Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-14
ARTLECTURE IS
INTERESTING
Mrs. Ella Bond Johnston Gives
Fine Address at University
Convocation.

40 JuSk "ItAS Oil GU - 4VA"JA0S ava
happiness! said Mrs. Ella Bond
Johnston. famous art lecturer, in an
address before the convocation Of h
University Of North Dakota this morn
ing at IL o'clock in Woodwork audi
torium.
Mrs. Johnston was introduced by
President Frank L. McVey, as the
leader in the community and. art
movement which is now spreading
ject the bringing of the opportunity
to all the people to see the better
things in the field Of art and Of own
ing some Of them. Mrs. Johnston be-
lieved so thoroughly in this idea that
20 ear ago she was instrumental
in organizing among the women OF
her home town Of Richmond, Ind,
an art association which has turned
educational matters right side up In
that city. allowing now, as no other
high school in the United States does.
for the complete development OF the
child's mind along the lines Of truth,
goodness and beauty. In this associa-
ton the democratic spirit rules, and
men and women of all ranks are in
cluded-the high school s%uperintend-
ent, because the exhibits were to be
conducted through the schools; a
newspaper man. because we knew
what he could do for us. q college pro-
lessor because we knew what we
could do for him: The business man
because We needed his le~velheaded
business ability, and SO On Mrs.
Johnston described the forming Of the
association for the service Of the cause
Of art in that town Of $4,000 people.
We have been so busy conquering
a continent that we have had little
time for h enjoyment of beauty and
our surplus product has been color
less n d~ehumanized. In our schools
we have spent a lot Of time in learn
ing what is the truth about things. a
good deal in the building Of character.
1t is time to devote some time to the
development Of the appreciation Of
beauty in the present and coming gen.
%erations OF your.g Americans II u
ards better than those gained in the
moving picture houses. Until recent
ly the government taxed art as a lux
ury; and the churches must lear that
there Is moro beauty besides the
beauty Of holiness We should know
all that science has to teach us; that
Is preparation for life. but it is not
living. We are producing critical
minds but not app%reciative minds"
The difficulty Of teaching art is very
great. Most Of our teaching is done
BY analysis, and you can't teach art
sha, way. You can't do anything bet
Ter in teaching poetry to children than
TO e it and feel it. IF I were all
powerful" said Mrs. Johnston, IT
would make a million men with voices
ike Forbes-Robertson, and I would
the children from 8 to l6 years Of
age. That would make them under
stand the full meaning Of every word
and OF all that the poet meant to tell.
There would be no need then for an
analysis OF words. It is as my own
son said when he was in high school.
Ee was studying the Vision of Sir
Launtal and he didn't like 1t. There's
SO much school work about 1t that a
fellow can't enjoy the poetry he
said
So it is with the study e paintings,
and so it is with the teaching Of any
art.
There are many more ways Of say
ing things than just with words, and
the speaker explained how the poet,
the painter and the musician all feel
them through a different medium.
TLen she said: There are few Of us
who have not had some shipwreck
before middle life because we have
depended only on human relations
for our happiness. Those are variable
and are bound to bring US sorrow If
we depend upon them alone. That is
what art is for. Just for happiness.
We all want to be happy. and we can
u%nchanging an abiding happiness"
Mre. Johnston then briefly told Of
the work In Richmond where the art
work in the schools has become such
an important part Of education that
the new school house was built to &C
commodate an art gallery where
hangs the permanent collection Of
nearly n hundred wonderful paint
tnFs in the originals, in oil and water
slides, showing the art gallery and
the paintings and %statuary, together
with views of the exhibits OF wonder
full Indian art, oriental rugs, colonial
art. and many others which are Dor
rowed from all parts Of the United
States to be shown free for a few
weeks to all who may wish to see
them .
That tho same thing that has been
might he done for Grand Forks and
North Dakota was made clear. It IL
only necessary that some one or some
group of persons. who are willing to
put unbounded enthusiasm into 1t and
to work overtime. undertake It.
Before the address tho Mems club
under the direction of Professor W.
w. Norton Gang. "Castilla,' words by
DR.. F. w. G%unsaulus, and music by
welcomed after their long state trip.
supply oF AMERICAN
FLAGS BEING DEPLETED