The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-03
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL :
Information Bureau
FREDERIC J. HASKIN, Director,
Washington, d. G.
UNIoNIzING THE MUSES..

the national rallying ground for
American artists. Within the next
month a new art institute, whose pur-
pose is to encourage and promote
American artists, is to be established,
and a house of poets, with Edwin
Markham as its residing host, is to
opens its doors
Many other plans of a mysterious
and elaborate nature are also being
! laid toward this end. New ones, in
deed, each more complicated and i'm
pressive than the last, are Matched
every day. Each group of creative
| artists has its own ideas, often worked
out in blue print form, as to how its
muse should be represented in New
York. All complain that American
art is being checked. handicapped and
stifled in its growth by indifference
and lack of assistance. Each group
| believes that it alone knows how to
avert this catastrophe.
Some time, in the future perfect
state, all agree, there is to be a huge
| national temple of art in New York.
with unparalleled departments of
painting, sculpture, literature and
music, providing the best instruction
and facilities in the world.
| There will be huge, artistic dormi-
tories where native genius will be fed
and quartered while it studies and
works, great gymnasium to keep it
in physical trim, a psychoanalytic di-
vision to solve it's many psychic prob
lens and a comfortable pension sys-
| tenn for recognized talent.
The future perfect state is far from
| being realized today, but the idea is
gaining Roadway that something ought
/ to be done to encourage American
artists. 1t is becoming especially
popular among artists themselves.
They are beginning to realize that if
a great temple of art is ever built in
| New York it will be thru the efforts
| of artists and not thru any desperate
! agitation on the part of the public.
If the writing of poetry ever becomes
| a remuneratiYe occupation, it will be
because the poets have forced it to be-
! come so. Thus. the cooperative spirit
! among creative artists of all classes is
| gaining great strength and finding eX-
preston in hundreds of new art
| leagues and societies dedicated to the
| task of smoothing the path of art.
To Help Young Talent.
The purpose of the new art insti-
| tute, for instance, is ito offer helpful
advice TO young artists, unselfish sug-
| gestion to doubtful artists and prac-
teal aid to needy artists. 1t expects
| to take art students and struggling
artists from all parts of the country
| under its wing, applaud their amb1-
| tions, listen to their grievances and
provide them with wise counsel. 1t
| also expects to provide them with art
| materials at reduced prices, truly
| cooperative measure.
| 1T is my honest belief that many q
valuable artistic conception failed to
| find its canvas or its cardboard setting
| because the owner lacked money to
purchase materials" declares Bolton
Brown, the well known landscape
| painter, who is one of the organizers
of the new project.
| Now that American art has come
into its own he said, demanding
and receiving the attention and ad-
miration of European contemporaries
! and critics, we must encourage it in
| every way possible. We do not want
| the unknown artist from ucson or Spo-
kane coming here to New York to
| find expression for those vague phan-
tastes which float thru creative brains,
to have the buds of ambition nipped
| by the frost of cold commercialism.
Everyone who feels he has the artistic
| gift must be given his chance
ANY number of potential artists are
kept in eclipse for the want of a bit
of honest advice. They do not know
how to buy or how to use their ma
terials once they are acquired. Our
consulting board will care for such
cases free of charge.
F, I'VE will not stop with the compile
ton of a picture or drawing or a
! Autograph or an etching. In order
that unknown or impecuniouS artists
| may nave their WORKS TO the
attention of the public, the institute
will provide for them suitable room
for exhibitions. And it will take care
that critics and collectors are informed
of the worthiness of such exhibitors.
The institute. however. will not be
run for the benefit of the struggling
artist alone Successful artists will
also hold their exhibitions there, and
will be welcomed to the clubrooms
just as cordially as if they were COM
PEELED to pawn their watches for
brushes or crayons.
I'VE must organize. you know" ex-
planned another artist. who is also in
terested in the new enterprise. AR
fists must learn to look out for them
selves the same as the other people in
the world. We ought to have a rep
lresentative or two in congress. Only
way to do is to get together, get better
acquainted with each other, make the
public appreciate art thru telling more
iabout it. Co-operation-that' what we
Ineed. We artists have fought toe
long, each one alone.
Need an Art Building.
zone of our greatest requirements
here in New York" he continued, sis
a decent place in which to hold exhi-
billions. There really isn't any ade-
quate space at present. We ought to
have one whole building devoted tc
that pulpOSS-d Ou44O1IS Will man
galleries for successive exhibitions
and smaller galleries for concurrent
lesser shows with freight elevators fol-
receipt and discharge, special passen-
ger shafts, shipping rooms, directors
rooms for club meetings. and auditor.
iums. If all the art leagues and so
cieties here would cooperate in the
matter, they could get such a build,
ing"
AS for the poets, they too seem to
be recognizing the need for closer and
more militant organization. With
their present strength in numbers
they should be able to accomplish
much. 1t is estimated that there are
now at least 100000 poets in America
several of whom have recently riser
to fame Within the past few years
poetry societies have sprung up every
where. At the last dinner of the Poetry
Society of New York. 1000 poets at
| .1.1.- Il. = -. -. - !. -.