Evening star., 1924-06-02
Urges Art Appreciation.
Writer Declares Study of Beauty
Will Remedy Unrest.
I he Editor nf The Star.

To the Editor OF The Star:
The patrons of the arts who as
sembled In Washington recently in
attendance upon the sessions Of the
American Federation of Arts sent a
wise message through the land when
they upheld an appreciation Of art as
the best investment open to mo, tai
man. In their discussions 1t was ex-
planned that much Of the restlessness,
the seeking after sensation and the
lawlessness Of the present day spring
In no small measure from the i'm
pulsive efforts of individuals TO escape
the humdrumness of everyday life.
Mr.. Otto III. Kahn, the New York
financier. who developed this thought
1t seems to the writer, that art can
lead these impulses into fruitful
channels, remarking that rich and
poor alike must be taken out of their
give their souls an airing.
The statement that art is not a
thing to be set apart for the enjoy
ment of an opulent few only, but that
1t is vital, daily part of the lives of
all the people, as contended by Mr..
Kahn. surely opens UP an interesting
vista, wherein is glimpsed the effort
to set up a love for the beautiful in
nature, In painting and in sculpture
as an antfdote for the degradations
or an age SO generally held to be
decadent in the direction of the good
and the noble, particularly in music
and painting.
The writer does not recall having
ever seen listed among the many
panaceas urged upon the world as q
corrective for its present evils by
political leaders and statesmen the
study of art; but 1t is certainly true
that the normal man who stands be-
fore one of the masterpieces of paint
ing or sculpture, contemplative of it's
beauty and of the skill of it's de-
signer. is not the type of human be-
ing who will go forth and lose ball
ance and perspective, or seek to de-
stroy those things which are pre-
served under government in harmony
and order. and an appreciation of art
to this extent can, indeed, interpose
an obstacle to the evils OF the time.
There was time in America-and
not so long ago. either-when interest
In art upon the part Of the so-called
plain people" was decried; it was
held to be above the masses of our
citizens; indeed. it was in numerous
instances thought to be entirely for
eign to their aspirations and ideals
Happily, this view has undergone a
radical change. due in part to the in
fuence of such organizations as the
American Federation Of Arts. Stead
lily there has been a growing number
of students and of art schools in
which to instruct them, while there
have come into being in our daily
press features involving the general
discussion of art and the work of
artists. This is noticeable here in
the District through The Evening
Star, the contributions to the art col
umns of which from Miss Leila Mech-
lin, secretary of the federation, are
Of conspicuous interest and add much
to the knowledge of the citizens of
this city upon the subject.
The writer has noted the increas-
ing interest displayed upon the part
of visitors to the National Gallery of
Art, Smithsonian Institution, in the
works of art on exhibition there, as
supporting the view of the American
Federation of Arts that art is a vital,
daily part Of the lives Of all the peo-
pie. This may be better realized
when 1t is understood that there are
frequently 1900 people in this gallery
during day. Tourists and excur-
sionists make 1t stopping place for
the purpose of inspection.
One may hear there the casual visi-
tor declaim upon the merits of the
beautiful Lady Rodney Gains
borough's masterful canvas in blue,
the center OF the McFadden collection,
Blue Boy" his world famous colorful
portrait, brought to America in 1922,
although painted in the same year as
the Lady Rodney" about 1910. both
being Gainsborough's challenge to the
school of that time, who held that a
picture in which blue was the domi-
mating note could not be successful
One cannot, in fact, remain long in
this gallery without becoming aware
of better and growing knowledge
among people of art.
Let this appreciation Of art be fos-
tered by. our. government and by the
patrons of art in our country TO the
end that 1t may, indeed, in harmony
with the views of the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Arts, become softening
medium whereby rich and poor alike
may be taken out of their surround
ing from time to time to give their
souls an airing"
WILLIAM L. QUAD.