The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1928-07-12
The Fifth of a Series {
By PAULINE SUING BLOOM


eere lover of art with an appreciation of its place
IN the cultural background of any city felt that
Spokane must not let its interest in art die re-
CARELESS of any malady which might change the
course of its life. She conceived the idea of an
art study club and invited group of people in
terested in the work to meet at her home in
April of 1922. Those present were Mrs. Will
Finch, Mrs. T. NJ. Hodgman, Mrs A. II. Ruedy.
Mrs. +. G. Fleming, Mrs. Bedford Brown, Mrs
W. V. Wolvin. Mrs. Jack Corbet Miss Nadine
Sims Mrs. w. II. Dubois and Miss Taft. Mrs.
Europe.
During the summer Miss Taft again invited
the group to meet at her summer home at Liber.
W Lake. At this meeting a regular organization
was formed and the following officers elected:
Miss Taft, presidents; Mrs. T. NJ Hodgman, vice
president; Mrs. Wesley Dubois. secretary. Miss
Nadine Sims, treasurer. Mrs. Turner Oliver
read the bylaws which were adopted at the meet
ing
When fall came there was the question of a
meeting place and Miss Fanny Lewis. then voca
uonal director of Culbertsons offered the use
OF her class room in the store. By this time the
class had grown to "a members The first ex
hlbit was held at the old museum, March 9Th to
l4th The artists exhibiting were Margaret
Avery. Mrs Jack Corbet, Mrs J. W. Dunninp
Mrs. w. II. Kellogg. Mrs. J. Newton Rogers
Miss Nadine Sims. Mrs. w. H. Wells, William /
Solby and Miss Katherine Taft
March 9th still stands out in the memory of
tne art study class for the first big social event
OF the organization took place at the home of
Mrs. b. l.. Gordon. 1t was large evening re-
ception with Mrs B. L. Gordon. and Mrs b G.
Atwater receiving. Mr.. J. C. Ralston gave
talk on the Lincoln Memorial in WASHINGTON n
u" which had just been completed.
The class sponsored the first annual exhibit
OF Northwest artists in the old museum June 4th
to 9th of the same year. Another INTERESTING
exhibit was made by Robert Logan of Paris. He
showed beautiful collection of original etchings
IN the Elizabethan room of the Davenport Hotel
At another time Mrs. Ben Kizer gave a de-
hghtful talk at the Davenport etchngs She
exhibited collection owned by Mrs w Ladd
and Miss Elliott of Portland The class with
the aid of George W Fuller succeeded in secur.
ing better lighting system for the museum
Mrs W. q. Ramage, Miss Ballou. Mrs. j. W.
Cunning and Miss Sutton of Spokane University
each in turn gave an interesting program as the
years work progressed and at the beginning of
the second year. when Mrs T. NJ Hodgman took
oifice as president by unanimous vote the
name OF the art study class was changed to
The Spokane Art Association" Before the
close OF the first year the organization lost Miss
Nadine Sims and the unexpired part of her term
as treasurer was filled by Mrs. R. j. Porterfield
Since that time the lovely Grace Campbell
Memorial museum has been acquired and the
organization is moving ahead quite as city art
association should do.
Miss Taft retains her interest and hopes to
give an exhibition of her pictures early in the
fall. She has some lovely pictures all originals,
having translated some of the most beautiful
sights of the west to canvas as well as rare
set of views of Colorado which will command
attention.
She was much interested in the recent art
exhibit given by Spokane artists and hopes that
each artist viii leave one picture hanging in the
museum so that the summer tourist will not find
bare walls when he comes looking for art.
All over the country there is a growing in
terest in drawing and painting, Miss Taft be.
lieves, "Why is it, do you suppose. that every
parent wants the child to take music lessons but