The Washington times., 1922-06-18

- u From farm to fame! A
noted Washington sculptor. who
attained success without study
abroad-that is the story of Uric
9. J. Dunbar. recognized by many
important commissions besides the
Shepherd Monument In front Of
the Municipal building.
"Michelangelo is my ideal" so
Mr.. Dunbar tells us. but I don't
confine myself to any one school.
What look for is the best, the
truest Interpretation of nature. OF
course. think the Greek school
was the greatest"
"a, How did you start to be q sculp-
tori" asks Victor Flambeau.
Mr.. Dunbar. who Is just now en-
gagged upon bust Of the late John
r. Mclean. paused reflectively in
his work. The new portrait is a
splendid likeness, and the sculptor
fs aided In executing It by a death
mask which he made Of Mr.. Nc
Lean, and. Of course, by available
pictures, as well as personal ac-
quaintance.
The bust Of DR.. Cleveland Able
IL another recent production, soon
to be exhibited at the Cosmos Club,
Of which DR.. Abbe was the
founder. -..- %
LIVED ON A FARM.
II didn't start to be q sculptor"
the artist confessed. IT was nine
teen, and bad always lived on a
farm. worked in the village, done
quarrying and other things. went
to see my brother who was a sculp-
tor In Toronto. spent three
weeks looking for q job in a de-
parnnent store, and couldn't find
anything.
MY brother said. You better 60
back to the farm tomorrow
II asked him II I might make a
drawing Of one Of the heads he
was doing, and he made a few
sketches to show me how. I turn.
ed the mask around after he had
gone, and drew my picture
had never drawn before.
When my brother came back
he said. Who's been here7'
''I said. No one.'
He said. Did you make that
drawing7'
1T told him I did. He didn't
say anything that night, but the
next morning he told me to put on
my hat and 60 down town with
him. You are not going home to
the FARM he said. You are GO
ing to stay right here and study
art
Just how young Uric Dunbar
looked IN those days we may see
by giancins at group Of old pic.
lures which he treasures. He was
. sturdy chap. rather tall. with
dreamy expression on his open
face. a slight mustache, q derby
hat. and cane. A slow. thought.
ftal. country air enveloped him. He
was q charming fellow, but didn't
know Il.
Who can guess how good mer-
chant was lost on the day that Dun
bar entered the Toronto Art School,
: the government school Of artl It
n easy to prove. however, that
! sculptor Of real genius was dis. !
covered, and one hundred per cent
Amsrican--possibly the only In
stance when notable sculptor has
NOT studied in italy.
D. 3. UNAPPRECIATIvE.
v'or America Is proverbiaily un-
appreciative of sculpture. and Il 10
Gar harder ana longer climb to
success in sculpture with us than
possibly anywhere else in the
world. In Mexico. for example,
sculpture is highly popular. and
conn,issiops are readily obtained.
In South America, the love for art
n 70 deep that In many countries,
chile In particular. the govern
ment creates travel scholarships
in Europe for promising young
artists who are sent to France or
italy at the expense Of the State.
Some day In America this win
be the custom. too, Of this Victor
Flambssu - very. very sure, for
Z congressmsn has written him
personal letter, asking the help
Of The Times for Q certain young
painter, q washington boyi
And IN America IL 10 not % hard
70 succeed IN painting. for the
pssponse 10 color q evidently
much reader than It is 70 form.
cvior Il sensuous. and from 4
Snteilectuai. 10 Il seems. That
whioh demands thought and
study 10 - Appreciated 4 isss
vslcoms 70 our lazy minds.
But Dunbar surnsountsd these
sostaclss. and with high credit. (
too. Cor IN his sculpture there d