The Topeka state journal., 1922-05-27

parts of the United States. About
three-fourths of them were men,
Robert w. De Forest of New York
city. president of the American Fed
Grafton of arts was in charge of the
meeting. Among the various forms OK
art discussed during the four days
were Industrial art, commercial art
crafts. painting, sculpture and archi-
lecture. The relation of art to every
day life was also discussed.
There were many speakers of ma
tional and international prominence.
Most interesting of all were the
meeting. Among the speakers at that
time were E. w. B1ashfield, noted
mural painter, and publisher of a
widely used text book on mural art;
toned in this article Charles Ram
Kennedy, author of THE Servant in
the House." who talked on dramatic
art, and Royal CortissoZ, noted art
critic, who demonstrated the neces-
sity of artistic culture in the life of
The members of the Topeka Art
Guild are hoping for a more detailed
report of Mrs Whittemore's trip at
their May meeting, which is to be
held next week.
A modern sculptor of whom we
here in the western part of the United
States have heard little despite the
fact that he has been doing good
work for more than twenty years, is
Walter Seymour Allward of Toronto.
Canada.
AI1ward has been awarded a con-
tract by the Canadian Battlefields
Commission, to build on ''Hill 81" at
Ypres. Belgium. a stone and bronze
memorial which is to cost a million
dollars and will take several years to
complete. This memorial is to be
Canada's tribute to the thousands of
70
died in the ,Ypres Salient during the
World war.
Other important works by AIlward
are, the South African Memorial on
University avenue, Toronto, erected in
1907, which has drawn the praises of
competent critics the world over; the
Bell Memorial at Brantford, Canada
where Alexander Graham Bell, the
telephone inventor was born; and the
King Edward Memorial at Ottawa.
Walter Seymour Allward was born
in Toronto forty-six years ago. His
father was a carpenter, and none too
well endowed with the wherewitha1
to support his wife and seven grow
ing children. After a few years study
in the public schools during which
he made the most of his opportunities
young Allward started in to make his
own living, working first in a brick
yard and later taking up carpentry.
During his early teens he took a
cient Greeks and of Michael Angelo.
Tho he had nothing better than cheap
prints and plaster>casts to aid him in
his studies
inspirational insight into the work of
Rodin, he determined to become a
sculptor. His desires met with no en-
couragement from his family or his
friends, but he worked on despite all
disadvantages. A-litt1e later when q
statue of Governor Simcoe was to be
erected on Parliament Square. Toron-
to, ,Allward had the hardihood to sub
nit a model for the statue. Several
men of the awarding committee were
full of understanding and appreciated
his genius, 50 he was awarded the
commission.
This commission insured his sue.
cess. Since that time hes has had the
appreciation and support of compe-
tent art judges such as Earl Grey, re-
cent Governor General of Canada, and
others of like standing.
The design of the Ypres memorial
IS the result of dream that Allward
had one night during the most hone
less part of the great war;
To describe in detail it's design, the
dream that inspired it. and the SYM
bolic meaning of the work, would take
more than the time-and space at nv
command. All of that can be read in
the April number of the International
Studio, which also contains a cut of
the model. 1t will suffice to saw
here that the memorial will be 225
feet long and 13e feet high, and its
location will be such that it will be
conspicuously visible for miles in
every direction.
Owing to the fact that the last
Tuesday in May falls on Memorial dav-
the Topeka Art Guilds last meeting
of the season has been postponed un-
til Thursday evening. June l. The
meeting place will be the Hodge
Studio, ia Kansas avenue
AS this is the meeting at which Of
ficers are elected for the ensuing year.
and also because Mrs. L. D. White
more will deliver at that time. a full
report of her trip to Washington and
other eastern cities q fIIII at+apdo.on