New-York tribune., 1922-09-17
Artists League
Finds Studios
Cloak for Vice
More Than 20 Per Cent Are
Used for Questionable
Purposes, Worse Than i'm
Paris, Says Julian Bowes
Owners Cupidity Blamed
Bona Eide Renters Refused
Leases, as the Vicious Ele-
ment Will Pay Better

An investigation into studio condi-
tions, conducted by the League Of New
York Artists, has brought forth facts
concerning their misuse which, accord
ing to Julian Bowes, secretary, immc-
diately will be laid before the District
Attorney.
More than 20 per cent of the studios
in Manhattan, Mr.. Bowes said the in
vestigation showed, are being occupied
by persons of questionable character
They are either dillentante or pseudo
artists who are glad to pay high rent
for the cloak the studio provides fol
licentious and free living, he said.
This condition, which is said to sur
pass here to-day those prevailing ir
the Latin quarter of Paris, is the di
rect result of profteering on the part
of landlords mad real estate men, &C.
cording to the leagues findings.
Real Artists Not Wanted
"Real estate agents are booming the
studio idea," said Mr.. Bowes," and
stressing the so-called "free life" of
artists to such an extent that bonafide
artists are denied renewals of leases
and are unable to obtain studio quar-
ters.
During the investigation made by
the rent committee members were fire.
quently informed by agents offering
studios Cor rent that "no questions
were asked"
The record of conditions was taken
Guiding Columbus Circle, Greenwich
Village and Fourteenth Street. Here
in studios built primarily for. artists,
not new and up-to-date apartment
buildings, but places old with the ira
dition of famous men who have gone
before, the committee found that q
majority of the occupants couldn't
possibly be artists enough to mix a
batch of paints.
In the Village, particularly. condi-
tions were found even worse from the
artists standpoint The studios there
are fast giving way to bankers and
brokers and persons of every profes-
sion except artist. Many Of these, Ii
was found, are being turned into a
one-day-a retreat, where the
owner finds diversion in off hours for
for himself and a select company of
friends. Here the revels run strong
and passersby throw up. their hands
in horror of the wicked artists"
Profession Driven to Street
Studio use by non members of the
profession has been growing hard
ship on the artist the last few years
whereas at this time, according to Mr.
Bowes, many of the best men in the
profession have been driven to the
street. Their only recourse is to pay
the landlord exaggerated increase in
rent or go to room where insufficient
light spells partial failure for his
work,
"The American artist as class is
an outstanding figure in the commu.
nifty" declared Mr.. Bowes, "and is
absolutely guiltless of the free life
charge Of the real estate man. The
fact that woman model can be al
lowed to pass to and from the studio
Of an artist w:tAcut casting any great
aspersion on his III her reputation has
been seized upon g,eedily by the com
mercially- minded real estate man K
flaunt in the face of loose-living people
The bait has worked beautifully, anc
the resulting condition is one which
the District Attorney will find worthy
of an immediate investigations"