The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-10-27

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E2FAA the most interesting chap
~ tiers of Mary @. Burnets new
EGaaA book, art and Artists of
&SMR Indiana" which was recent
tSs~SSt ly reviewed in The Pal
ladium. Mrs. Burnet, a
Hosier and resident of Indianapolis, in
tributed the first permanent record of
Indiana artists and the progress of
art in this state.
The art of Indiana, which for years
was very meager, now promises in the
future to rank with that of the best.
A New York critic recently said: THE
art and artists of Indiana lead all
other states in number and quality
of production"
Introducing the chapter on THE
Richmond Movement. Mrs. Burnet
says The story OF origin and
grown of municipal art gallery in a
Middle West city with a population OF
$4,000 is also the story of the develop.
ment of the artistic sense of people
touched by beauty that has reached
point of appreciation that encourages
creation in it's highest sense" She
calls the local movement an accom-.
plishment which should be embodied
in the curriculum of the entire educa
tional system of the state"
Recounts Organization.
The love for art and the possible
ties of local development" the author
writes, existed in an unusual sense
in the fertile imagination of Ella
Bond Johnston, who with the assist
ance of other earnest persons, estab
lished within their midst an institu
ton whose roots have run deep into
the fiber and consciousness Of their
people,
Reminiscent of the early growth OF
Z the association here is its history
given by the author Organized in the
year 1897 by few citizens interested
( in art, the association had Mrs. Ella
Bond Johnston for its president for Il
E years when she turned it over to Mrs
Paul Comstock because of art work il
. wider fields which was taking hel
time.
THE Hon. William Dudley Foulke
Z has been vicepresident since 1898
Mrs. Burnet writes land he was presi
dent the first year. Strickland Gill
Z liam was the first secretary and serv
l. >. DOdTO
3 of directors was composed of the SUP
+ erintendent of the public schools, the
president of the school board, the sup
erv1sor OF drawing, two school teach
ers, two men of the local press, one
lawyer, one merchant, one college pro
lessor, four artists. several clubwomen
and the towns most distinguished citi
zen, thus soliciting the vital interest
2 nf N ~ 81, -
ception of the movement; and since
the beginning the exhibitions have
been open free to all as often as they
cared to come.
Start Permanent Collection
The expenses have been met by an
nual dues from the association mem
bers of so cents and S. annually from
sustaining members. In 1905 the asso
citation became an incorporate body
with the purpose in view of acquiring
by purchase and donations a permen
ent collection of works of art, of Civ
ing appreciative encouragement to al
local artists and of holding exhibi
tons of work of art by American al
lists and craftsmen.
Beginning with 1908, the city coun
Gil made an annual appropriation o
SluO IoI the regular eApellSe Iunu
When a new state law governing Gil
les made such an expenditure of pull
lie funds unlawful, the city attorne
pleaded at some length that the wide
spread educational benefit derive
from these exhibitions made the ma
ter above the law, and the counc
agreed unanimously to appropriat
the usual amount from the publ
treasury for that year.
THE exhibitions were first held i
a central building of the public schoc
which was furnished gratis by tn
school board. The exhibitions too