Evening star., 1924-01-28

! measure has the support of the
! american Federation OF Arts and OF
| the Association of American Art Di-
rectors. Mr.. Page is chairman Of a
! committee Of the American Fedora
! tion Of Arts, and the committee has
been at work on the project for two
| or three years, with the active en-
| couragement of the late President
| Harding. who two years ago promised
| his consideration and Endorsement
when the plan was crystalliZcd.
The purpose of the department of
fine arts" as stated in the bill. shall
| be to increase knowledge of the arts
| through official channels and to de-
velop taste for art, one of the
greatest factors in the march of hu-
man progress. The secretary of fine
arts shall have charge and control of
the National Gallery of Art, includ-
| ing the Freer gallery, and all other
! galleries of art which may hereafter
come under its control, wherever
situated. and he shall be a member
| and chairman ex-officio of the COM
! mission of fine arts"
| Representative Tinkham says that
while all present incumbents Of
official position may not welcome a
reorganization which might super
sede their positions, aside from per
sonal considerations, the breadth and
| Importance of the new department
are readily understood, especially in
the light of the needs OF the general
| public.
x !; y :.
| Mrs. Joseph Pennell (wife of the
famous etcher) in the Christian
Science Monitor. says:
ITO know what is being done abroad
| for which the aid of the consular
service is to be secured is very de-
sira BILE. But still more drsirab Bile is to
kno" that Americans are doing some
thing themselves. as it is high time
they should. Infinitely more es-
sential, If American artists are to
! compete successfully with foreign
artists. is II TO establish the much
needed national school, in which
artists and craftsmen would be
trained technically as seriously as
students are trained in the law and
! other professions"
+ y x ;,
In circular (No. 27) issued by the
federal bureau of education, Mr..
/ George C. Nimmons writes:
"Of what practical use is art train
ing to student when he goes out
INTO the world to make his way?
In business, whether selecting stock
for trade or directing the manufac-
! ture of an object of commerce, his
high standard of taste and his
/ kno"ledge OF principles of good de-
is n
Wen known fact that the sale of in
Vulnerable articles Is dependent to an
important degree upon their at
! tractive appearance"
The circular further urges the inn
portance of art knowledge in the
nome ana In making home surround
! ings attractive.
* :: x
| Many collector" of art faucjes ha
mas coihprehended the art idea when
he mas drawn check TO paw for a
| Millet or Meissonier, Just as some
| collectors Of first editions" of books
! pride themselves upon their know
ledge of literature because they nos
| sess perhaps the only copy Of some
| out-of-p print work.
No love OF the beautiful can give
I the beholder real appreciation with
| out knowledge, and knowledge is MOI
! gained by wandering unguidad
: through a gallery. however nuch /,
( may be so supplemented when uron-
/ erly educated. Art is not limited 70
! painting and sculpture but its Other
name Is refinement, taste culture
/ appreciation Of whatever is beauti-
! fuI-in music. form or actions. I,
/ is the antlthesfS of the ugly and
/ barbarous. IT is the apex OF ciyiIi-
Iation. Shall not America. through
official channels, cultivate such ed'I-
| cation?
/ Miss Helen \. Plumb. executive sec
/ retary Of the Society OF Arts and
! Crafts of Detroit. says:
industry is in great need of artists
as designers. Machine processes have
/ come to stay. There Is nc
reason why the machine should not
cut pattern that is beautiful lust
as quickly and with as little expense
az IL does one that Is ugly. Once
the design is made the process costs
no more"
If any one doubts the need OF art
in the crafts of America, a glance al
the marvels Of beautiful Europear
! railroad posters exhibited in the
! Congressional Library. in contrast
with American printing. will answer
! his skepticism.
Copyright. 1924. by Paul V ColIins)