The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-31
Pictured and Described as Most
Commanding Achievement by
dorado Taft in critIque
OF American sculptors
SCULPTOR rs A HAWKEyE
A Most Interesting, Little Woman,
Without Pose. but Among Leading
scuIptors Of This Country
and Present Day.

| An art photograph OF the statue
iof Chief Keokuk in Rand park Illus
trates an article by dorado TAFT on
/; the women sculptors OF America,
which makes the February number OF
the Mentor magazine.
svThe most commanding OF Miss
Walkers achievements, is what the
great sculptor and critic calls the
Keokuk monument overlooking the
Mississippi here. In his consideration
/ of the work Of Miss Nellie v. Walker,
its creator, an Iowa girl, reared at
Moulton, near here, and one OF the
famous American sculptors OF today.
| The article on Miss Walker by Lo-
RADIO Taft, copyrighted by The Mentor,
is as follows:
Another Big Iowa Soul.
Another wee body with big soul;
a tiny woman who loves to build 81
gantic figures, is Miss Nellie v.
Walker, late of Moulton. Iowa" but
for the last eighteen years pracucfng
her art In Chicago. Too near at hand
to permit the writer clear perspec-
( tive, her achievement has undoubted-
ily won her front place among our
American sculptor-women. With the
none has produced SO many important
works of public nature. Unlike
Mrs. Vonnoh. whose industry she
shares. her expression is always he
Iroic In size. "How can such little
thing do such big work." is the ex-
clamation of every visitor to her
studio. To see hSr climbing over one
of her mighty clay models is pic
| ture to remember. There is nothing
/ coquettish, however. in her attitudes.
no posing ON step ladders for the ap-
preciatfve photographer. but SIN
cerity and earnestness which win hon
| est admiration from all who know the
undaunted little woman.
Some Of Her Work.
Miss Walker succeeded Miss Long
man as assistant teacher of modelling
/ at the Art Institute of Chicago, a po-
sftion which she held for number OF
years. Her first order Of Importance
was for a statue of W. S. Stratton,
the Bonanza King" Of Colorado
SPRINGS. The work was well done,
brought her another order from the
family, resulting in a memorial OF
unique and impressive character
two yelled figures symbolic OF Char
Ifty. partially detached from a. great
mass of granite The design was orig
inal and attracted the attention OF
lady of Cadillac, Mich. for whom
somewhat similar work was deRl-
oped. This time three mysterious
forms enter into composition which
Illustrates the words: THAT best
! portion OF good mans life. the lit
lie nameless, aforementioned acts OF
kindness and love-"
Cadillac was most appreciatfve and
two other poetic monuments and
memorial gateway for the cemetery
today bear Miss Walkers name. Bat
tie Creek is likewise ernbelfshed by
one Of her works.
The Best Is keokuk-
The most commanding of Miss
Walkers achievements. the gigantic
I.Keokuk," stands on the bank OF the
Mississippi in the Iowa town named
after the picturesque old chieftain. II
IL a massive and masculine work fun
of strength and quiet dignity-the
production which one believes its
creator likes best.
Far different. indeed quite at the
other end OF the gamut, is the work
which the public likes best, the yell
known group, Her Son" possible
Mary gazing upon the youthful
Christ: any mother lost in wonder
over this miracle df maternity. 1t
is not granted to the greatest artist
to produce many works of such uni
versal appeal. Her Son" will be
translated one Of these DAYS into