South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-11
ART CRITIC IN
SPLENDID TALK
South Bend Woman, Noted as
Critic, Talks at Wom-
mans Club.

Americas patriot painters Of the
great west were made the subject
OF most unusual lecture Saturday
afternoon at the Woman's club by
Mrs. Marian A White Of South
Bend Mrs. White is an art critic
of repute throughout the country
and knows personally most of the
artists whose names are familiar at
the present. Her services as a crit
&c and lecturer have been in great
demand in art circles, and through
her efforts many young artists have
been enabled to reach distinction.
The reluctance of the world 10
admit that America has traditions.
that she has artistic possibilities
heretofore undreamed of, and talent
equal. if not superior, TO that OF the
old world, was offered by Mrs. White
as the reason for her lack Of an art
reputation in the world. That her
painters have been held down by
this narrowness of opinion not only
in Europe, but at home, she ex-
planned at length to be the reason
country seeking Europe as a feld
for their genius.
Patriot Painters OF West.
Those artists who have been far
sighted, who have recognized the
magnifcence and richness of Amer
ica's storehOuse and the necessity
for preserving some pictorial rec
ord Of her fast changing topogra-
ply for coming generations, are
termed by Mrs. White, the patriot
painters. Most Of these men have
gone into the western country, have
taken up their abode with the rap
idly passing Redmen, have learned
his speech, his habits and customs,
and immortalized him upon can
vas.
Time is bringing to the surface
the splendid traditions Of the coun-
try, in which no foreign land is
richer. The scenic beauties of the
far west appeal almost as strongly
as the historic aspects, while the
story of the revolution will ever be
one Of the most shining and glorious
pages in the history Of the world
All this, said Mrs. White, should be
apparent not only to the art world
abroad, but to America herself
That Europe really does appreciate
American art Mrs. White showed by
the statement that while eastern art
centers have refused their canvases,
many western painters have dis
posed of them with foreign dealers
who are enthusiastic at what they
term a Enthusiastically American
art.
Expect Instant Greatness.
One of the most difficult forces
which young artists of America
with faith in the future of their
country as a fne-arts center must
combat is the stultifying tendency
of the people 10 expect greatness
of them simultaneously. They are
compared with the old masters to
their disparagement and because
they do not paint madonnas and
holy children with the same color
technic and the same old school
principles of construction, they are
termed mediocre or without merit
entirely.
AS a matter Of fact, the old Gus
toms in painting have given way to
the new. The world no longer wants
pictures of the ancient type. 1t
wants paintings which will truth
fully portray the present and its
peoples and customs. That is why
the really astute art critics of the
day are finding in American art I
much that they do not find in for
eign. II is typical of a country, it |
describes America and is truly a
national art.
America Has Great Future.
America has a great future in the /
fine arts, said Mrs. White. Her
composers. her singers. her mu-
sicians, her painters and writer's TO
come will surpass any of the past, |
she viii stand before the entire
world as a representative of a new
and revivihed art an art more glor-
ious and resplendant than that of
the past.
Indiana particularly has achieved
landscape painters, many of whom
a~e now known throughout the
world.
Those pioneers of the western art
who have done most 10 arONSe the
Sorld to the knowledge OF the
great possibilities in this country are
the following: T. :. PaxsOn, who
stands as peer and master at the
head; Charles Russell, Filing Col
Inns. Remington. Keith and De Long
pre-. the Californian painter OF flow