The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-12-26
HT Arts BOARD
ISSUES WARNING
On HAR MEMORIAL
Don't Make Next Genera
ton Sick is the Burden
OF It.
INDIVIDUALITY? YES
INDIVIDUALITY?
But That Can Only Be OBJ
tanned By Enjoying Ar
lists. s.

Especial Dispatch to west virgIniano
WAsHINGToN. D. C., Dec. Is
INQUIRIES received by the National
Commission of Fine Arts indicate
that memorials Of the Great war will
be erected throughout the country.
Already firms have sent out their
solicitors to take orders for statues
and tablets, and the land is threat
ened with deluge of stereotyped
forms of memorials. In this connec-
ton the commission has issued the
following memorandum:
Many persons and committees are
persuaded that, in buying these man
Hold reproductions, they are making
contribution to art and are working
for the Improvement OF their city or
town. when, as matter OF fact, they
are doing the reverse. Works OF art
are creations In which good proper
ton. simplicity and charm Of design
and suitability to the occasion are
happily blended. If attempt Is made
to secure novelty, striking effects and
what Is popularity called Originality"
the result will not be permanently
pleasing. The next generation Will
md the thing burden and Vexaeon,
and win seek to rid themselves OF the
incubus. Individuality and Idisttnc-
lion are to be sought and these are
the elements that the artist alone can
furnish.
memorials may take many forms.
varying with the nature OF the site.
the amount of money available, the
desires and neds of the community
From many types these may be men
aoned:
A Memorial Building, preferably
for the use of the community, to be
nsed as a gathering place for com
munity seryfce or entertainment.
Such building would commemorate
and keep alive the spirit so strtkingly
manifested throu ghcut the war OF an
entire community uniting in a COM
mon service for common good.
Memorial Bridge, which VIII get
its chief beauty from its graceful pro
portions and the worthiness OF the
material used. The bridge should be
buflt to last thousand years and
Re 4 continuous delight during that
perfod. This calls for simplicity OF
design, the subordination of orna-
nent and the eschewing OF features
having no constructive value.
a Memorial Fountain, which may
he designed so as to AFFORD places Tor
INSCRIPTIONS, A fountain may be sim
ME in extreme or most elaborate. It
NAV cost one thousand dollars or tens
OF thousands. Well placed 1t is one
OF the most permanent OF monu-
ments. In European cities fountains
are enduring, attractive useful ana
dfstinSuished features. Americans
are just beginning to realize the pos
sifflftfeS of fountains as memorials
tTyne Village Green, which exists in
almost every small town or may cas-
nv be created. Usually this common
e nl-kept and without symmetry OF
form 1t might readily be laid out
Tor playground or park purposes, and
q innnroSed and maintained. A foun-
tain with a seat carrying an tnscr1p-
ffo6 or a tablet well designed would
form the center of memorial interest
"A Flag STAFF, with Memorial Base.
Here again the expense may ne iittle
or much, according to the simplicity
or elaborateness OF the base ana the
extent of the architectural setting.
SChere is one tyne of staff to be used
n connection with buildings and
quite another suited to an isolated
situation. There is variety In flags,
also. The great, undulating, sump-
iitoIS siIken folds Of the Venetian
80 of the Plaza at st. Marks are the
extreme of art in flags. Something
oe this kind and quality We may as
nfre to In decorative dags.
Memorial Gateways to parks or
other public places afford a lifting
ana expressive method of commem-
oration. Here. too, the architect and
sculptor may find full play for their
fancy.
Memorial Tablets, whether out Of
doors of for the walls Of church, city
hal. lodge room or other building.
ofer a wide field for the designer.
3 Tbese tablets get value from the
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