The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-16
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Help OF Art
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A recent number of the Boston
Transcript contains the account of an
exhibition of decorative water colors
by Mrs. Pauline Haynes Shirer at Har-
low and Howlands Galleries. 2s2
Dartmouth street, Boston.
The article says-s'Mrs. Shirer's
work has a modern tendency and is
daring in color. She uses abstract
forms. often being influenced by the
Far East in choice of subject and ap-
plication."
Much of the work would be ef-
feetive used in an enlarged form as
stage settings or wall decorations"
A Persian motif exhibited by Mrs
Shirer at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art New York was bought by Cheney
Brothers, celebrated American silk
manufacturers, as design for silk
fabrics Many of the designs in the
exhibition at Harlow and Howland's
it is said would be quite suitable for
Mrs. Shirer, who was Miss Pauline
Haynes of Topeka, before her mar
riage, studied art at the New Y rk
School of Applied Design with Frank
AIvah Parsons. Her husband, Hamp-
ton Shirer. is also an artist, and a
member of a prominent Topeka fam
lily.
Since the close of exhibition of
the paintings of Nicholas Roerich,
celebrated Russian painter of the mod
ern school. at the Kansas City Art
Institute last winter. the Art Institute
has purchased one of Roerichs
paintings for $1,000. The picture is
entitled 1.-The Lord of Night
Topekans who have seen the picture
describe it as a mass of yellowisn
brown curtains drawn back to admit
a flood of blush light. In the open
y Cot &c l. Ill
human figure, attired in a robe of
color similar to that of the curtains
The figures face is turned away from
tho beholder.
scription-'I will remind you that a
new teacher is coming and a new
world appearing"
A. Stirling Calder of New York has
been commissioned to execute a 12S
foot frieze, across the front of the
new Missouri state capitol building at
Jefferson City. The subject will be
the history of Missouri. 1t will be
portrayed in has relief. The figures
of from six inches to one foot. 1t is
estimated that it will take three years
to complete the work.
BY the way, how many Topeka peo-
pie realize that the pediments of the
north and south porches of the Kan
SaS state capitol are eventually to be
decorated with relief sculptures De-
signs have already been drawn and
projecting stones in the pedinents
are those from which the highest re-
lief figures are to be carved.
The American Magazine of Art for
May contains short article entitled
The Word, Art"
This article dwells on the common
abuse and misuse of the word art"
k-s- -
between the vulgar definition of the
word, and its real meaning and pur-
port. The average person includes
in the term art any picture or
statue or design, or the making of
any picture statue or design irrespec-
tive of its merit. Also we constantly
hear of the Art Department" of a
large general merchandise emporium
The place where newspaper pictures
and cuts are made is often called the
Art Department" : Curtains of some
new, strange, or bizarre design or
style, are termed Art Curtains Fur
niture OF unusual or unconventional
design is called cart Furniture and
SO on ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
Nothing has the right to have the
term art applied to it which does not
combine beauty, Imagination, original
lty, and skill in its production. Even
most exquisite technical skill expended
in the production of something de-
signed by another, is not art unless |
that skill gives some new and beauti- |
full Interpretation to the original
The to-engraver, for instance |
who makes as clear and as faithful a |
copy of another mans wash drawing |
as the conscientiously performed rou-
tine operations of his craft will per
NIT, is only an engraver. But on the
other hand if he feels the beauty of |
the picture he is reproducing, is in |
sympathy with the artist, or knows |
that by careful and judicious tooling
of the plate, he can give the finished
work a snap and beauty that the au-
thor of the original did not anticipate |
why then think we can safely pro
nounce him an artist. He has in |
Jected part of himself into the work |
a person who produces an original !
design is not necessarily an artist /
A design must have both beauty and |
propr1ety in order to be classed as art /
Art is that quality in painting
drawing, sculpture. music or acting /
which appeals to the finer and nobler /
side of our nature, and by so doing /
lifts US to a higher and happier plane |
of being. Hence art is an absolute
essential to the welfare of civilized |
peoples. The utter lack of apprecia- |
ton of this fact and the erroneous
belief that art is the manufacturing
OF pictures statuary and ornaments
so called, IS the reason why SO many
men of philanthropic tendencies but /
Top sided education, fail to see a Iegi-
Innate appeal to their help, in move
ments for the fostering of artistic
culture.
R. R. COOK is REELECTED |