The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-14
FREE FAIR ART EXHIBIT

The excellence of the art exhibit at
the Kansas Free Fair this year is a
distinct surprise after last weeks
rather discouraging indications. Up
to last Friday evening, few entries had
been made and considerable of the
work entered was that of mere begin
ners. But Saturday morning things
changed rapidly for the better. and
it is safe to say that a no more inter-
esting and beautiful collection of pic
lures and art objects has ever been
shown at the Kansas Free Fair.
| Undoubtedly the most noteworthy
peculiarly of the exhibit is the dis
closure of large amount of hitherto
unknown Kansas talent of an exceed
ingly nigh order.
Among the new exhibitors is Gladys
Smith of Minneapolis. Her five oil
paintings, mostly child portraits or
pictures of child life, would attract
favorable attention at any art exhibit
ton in the United States. Undoubted-
ly this artist will one day be ranked
among Americans most noted.
Other new work is that of Frank
Arbuckle of Canton. It is said that
Arbuckle is studying art in a Kansas
City, No. art school as a government
vocational training student. He has
entered a number of portrait studies
in crayon, both black and white and
in color; also several paintings in oil
and water color, and a poster. Several
of these studies are of much beauty
and merit.
A Topeka man who exhibits for the
first time is Irwin E. Smith. His work
is a cover design for the Kansas
Stockman, and two water color paint
ings. one a portrait and the other a
flower study. Smith was for time,
a pupils of David Overmyer. He dis
plays much promising talent as a
commercial artist and would especially
excel as a designer of magazine covers.
Among other Topeka people ex-
! hibiting beautiful work are Maynard
Walker Miss Margaret Whittemore,
Miss Katharine Cole, L. A. Gillette,
and Mrs. L. c. Hodge.
Miss Coles exhibit is especially
worthy of notice because its unique
character and the novel way in which
it is made. It is a decorative design
representing a female figure in the
costume of a belle of 1860. She is
standing on a grassy knoll, and behind
her is a blue sky with a huge fleecy
cloud so arranged as to form part of
the design. Butterflies with wings
made out of tiny painted sea shells
are also fastened on the woman's
crinoline skirt. The whole is inclosed
in an old fashioned picture frame.
| Each part of the design is made sep
arately and then pasted on the back
ground.
The ceramics exhibit is quite small
| this year but contains some exceed
ingly good work. Among the exhibit
ors are Mrs. Churchill Sargent, Mrs.
George o. Boone, Miss Myrtle Gohlke,
Mrs. A. A. Scott and Mrs. Katherine
Perkins.
The Topeka high school has an ex-
cellent exhibit made up of decorative
designs, book covers, batiks, basketry,
sketches from life and nature, and
work in colored sealing wax, known as
ariaT &c art
instructor.
The Kansas State Agricultural coll
lege has contributed a remarkable ex-
hibit of designs suitable for the deco
ration of fabrics, wall paper, etc.
Miss Araminta Holman, instructor in
| judge for the Kansas Free Fair.
| The Kansas State university has an
exhibit similar to that of the State
Agricultural college, and in addition,
has a fine display from its fine arts
department. A group of landscapes
and noteworthy feature of the K. U.
exhibit.
Bessie Seitz, of the Kansas State
university, won first prize in the Free
Fair poster contest this year. Roger
Williams, of Topeka, won second
Kan, won third prize. The posters
submitted this year are distinctly bet
| ter from an artistic standpoint, than
those submitted last year.
| The American Federation of Arts
exhibit of prints is feature of the
fair that no person interested in art
or in home decoration can afford to
miss seeing. A committee made up
of members of the Topeka Art Guild
will be in charge of this exhibit all
week. Allan Sells is chairman of the
COMMITTEE.