Evening star., 1918-04-14

The American Federation OF Arts.
which has its headquarters in this city.
is doing much at this time to prove that
art is not q mere luxury. q means OF
recreation and entertainment for the
wealthy, but instead q real factor in
everyday life and OF definite service
even in warfare.
Under the auspices Of the American
Federation OF Arts Joseph Pennelrs
Autographs Of war work in America
have been exhibited during the past
season all over the United States. in
many of the large cities simultaneously
and literally from coast to coast. arous-
ing not only interest, but patrtottc en-
thusiasm. and demonstrating as per
haps nothing else could the extent 70
which the United States government -
manufacturing munitions, building
ships, etc.
In ths same manner q patriotic ex-
hibition Of paintings by leading Ameri- y.
National Arts Club. New York. in May.
IL to be passed about the country. So
numerous have been the requests for
this exhibition that It is doubtful IL all
the places desiring it can be granted
the privilege within twelve months.
Besides all this the American Fedora
tion OF Arts has prepared. at the re-
quest OF the national war work coun-
ell Of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation, several typewritten lectures on
art, illustrated with stereopttcon slides,
which are being circulated and de-
lfvered In the war camps In this coun-
try and in France. These are on such
can sculpture, French painting, civic
art, and are. properly speaking. pic
ture talks" purposed to give the men,
in the most entertaining form, fnforma-
tion on these subjects.
1t has been customary for the Ameri-
can Federation of Arts to hold its an
nual convention in Washington, but
owing to the crowded condition of the
city the convention this year, will be
held in Detroit, Mich, the Esd and Gath
Of May. The program as announced
this week is thoroughly constructive,
the topics chosen for discussion being
Of timely interest. Chief among these
is the great question Of the relation Of
art to manufacturer. involving the de-
velopment Of Industrial art In Amer
lea
This is . subject Of utmost interest
ana concern IL after the war America
Is to take her place beside France and
Technical1y. our manufactures have
been Of the best. but artistically. up to
the present time, they have been con-
sidered inferior. 80 strong has beenthe
impression that artistic manufactures
must como from overseas that quanti-
ties Of American-made goods have been
sold in the American market as the
product of foreign countries. There are
today in the United States not more
than half a dozen schools in which
Industrial art Is taught, and Of these
only two are equipped SO that the
students can actually acQuaint them
selves with mechanical methods and
see their designs put into execution.
The majority of industrial designers
in certain trades are foreign-born citi-
zens, yet these are exceedingly re-
munerative avenues of work. In the
whole Of the United States there is not
today a single free public school of in
dustrial art. and yet there are in
Vulnerable manufactures in which the
question of design: is fundamental, such.
for instance, as the making of furni-
ture, textiles. silverware. tewelry,
porcelain and pottery. etc. There is
abundant talent in America. There Is
no need Of further borrowing. and with
proper cultivation as we'll as conserva-
tfon Of talent and resources there is
every reason to believe that made in
synonym of worth, standing not only
for quantity but quality in our manu-
factures.
Another timely topic which will be
brought up for consideration at the
convention is that of war monuments.
Already there are rumors Of memorials
to be erected to those who have given
their lives to the nation in the great
conflict in which the United States has
been engaged for q little over year.
1t is right that these heroes should
have monumental remembrance. but
pains should be taken to see that the
form is such that carries with II no
stigma. A monument possessing little
or no artistic merit is poor reward for
a noble deed. How to prevent new
crop of horrors dishguring our cities
and towns and bearing witness to the
Ignorance of those by whom they are
erected Is a difficult problem to solve.
Great Britain has taken very firm
stand in this matter and has therefore
avoided q repetition Of some Of her ma
tional blunders in the past. France has
been too busy making heroes and too
oppressed by her invaders to give either
much time or money for such purpose
as yet. But the same problem concerns
all three nations.
Mrs Herbert Adams. who is to give
the paper on the subject at the Detroit
on the current exhibition of American
sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum
that the best way to prevent bad things
along this line is to bring really good
things Of the kind to the attention of
the public. AS examples of the best.
she points to Daniel Chester French's
Milmore Memorial, Death and the
Young Sculptor" and Saint-Gaudens'
statue of Admiral Farragut. In Wash
ington we have. it may be remember
ed, Mr.. French's beautiful Gallaudet
group at Kendall Green and Saint
Gaudens' masterpiece, the Adams Me-
morial." in Rock Creek cemetery.
neither q war monument, to be sure,
but essentially beautiful and appro-
pirate.
The construction of workingmen's
houses in industrial centers is third
topic upon which attention will be TO-
cused at the convention. Some may
feel that this is a matter which con-
Germs architects. engineers and welfare
workers primarily. but it should not be
forgotten that architecture is one of
the fine arts and in a way the father of
them ALL The best buildings in the
world are those that have been erected
to meet a specific need in a most expe-
ditious manner, and there is no reason
why even temporary structures should
be unsightly. Much praise Is to be
given the designers OF two temporary
ONCE buildings lately erected in Wash
ington-"Corcoran Courts" built in the
garden of the Corcoran Gallery of Art,
and the Archie Butt building" erected
adjacent to the Lemon building. These
are both simple temporary structures,
but their proportions and general de-
sign are such that they are by no
means offensive; in fact, their aspect is
attractive.
In large measure the question of art
=