The Washington times., 1922-06-18
BY VICTOR FLAMBEAU.


There is no mannerism, no affec-
tion, no artificial classic. as was
true Of some of our earlier Ameri-
can sculptors who studied long
In Rome. Uric Dunbar is more
typically Greek in his creations,
II that can be said of something
truly American, as his work un.
doubtedly is.
His latest and perhaps most
pleasing composition is Of
musician, a half.length figure. bent
in rapture over his instrument,
while certain rythm pervades the
entire study. So profound is this
sense Of music in the clay model
that a musical friend. who saw the
work at Dunbar's studio. insists
that smaller copies in bronze must
be made for distribution among
music lovers. who win be sure to
appreciate It.
A WASHINGTON CELLIST.
The subject Of this beautiful
sketch is Alden Finckel, a young
Washington cellist. only nineteen,
who recently gave his first concert
here at the Playhouse In April.
Finckel. who comes of family of
musicians, was a pupil Of Ernest
Lent of Washington, later going to
Boston for study under Alvin
Schroeder, first cellist Of the Bos-
ton Symphony Orcestra.
Alden Finckel's concert here net
ted him enough to purchased a
first-class cello. and on his way
back to Boston he stopped over in
New York to give a drawing room
recital in a prominent New York
home. . AS his father played the
viola In a Brussels orchestra.
under Eugene Ysaye, and his
mother was a celebrated pianist,
he comes naturally by the musical
talent which makes him such a
perfect type for Dunbar's new i'm
provisation, the first time. perhaps,
that this theme has been attempted
in sculpture. The portrait is to
be completed In bronze.
A charming head Of Mrs. John
Howard Paine is another attrac-.
tive recent work, q pleasing and
piquant young face.
But Mr.. Dunbar's great work at
present is the composition for an
important monument Of DIR. Doug.
las Houghton, the explorer who
opened the upper peninsula of
Michigan. The new statue Is in.
, tended for the city Of Houghton,
Mich, which the pioneer did SO
much to develop by his discovery
of copper there and iron ore at
Marquette, Mich. ..s.
PIONEER WAS DROWNED.
The sculptor has represented his
hero In the field. in scout costume.
at the instant when he finds crys--
tails In the rock he has broken
away. and as he glimpses the pos
sibilities Of his discovery--a dra-
matte moment. Houghton's unfor.
tunate fate was 70 drown In the
river there. about 1s4o, after he had
accomplished his mission by per-
suading the State leeislature to de-
velop the region.
All this success Of Dunbar's has
not been attained at q bound. In
deed. as the visitor looks about
his studio at 1917 II street north
west. and studies the variety Of
subjects in plaster models about
the walls. he 10 convinced that an
almost equal variety Of moods
and means have marked the
sculptor,s progress. since the day,
some forty years ago. when his
brother Frederick took him to
the Government Art School in
Toronto. IA
The term was nearly over, but
nine weeks remained. yet In that
short time the boy did so well
that at the end Of the course he
had two drawings IN the sxhibi.
tion OF over 800 pieces by students
who had been there not less than
two years. and he took second
prize out Of the bunch!
THREE YEARS SCHOOLING.
Then he started In to help mis-
brother in cutting marble busts.
The first one he made was of
Sir John A. Macdonald, prsfnier
OF canads At that timee Then he
made two m6ye. and ON the first
one his brother took q week to
finish II; on the second. only two
days, and the third one he fin
ished himself. II was OF the
Bishop OF saint James cathedrai.
When Uric Dunbar had been with
his brother year. Frederick
told the boy thst hs>vculd sur
pass himself. q 4
"rhst wss practically an the
schooling I had" recalls Mr.. Dun