The Coconino sun., 1927-08-12

Believes Museum
Should Not Be A
Dept. of College
To the Editor Of The Sun.

To the Editor of The Sun.
Dear Sir: 1t has always been an
understood thing that science and art
are impractical, and yet business has
not been able to do without the sci
enlist, and where would the advertis-
ing man be today without the artist !?
And with this comforting thought
/ venture to put into words our
thoughts on the museum matter.
Flagstaff has at last an opportunity
to show the effete east that she has
taste and vision.
The establishment Of a museum of
science and art, as a cultural and edu-
cational center, should go far toward
the development of our little CITY,
This is our psychological moment" !"
Will we look far enough ahead to en-
vision the museum as living, grow
ing fact in the community, not only
as a place for the storage and exhi-
bition of archaeological material, but
for the encouragement of modern and
Indian art, so closely linked to the an
cient, and as a unique setting for the
exhibition Of modern paintings, whose
inspiration has been drawn from the
deserts and canyons and picturesque
native peoples of northern Arizona.
Surely a museum serving this three
fold purpose would WELD a far more
extensive educational and cultural in
fluence than dead storage place for
valuable material
The desirability Of the establish
ment of museum for the care of our
geological, geological and archeolog-
ical treasures is acknowledged by all;
but has the great educational value of
a continuity between the ancient and
modern native arts been thoroughly
considered?
Our opportunity for this dual devel-
opment is exceptional here, located as
we are close to the Hopi and Navajo
Indians whose people have instituted
the very arts which we are about to
go to so much pains to preserve to-.
day.
These peoples will soon have forgot
ten the secrets of their crafts, and
when they vanish our country will
have lost its only true native Ameri-
can art.
This is our chance to lend them a
hand, as the Santa Fe museum has
done for the Indians Of the Rio
Grande.
Encourage our Indians to produce
only the best, using the beautiful old
designs available in the museum,
where they would bring their finest
examples of modern Indian craftsman
ship for exhibition and sale, side by
side with the work of the ancient
peoples.
Now this museum should be built,
unit by unit, of native malpais rock
and rooted with stout spruce timbers,
somewhat after the pueblo style of
architecture, and placed high upon a
mesa top overlooking the city and
facing the great Peaks; surely this
would be appropriate to our magnifi-
cent setting here, and tribute to the
vision of our people.
This would be something TO build
up to, as the intellectual apex of the
town.
l see nothing in such a placement
to hinder its use and inspiration to the
young people Of our college and our
schools.
/ hereby propose that we make our
museum a unique asset to the town,
its college and schools, and not merely
a department of our normal college,
which in itself is something to be
proud of and can be expected to lead
in all matters Of intellectual good
taste.
/ feel that the town would be plac-
ing itself in a position of ridicule and
lose wonderful advertising oppor-
tunity should it place its long dreamed
of museum in situation overlooking
the unsightly outskirts Of its town,
while it ignored the natural command
ing situation on knob hill with its un-
obstructed view of San Francisco
Peaks.
MARY-RUSSELL F. COTTON.