The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-02

brain capacity, the Aztec, the Magyar
and the Inca peoples, still in the stone
age as far as tools and weapons are
concerned, were far ahead of Eu-
ropeans of the bronze age, or even
those of the early iron age. And that
even the plains Indians, tho clothed in
the skins of animals, had an instinct
for refinement and beauty far above
that of the savage peoples of other
parts of the earth.
One of the great aims of Mr.. Hewett
and his associates, is to revive and
perpetuate in the Indians their Pc
culiar artistic characteristics, and their
original modes of expressing the same.
Indian art and culture is threatened
with destruction by contact with some
of the worst elements of Caucasian
civilization. Indeed this little band of
workers aims to do more than pre-
serve. It is endeavoring to develop
aboriginal art into something higher
and fuller than it has been so that
it may be a power in the world, and
so make 8. valuable contribution to
the general culture of mankind.
They are teaching the Indian artist
to see and eliminate from his tech
nique those elements that are es-
sentially crude and savage, and to
emancipate his art from the trambnels
Of hide bound symbolism.
In the school at Santa Fe are several
w
the last two or three years, painted
some remarkable pictures depicting
tribal customs of the pueblo dwelling
Indians of the southwest. The work
of these boys marks a decidedly long
forward step, in the development of
the peculiar art of a primitive people.
1t is being watched with much inter-
est by intelligent artists, and by stu
dents of race development.
Mr. L. A. Gillette, in charge of the
fine arts department at the Kansas
Free Fair this year has an unusually
fine program mapped out, and num-
Der of interesting features already se-
cured despite the fact that he has so
far received few reports from individ-
ual exhibitors either IN or out of town.
Individual exhibitors and even
schools are almost always late in de-
claring their intentions, so the fact
that they have not done SO is no index
to small number of exhibits.
Nearly all of Topeka's artists have
been away from town this summer.
and few of them have yet returned.
Inasmuch as all of these persons are
our most enthusiastic boosters to the
cause of art, always help the Free Fair
exhibitions with all their might, and
are thoroly in harmony with this
years management, also inasmuch as
reports concerning the industry of
these people IN the various art col
onies of the Rocky Mountain and Pa
cific Coast regions are continuing to
filter in, the writer can confidently
predict that Kansas Free Fair art ex-
hibition this year will be the best ever.
The things that Mr.. Gillette has al
ready secured for US have been men
toned from time to time in this
column during the last two or three
months, but / think a reorganization
is entirely in order at this time.
First, there will be the American
Federation of Arts exhibit. This will
consist of two features. One of these
is collection of drawings, paintings
and designs by students of Pratt In
stitute, Brooklyn, N. Y; the Rhode
Island School of Design. Providence.
r. l.; the Boston Museum of Fine
Arts, and the Pennsylvania Museum
School of Industrial Art, Philadelphia.
| The other is a city planning exhibit
consisting of photographs, plans and
drawings of the best work done in
cities and towns all over the world.
| Second, there is an exhibition of
work from the Kansas City art insti-
| tute of Kansas City, Mo, made up of
I selections from The best work by stu
dents of that institution in all
branches of the arts.
Third, MIR. George NJ. Stone has
been engaged to give a critical and
explanatory talk on art in the Peo-