The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1934-02-08
WEST VIRGINIA WORKS OF
ART ATTRACT ATTENTION
Artists Colony Is Located on
Highway so, Near Oakland


Charles Brooks Smith, National
capital correspondent for a string of
West Virginia newspapers, writing
from Washington, D. c., recently con-
tributed the following, which is of
more than passing interest to persons
residing in Garrett county, touching
as it does a community which is at
tractive and of surprising scenic
beauty within twenty minutes auto
mobile ride from Oakland.
Mr.. Smiths contribution follows:
There's an interesting collection of
art works on exhibition at the House
of the Seven Arts here, which is at
tracing much attention from connois-
seurs and customers who, in a major
ity of instances, are probably both.
They (these art works. were
MADE in West Virginia" this
fact makes it our story.
In pine forest atop a mountain in
West Virginia, is the artists colony
of Youghiogheny. 1t is on U. S. High
way so, few miles from Red House,
well known highway junction, which
is nine miles from Oakland, Nd. There
are painters, sculptors, writers and
musicians in the colony principally.
Most of them were known in artistic
circles of the Capital before they be-
came members Of the colony.
The main stimulus for starting it
was, to quote one of its members who
came down from the mountain top to
attend the exhibition at the House of
Seven Arts, ''to beat depression's
rap" Strange to relate, they devel-
oped source Of income, They found
a lot of talent and ambition, which
they never dreamed We're in chem
thar hills" AS a matter of fact, in
that region there are many fine fam
lilies, well-to-do. They welcomed the
artists as an opportunity for cultural
development and artistic self-expres-
sion. Those members of the colony
who need to teach to help defray
their moderate expenses have all that
they can do.
Iva Lee Newell and her husband
Richard Holden, joined the colony
a year ago. They are young and tai
ented musicians, who were prominent
in their art in Washington.
The artists of Youghiogheny are
quite convinced that Youghiogheny is
a small Utopia. They are certain that
it was tucked away in the mountains
just to make artists happy. Such
beauty, peace and congenial company
are seldom found in one small place,
they say.
There is nothing unusual about it,"
Mary Gresham, one of its members
said recently. at is just very lovely
place where serious artists go to
work. And l am afraid that persons
looking for Bohemian atmosphere will
be sadly disappointed in it.
"Of course, there are interesting
persons in the colony. One of these is
David Watson, a young writer of
scientific books who lives the life of a
hermit. Persons first noticed him be-
cause, though less than thirty years
of age, he has a long beard. He lives
in secluded house in the mountains
and only goes down into the village
once in great while to see what has
happened since his last trip.
eve have musicians who come up
so that they can play for their own
pleasure. We have sculptors, writers
and painters. Also persons who like
to read and think in seclusion.
Life in the village is very simple
and ideal for the artist. We live in
small cabins where we work hard and
are not disturbed while we are work
ing.
"There is an old tavern where we
gather in the evenings, sit around a
big open fire and talk New artists
are always welcome if they are real
artists. We are not interested in per-
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