The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-23
gFRAAk AlvAH PARSONS
CAPTURES AUDIENCE
Real Meaning Of Art Indelibly I'M
pressed on Consciousness of
Every Hearcr.
ADDRESS FULL OF HUMOR
When Human Being Becomes
Christmas Tree There Is Something
Wrong" He Declares. in Describing
True Decoration.

art in Life" or the real meaning
of art, was indelibly impressed on
the minds of large audience at the
Woman's club last night when Frank
Alvah Parsons, president of the New
York School of Fine and Applied Arts,
lectured under the auspices of the
Art Club of Richmond, the Bureau OF
Vacations for Women and the Rich
mond Educational association.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connell in
troduced the nationwide famous
speaker and Mrs. Harvey Clarke act
ed as chairman.
Following the lecture DIR. ORE
Hatcher explained that a course in
fine and applied arts under the direc-
ton of the New York school VIII De
started in Richmond at the AT ciup
" sufficient interest is aroused ana
patronage secured.
Makes Splendid Talk.
Mr. Parsons opened one OF the most
intelligent, interesting and witty talks
of the season by explaining how, IN
order to understand art one must rrst
wipe the glass Of consciousness clear
He succeeded in doing this Tor ms
audience by inpressing the fo'io"ihs
points In the form of anecdotes ana
indescribahIe gestures that were TAR
more expressive IMAM WbIhS - N't'''
mates the Ave appetites: art and sem
tmentalitv are two things, for SEN
timent is not an art sensation; we
are slaves OF fashion, and style, with
out realizing that art in clothes means
constructing such garments as sha II
: be comfortable and efficient. ON the
subject Of fashion, Mr.. Parsons was
most eniightening. He advocated
eliminating fashion and substituting
art
There is only one art" he said =,
art is Just as fine as II is. Art Is
an abstract quality. Art is state OF
the mind. and not appliqued on. but
appliqued In people. The fundamental
thing Is the necessity for reducing art
to its simplest terms"
Mr.. Parsons great theory was; Art
Ia the answer to a need. We are re-
sponsibie for what we eternalize as
art The more intimate the need. tho
greater the necessity for making that
an object of art. thing created so
that II absolutely fills the bill is art.
and this ia the first great principle
Art is perfect fitness to purpose"
Defines Aesthetic Sense.
In discussing art as a relative quail
ity Mr. Parsons defined the aesthetic
sense as the sense Of man between
= the external and God" He also dis
tinguished the difference between
Identifying and decorating. making.
among his innumerahle witty state
mon;s impossible 70 reproduce, this:
When a human being becomes n
Christmas tree. there ia something
wrong" In describing true decora
ton. Mr.. Parsons defined in his in
Irritable and effective manner color,
form. line and texture
To reproduce Mr., Parsons talk.
which left hts audience with Glen r
conceptions Of art. one must know
TIE man. see him. hear him talk. en-
inv MS delicious humor clear explana-
tons and effective delivery, and must
feel the personality he radiates The
sr,-loverS and those ignorant of art
were rewarded last night for their
coming with over an hour Of unceas-
ing merrlment and a better under
standing OF real art in relation to life.