South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-17
Dudley Praises
Art Exhibit i'm
nterUie70 Here
Chicago Painter Attends Dis
play Here-Doors Open
at "Y" Today.

In an interview Frank V. Dudley,
painter OF the dunes. who arrived
in the city yesterday afternoon, said
that the art exhibit given by the
Department. OF Art of the Progress
club and which may close at 10
o'clock tonight, is in point of num-
bers the largest and in regard to
quality the most representative of
any exhibit of Chicago artists that
have ever gone out Of that city. Il
vas said last night that the exhibit
may continue Monday and Tuesday.
Many exhibits have been sent out
from Chicago, but the problem of
transportation and responsibility,
which always plays such an import
ant part in exhibition arrangements,
has never been so satisfactorily met
before; in fact, this problem has
heretofore prohibited the sending Of
the larger and more important pic
lures. and very rarely have pictures
under glass been sent out OF the
city. The fact that arrangements
for the present exhibit have been
such as to permit sending pictures
under glass has enabled the South
Bend public to have some of the
very best work of each artist. for
pictures painted to go under glass
are usually keyed higher than those
to be left without glass. An artist
does not like to show without glass
a picture painted to go under glass
for the painting always suffers by
removal of the glass"
1--WE have never" continued Mr..
Dudley, had an exhibition so beau
tifully installed, and we are de-
lighted to learn that the Progress
club has purchased the backgrounds
which IS an assurance of future ex-
hibitions in South Bend. The artists
are pleased with the interest of the
public as shown in attendance,
which up to Saturday night totaled
1921. This means the beginning Of
a new program and once started 1t
Will not stop"
Asked upon the position American
painters in the world of art. Mr..
Dudley said: Until 10 years ago
American art did not stand high in
the estimation of the American peo-
pie. For this the art dealers were
largely responsible. Enter a gallery
anywhere and seldom would one
find anything but European paint
ings. But about 10 years ago The
Friends Of American Art" was or
ganized in Chicago, and through
their membership fees had atailable
about $4,000 a year for the pur-
chase Of paintings by American
artists, and the result has been that
the Art Institute of Chicago is to-
day in possession Of the largest and
finest collection of American art in
this country. Similar organizations
have sprung into existence in other
cities, and today American art is
coming into its own. The landscape
artist Of America is acknowledged.
not only in this country, but abroad
as well, TO lead in the world today.
European artists and Connoisseurs
/ have re-discOvered America in find
/ ing the American landscape painter
so far ahead Of the European artist
in this field. Best sign Of all is the
awakening Of the American public.
/ The dealer in this country can no
{ longer exploit foreign landscape
/ painters, except the Old Masters.
And the great middle west is leading.
Chicago this winter has been more
active as an art center than New
YORK."