The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-21

One of the exhibitions which will
probably be brought here this winter
by the Topeka Art Guild is the Taos
exhibition. 1t comprises thirty can
vases painted by members of the
colony of artists located at Taos, New
Mexico.
These artists, among whom may be
mentined Victor Higgins, Bert Phil
lips, lumenschein, Ufer, and Har-
wood, are living at the Indian village
of Taos in the mountains of northern
New Mexico, far removed from the dis
fractions and artificialities of modern
civilization. Here they are endeaVor-
ing with much success, to create a dis
tinctly American school of art.
This artists society has been in
existence about twenty years. 1t was
founded by two artists who journeyed
into that remote land of brilliant color
and distinctly original Indian life and
became captivated by its novel beauty.
THE association has steadily grown
until it is now quite a pretentious COM
munity.
Below is quoted from the above
mentioned Museum News most in
teresting account of a visit to Taos
and it's interesting artists colony:
"A Little Journey to Taos, the Mecca
of American Artists"
By Mrs. Will K Jones'
Santa Fe still draws like a magnet
and it is hard to let go, but time
presses and everyone hears that in
sistent murmur, You go to Taos, no
body can afford to miss Taos so once
more making connections with the
faithful Buick, we bowl out along a
high glorious boulevard for fifteen
miles past cedar, pinon, sage brush,
Indian pueblos and Spanish villages;
the adobe houses all festooned with
red peppers, and the whole landscape
and surrounding mountains drenched,
flooded, saturated, that glorious Octo-
Der morning, with the sunlight that
seems nowhere else to have quite that
luminous shimmering quality that it
has in the southwest. Even the shad-
ows are luminous and vibrant.
"All at once a turn in the road and
bumpety bump kerchuck. Goodbye
boulevard! Arroyos now, great gashes
in nature that man has not repaired,
interesting, but trying to back and
nerves, to say nothing of axles and
springs.
80 quaint is the life that one sees
in the sleepy old villages, so pic
turesque the century old churches
here and there, so mysterious the way
side crosses gaunt and grim, that the
minds delight solaces the bodys dis
comfort.
Along the Rio Grande for many
miles, noble stream with splendid
vistas, then up and up beside the Taos
river we toll, ticklish and lengthy
climb, fock bestreWn, till at last on
the mesa with Taos a little farther on.
''WilI the artists be sociable? Whom
shall we approach first? Just how do
artists behave when, so to speak, in
corvocation assembled?
There's a tiny library at one cor
ner of the town square. and it soon
sas woman, that she lives in Kit Car
ing house for information of the town
and its celebrities. Incidentally she
dispenses tea in the afternoon and you
may be quite coy while asking peril
nent and-impertinent questions.
Dear Mrs Cheetham plays no IA
vorites; all of the artists are excel
lent painters; all are agreeable people.
You will enjoy meeting all and they
will welcome you cordially, However.
pressed a little closely, she does admit
that Mr.. Bert Phillips or Mr.. Blumen-
schein furnishes a natural starting
place, as both have lived in the town
so long they feel the responsibilities of
hosts to eager visitors.
Mr.. Phillips is found delightful in
himself, interesting. in his studio
equipment and a joy in displaying his
Mrs. Cheetham and wanted US to see
everybody, and be sure not to miss
'Blumey.'
He was pleased to tell us how to
reach various places, but in a town
where no street has name, and where
only one street, alley or lane is even
passably straight, directing becomes a
fine art. and following directions a
most difficult one. The approved
method is to take a stranger into the
road Sidewalks seemingly deemed I'M
necessary as a part of a towns equip
ment) then locate some object on the
landscape and begin to point from
that.
at usually takes five directions by
actual count to reach one destination.
But where there always is a warm
handClasp and a most hospitable well
come at home and studio. and the
many charms within are so graciousIy
displayed. one can afford a little more
time along the road for pleasant an
ticipations.
"Whether It was Mr.. Birninghams
amid his flaming cosmos nodding in
brilliant coloringS above his head; Mr..
| Ufer, boyishly eager to share with you
his delight in eleven just arrived baby
| Airedales, or Mr.. HARDWOOD lovingly
displaying with a connoisseur's dis
| elimination his worldwide gathered
| treaSurerS, or Mr. Blum enSchein sit
| ting beside a wonderful piece of
/ Louis Ounce furniture all were
charming in their hospitality, all
| showed US pictures that we came to
see, and all descanted instructively on
| their art, and made US feel we were
with very real alive up to date people
doing mighty vital brilliant work
mot for a moment must we forget
Victor Higgins and his charming wife
| daughter of Sheldon Parsons) pilot
ing us around with lamps and flash
lights. from their home to the studio,
and taking us thru the streets truly
Stygian darkness. in their auto whose
Itonneau we showed with several can
vases on which Mr.. Higgins had been
working up the canyon in the after
noon.
We have seen Taos in all her pic
turesque setting. we have revealed in
her stately Indians and their unique
costumes, have Toasted on the plIrDle