The Natchitoches enterprise., 1921-06-09
Art Colony Planned for Local
Artists
Pictures Made Near Natchitoches by
Ellsworth Woodward Create IN
terest and Lead to the Found
ing of an Art Colony for
This Summer
BY DORIS KENT

| D1 DORlS KENT
An art colony of landscape painting
IN the dreamy country of Natchitoches
parish among the purple shadows of
the live oaks and the bright sunlight of
the open tields-that is what group
OF young Southern painters are turning
their energies toward in the hope of
perfecting arrangements by this sum-
mer.
AT the head Of the movement are
Miss 1rma Sompayrac and Miss GLADYS
Breazeale, former Newcomb students
IN the school Of art, backed by a coteric
OF enthusiasts who hope to make Of
the venture rival of Arthur Doves
colony at Ipswich, Mass.
The idea was born after an exhibit
last fall of the paintings of Ellsworth
Woodward. head of the Newcomb Art
School. Mr.. Woodward had spent a
part OF the summer in Natchitoches
and the results of the trip which he
brought back created something of a
Juror in artistic circles In a series
ct canvases he had depicted various
bits of landscape in the environs of the
town of Natchitoches and the typical
Louisiana charm Of the work caught
the fancy of the public. Mr.. Wood
ward expressed the opinion that no
where else in the country had he found
section more replete with precious
material tor the landscape artist. Sey-
eral artists took up the idea and the
plan is now being backed by follow
ing of enthusiasts.
There is distinctive charm about
the town of Natchitoches and its neigh
borhood that makes itself felt vividly
on canvass said MIR. Woodward. TO
me it seems the ideal location for such
colony and IT these young people are
able to carry it through l. will be glad
and proud to contribute my services as
teacher for part Of the time during
the season.
The general atmosphere of the place
ls receptive to such a venture. 1t is Il
fine old town of beautiful old homes
where life moves serenely and comfort
able with class of people interested
IN things artistic and cultural. There
are good roads through a surrounding
country of magnificent trees and beau
tiful old gardens.
THE Cane River passes through the
town and ten minutes by launch or
automobile will put you in the midst of
4 soul-satisfying landscape. The river
winds back upon itself with steep
banks sloping down to the water and
bordered by cottonwood trees and
pecans. 1t would be easy for twenty
students all within sight of each other
to be occupied with twenty separate
o;ts of landscape each as good as the
,ther.
I'm the South we think of art as be-
ng up North or in France. That is
he feeling which has come down to Us
rom the days when was a student.
When nothing was considered worth
While unless it bore the hall marks Of
J Paris studio. Paris was an obsession
nd there developed a certain conten pt
or things American.
1--WE have ciung more or less to this
abit OF mind since the Civil war whey
7e fell into the way of believing and
aging that we were two poor and ex-
austed to do things. But unless we
axe care OF our young peoples ideal
~ VIZ Will 1dIl lillO IIdCell0l CltlI-
alton.
"Such an art colony as these youny
eople wish to establish would furni n
pportunity at home for the ambitious
and fix in the public mind
he fact that our native land is beau,i-
III. Such a belief unconsciously be-
omes part of patriotism, itself. It
ill focus young artists on our home
lnd-a foundation for something great,
|, my opinion.
''The general effect on the public
ould be of considerable importance.
'e talk great deal of advertising
lese days. 1t is advertising and the
eneral rise in standard of general cul-
ire that is laying foundation Of
etter appreciation. Newcomb Art
chool is far better today than it was
lirty years ago. 1t has virtually the
Ime faculty and the same class Of
now we all have devei-
oed a certain art foundation fro,1
'dinary social Iife."
The leaders of the colony movement.
>pe to obtain the cooperation and
struction of other artists of note be-
des Mr.. Woodward and by the begin
ng of summer gather together
cup who will make a center of the
wn of Natchitoches and paint IN
lri0us sections in the surrounding
untry.