we are more con
cerned. If we reason wisely, with what
ne has in his mind than with what he
has at his fingers end. so to speak.
Work of the American Painter.
We find that the American painter
has mastered the processes of his art
and is able to express with more or less
adequacy his concept But we note AT
the same time that the concept itself is
less imperative. less inevitable than il
should be, and lacking also. in meas
ure, not only in emotional force. but in
a certain beauty, charm. richness. har-
mony; the highest attributes of per.
| sonality.
| Are the academic excellencies not tc
count. then? Is the academic school 2
mistake? So far as it bases itself In the
| coid pedahtlc formula, undertakes to run
| all natures and temperaments through O,
/ into one mold: so far as 1t DISCOURAGE
the vital impulse of differentiated tenn
peraments 1t is a mistake, as has been
proven again and again in the attempt tc
make over the genius by the patterns OF
old art without the spirit that made the
great old art an eternal inheritance. ar
endless JOY. But in SO far as it laws d
practical foundation on which all person
Antics alike must build it is not only
valuable. II is Indispensable.
The business of school like ours is Z,
impart fundamental knowledge of this
structure of the human fiSure-to make
clear its structural proportions, it's in.
terreiated bulks, its movement of buIks
the rightness and rhythm of Its contours
This much We must impart or We shat
have worked in vain.
But at the same time, and durin.
these processes, we must make the
student understand that they lead n
something that is ultimate; that &C
curate drawing, correct color combine
tons and just understanding. O.
values are a means TO an end Oul
business. then. is with the means. bu
we shall not neglect to point forward
to that ultimate which rests with tn,
student.
II have said that the American ha,
learned his trade. | can say more thai
that. There are individuals still. ex
ceptions whose impulse has lifted then
beyond the self-consciouspess of craft
In these a force of real emotion give
evidence of vital undercurrents. o.
this occasional emergence of the ex
ceptional spirit. together with a yer!
general prevalence, of excellence II
craft. I base my optimistic faith in tn,
ultimate triumph Of American art"