The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-05

1
center of the new drop curtain for the
| Grand theater.
This painting is the work Of Hugo
J. Miller, formerly resident of Topeka
but now living in Milwaukee, Wis
consin. Miller is a fresco and scene
painter, and an artist of considerable
ability.
While on a recent visit to Topeka
1 he was prevailed upon to do the art
work on the new curtain. The work
| had to be done under difficulties
| which made it exceedingly hard for
| the artist to get a proper conception
| of the effect of his operations. He
/ was obliged to lay the canvas on the
floor of the stage and to literally
stand on his work as he executed it.
There was no opportunity to get off at
a distance and see the general effect
| of what he was doing.
| Consequently. if members of the
| Grand's audiences this winter see lit
/ tie faults of form or value, they
should take into consideration the
above mentioned facts, and so make
1 just allowances
Last week I mentioned a French
authority's assertion that~there are
10000 professional artists in Paris at
| the present time, and also his pessi-
mfstic conclusions from past history
and present conditions, as to the pro-
portion of these $4,000 and indeed OF
the thousands and thousands in other
achieve even temporary success, to
say nothing OF lasting fame.
1 suggested that it is not those ar
lists who are deliberately trying to be-
come famous or wealthy, that will
achieve success, or ought TO do so,
but those who love art and feel an
inward impulse to paint, and strive
to be true to their Conscientious con-
victions.
Another important necessity to the
life OF art, and certainly the most i'm
portant to the success of artists, is the
growth of an art atmosphere thruout
the world.
That such an atmosphere is steadily
increasing in a most gratifying man
ner turnout the United States, is GER
tainly proved by the following Statis-
tics published in the American Art
Manual, concerning visitors to Amer
lean art museums and galleries.
More than 100000 persons visited
the Chicago Museum in 1920. More
than 500, 900 visited the Metropolitan
Museum, New York, and $1,000 the
Central Museum in Brooklyn, in the
same year. The Cleveland Museum
and the Boston Museum each had
about 100000 visitors in 1920
The Albright Gallery at Buffalo, N.
Y, had nearly $4,000 visitors, the Gin
cinnati Museum, the Rochester Mu-
scum, and the Milwaukee Art Insti-
tute had $4,000, 10000 and $4,000
respectively, during 1920.
These visitors were not mere curios-
ity seekers crowding to have "a look
at some world famous picture, such as
''The Blue Boy" but a portion of a
vast throng which is interested in pic
lures, and loves beauty.
Again to quote the art writer of the
New York Times, "A survey of the
statistics, quite sufficiently stirs the
imagination, indicating nothing less
than an overwhelming growth of in
tereSt in matters of art, turnout a
such matters were for the small. and
especially educated minority"
Everywhere, east, west, north and
south; we find a constant and sue
cessful effort being put forth to create
an artistic atmosphere in the mind
and heart of the average person. Al
most every little town has its art
club. society or guild, under whose
auspices, lectures and exhibitions are
held. The American Federation of
Art, with which most of the above
mentioned organizations are affiliated
keeps a number of exhibitions of the
best American Art constantly on tour
of the country, and sends written lee
the Federation's affiliated associations,
upon request.
The extension course of the Chicago
Art Institute is also doing a great
work by sending distinguished menu
bers of its superb faculty, on lecture
tours thruout the country.
Fellowship in Art''~is the title of
Blashfield at the annual dinner of the
American Federation of Art in Wash
ington, D. c., this year.
The address is published in full in
the August number Of the American
Magazine of Art. It has q strong
message for all artists
It pleads for harmony between GER
tain divergent schools of art. in the
interest of arts future. It warns
against the often vicious critical at
have arrived" whose work the world
has approved because they have adj
hered to safe and sane methods in
the exercise of their talent, and have
been guided by principles, long uni
versa1fy adjudged to be correct.
1t begs for patience with modes and
methods other than your own, and
points that criticism of the so-called
soon as the critic is admitted into the
circle of the Academies"
At the same time it warns those
who are among the acknowledged"
and method in work of the rising gen.
Grafton, simply because 1t is new and
different. The older men should keep
their minds young, and accept all of
the good that the younger men have
to offer.
In the southern part of Rock Creek
cemetery, Washington, D. c., stands
the Adams memorial by Augustus
Saint Gaudens, pronounced by the
highly cultured Thomas Nelson Page
to be the most beautiful piece of
bronze sculpture in the world. Il was
designed many years ago at the order |
of Henry Adams OF Washington as a |
memorial to .4fs deceased wife I'll
the writer's memory serves him right !
Git is a long time since he saw the
statue) it is a figure of q woman
slightly larger than~Iife size, seated
on a stone bench, with a shawl or veil
or some other drapery thrown over
her head and partly concealing her
features.