Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-06

Y ork art circles, especially as 1t
the artistic temperament feels the
need of a strategic retreat from the
city. During the winter, Rev York
is a great little inspiration to the
creative faculties. 1t Is an exciting
stimulant which constantly gener-
ates ideas and prods personal am
bition into action. But In the
spring the drug loses its power.
producing nothing but fatigue in
the patient. 1t is then that the
creative artist begins to resent the
fierce glare of the streets, the inces-
SAINT thunder OF the elevated, the
raucous screech of unending traf-
fic, the dust and smoke OF tho fac
tories, the stale atmosphere of the
crowds. His work suffers, and so
does his health. He feels that he
must get away but with slim
bank account this 10 easier conter11-
plated than done.
"The American writer or painter
or composer or sculptor who Is
Young, who has made little money,
but who vet has given distinctive
promise and shown unplumbed pc.
tentialities has but few resources
says one who is we'll acquainted
with the problem. HE may secure
a. patron, but 1t is unlikely In a
country where earning capacity ~
admired vastly more than creative
ability. He may leave the country,
but he Is liable to die OF starvation
in a foreign country or pass all OF
his days struggling to pay his bills.'
Even Mrs. Glare Sheridan, the
English sculptor, whose diaries al
least have received a cordial well
come, finds the world hostile to-
ward the artistic temperament in
the spring. II cannot live in
America" she complained recently.
II must have serenity. / would not
live in England; ! have too many
relatives there. l could live IN
italy. but there Is no money. Or
in Russia, but there is no food:
To the creative artist who finds
himself or herself in a dilemma oil
this kind, the art retreat offers an
Interesting solution. Nothing could
be more satisfactory than the Mac
Dowell colony, for example. IT Is
in no sense a philanthropic enter
prise for impecunious artists, but
| II offers at absurdly low rates pre-
cisely what the struggling writer or
composer or painter needs--a place
where he can work at top speed.
with the necessary fresh air, SOUND
sleep and uninterrupted days. There
is serenity without boredom; Tor
after working hours he comes In
contact with a number or fellow
workers just as earnestly artistic as
he.
The small sums paid by the art
lists for sleeping quarters, food,
studios and other comforts repre-
sent only a fraction OF the upkeep
Of the colony. II draws its CHIEF
support from three other sources:
From the annual dues of the Mac
Dowell association, which range
from IS to 500 year; from con-
tributions to the general fund by
private individuals, the proceeds OF
Mrs. Edward MacDowelfs annual
recitaIs coming under this head.
and the yearly interest on the en-
dowment fund, which is-unfort-
unately--small and somewhat
cramping to the growth of the en-
terprise.
Memorial to Composer.
The colony is q memorial to Ed
ward MacDowell. the composer,
who retired to the picturesque old
farm at Peterborough in 1895.
There in the woods" we are told,
"he built for himself log cabin,
and in that cabin. which still
stands, shutting out the whole
world, he did the larger part of his
ablest work. 1t was his hope that
other workers in the arts. not nee
essarily musical composers. might
enjoy the same privileges Of quie-
tude and peace, and 1t is the real
ization Of that hope that meets the
eye of the visitor today.
"a score Of studios, beautifully
built. each one with Its fireplace
for chilly days, are scattered over
q tract of land that Is much larger
now than the original farm. Each
studio Is an oasis in itself, hidden
from the others. masked by green
woodland from neighbors. The
worker sees nothing but the sky
overhead and the varying emerald
of trees on all sides. No sounds
reach him but the animated argu.
ments of birds and the winds in the
strawberries.
There is central building
known as Colony hall from which
"a w-l- Ax.rA s-Nxa Al n Iva