Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-11-20
The North Window
BY LEILA MECHLIN

nj ING aTtlbIb OTcakId8I given at
Rauschers last Saturday President
Lewis of George Washington Uni
versity called attention to the inn
portance of not only placing pic
lures, fine reproductions of master
pieces of painting, in schoolrooms.
but making these rooms sufficiently
fine in themselves to create an art
tistic environment, which would
permanently influence the stude
lives.
Something has been done in this
city along these lines by the Public
School Art League, following the
lead of the School Art League Of
New York and the Public School
Art Society of Chicago. The last
named society has lately been rich
ly rewarded for Its efforts by a de-
cision OF the Board Of Education to
provide In every new school here
in every room and to set aside one
small room In each building as a
little art museum for the pupils
This action crowns 80 years Of ef-
fort on the part of the Public School
Art Society of Chicago. The little
museums are to be provided with
temporary exhibits by the Chicago
Art Institute and local associations.
SO inspiring is this action that the
Board of Directors of the American
Fede ration of Arts at a recent meet
ing determined to send notifica-
ton Of the school authorities
throughout the United States, urg-
ing at the same time that the ex-
ample Of the Chicago Board of Edu-
cation be widely followed. This ma
tional organization is putting forth
special effort at this time through
it's chapters in different parts of the
country to secure this end-a work
Of art in every schoolroom in the
land. 1t is this intimate acquaint-
ance with art during childhood which
creates that love of art in the hearts
of the people that in turn produces
an art-loving nation.
X r X
notable address at the artists break
fast. told of how in France the judg-
ment of the people was sought and
followed in matters of public art.
The reason that this can be safely
done is because the people of France
generation after gene ration-have
not only been taught to love art and
reverence 1t. but have been brought
in daily contact with works by the
and merit. 1t Is contact with art
to genuine appreciation. This con-
tact may be had through the medium
of the art museum, which Is rightly
a treasure house. conserving as well
as preserving, for the use of all,
supreme examples. To be most eff
fectlve, however. it must be found
also in the things around us-our
city streets. our public buildings. our
churches. our homes-most of all per-
h. hn In nd ft1f hn
in with which we are surrounded.
X x
There is evidently throughout our
land general awakening concern
ing the value of art to the people.
New art museums are springing up;
there is great demand for travelling
exhibitions. The American Federation
of Arts, which Is years ago demon
strated the feasibility of the circulat-
ing exhibit, has no less than 40 COL
lections on the road this year. and as
many more, perhaps, are sent out by
other organizations
At the recent annual meeting of the
Recreation Congress in Atlantic City
an entire session was given to a con-
sideration of art as means of recrea-
ton. At that congress Joseph Lee,
president of the Playground and Rec
reation Association Of America called
attention to the power Of art to stir
emotion and upbuild character. There
is a magic in certain shapes and GER
tain sounds" he said. "a magic that
does things to us, we don't know why,
but when we come to recognize it we
become alive
One Of the striking evidences of
better appreciation of the significance
Of art at this time here in America
is a closer association of the arts, a
breaking down of the boundaries
which for some years seemed almost
impossible. The craftsmen. the in
dustral designers, the painters and
sculptors are today working in close
association, and not only these. but
the musicians and the writer's.
An interesting piece Of co-opera-
ton between artists and musicians
which has lately come to attention is
the painting by the faculty and stu
dents of the Pennsylvania Museum
and School Of Industrial Art of a
drop-curtain for the Philadelphia
Orchestra, to be used in Philadelphia
at the concerts given there at the
Academy of Music. This curtain was
designed by Huger Elliott, principal
of the school, and has been described
as being similar to the scenes that
Bakst has done for the Russian
operas, with a hint OF the riotous
splendors Of 'IAfricaine.' of the
foliage of "Lakme." Mr.. Elliott him
self has styled the general scheme
vibration OF orange, violet and
green, in fluttering broken color"
When it was determined that a new
background for the orchestra should
be painted several well known artists
submitted sketches of designs, but
none answered Mr.. Stokowskrs re-
qufrements, which were for a curtain
Interpreting in a measure, through
color. musical sounds; not insistently,
but in such wise as to accord with
the orchestra's performances - in
other words, curtain which would
create sympathetic environment for
music.
That all art is aided or injured by
environment is something which COM
paratively few seem to understand
NO work or art is complete in itself
an isolated unit. The greatest master
piece OF painting will lose by being
Improperly shown. The most glorious
musical composition must lack some
of its charm If heard in hideous sur
roundfngs. Unfortunately, some of
the best music that we have the privi-
lege of listening to in this city has to
contend with most inartistic setting.
The Freer Gallery, with its beauti-
fully arranged exhibits, is a constant
reminder, as well as example, of the
way in which works Of art should
be shown, and the chamber music
concerts given in its well propor-
toned, finely designed little audi
torium last Spring were the more
lovely because Of the artistic setting
provided. Art is not thing apart,
but rather the golden thread which.
according to the intention Of the
Great Designer runs from end to end
Of the tapestry Of life.
X
In all this discussion OF art and
its appreciation the artist, the nro-