Evening star., 1936-12-19
By Leila Mechlin.
An Indian Chiet-Acee Blue Eagle
Exhibits at the Arts Club.

Exhibits at the Arts Club.
A N EXHIBITION, unique in
~ character and exceptional in
~ interest, opens in the Arts
Club of Washington tomorrow
afternoon. This will consist of paint
ings by Acee Blue Eagle, member of
the Greek and Pawnee Indian tribes
of Oklahoma, who has made a dis
tinguished name for himself as an
artist. These paintings will be found
to follow Indian tradition, but they
typify modern renaissance in Indian
painting, which has attracted atten-
ton in Europe and America and won
unstinted praise.
This development has taken place
h two Of our Western States-New
Mexico and Oklahoma. Its inception
may be traced to the Tewa pueblo Of
San IldefonSo, near Santa Fe, where,
m 1917, few gifted young Indians
tried their hand at water-color draw
tngs of native ceremonies, with such
success that they were commended
and encouraged to continue by Dr.
Edgar L. Hewett and his colleagues
of the School of American Archaeology
and the Santa Fe Museum Gradually
the interest and activity spread and,
under the leadership of those espe-
cially gifted, creative center was
established in Oklahoma. Practically
the first knowledge the outside world
had of this work came through a
portfolio of color reproductions of
vater-color paintings made by Okla
homa Indians, gotten together and
prepared for publication, with ex-
planatory text, by Prof. Oscar B. ia
cobson, head of the art department
of the University of Oklahoma. This
publication was issued by a French
firm in Nice. and was followed a few
years later by a second. devoted to
the water colors by Indians of the
Hopi tribes of New Mexico. Thus,
strangely enough, even our Indian
artists received acclaim via Europe.
But they have also not been with
out honor in their own country"
Even before the publication of the
two portfolios abroad, Miss Anne
Evans of Denver had begun collecting
and exhibiting their water colors.
Then came the Exposition of Indian
Tribal Arts in New York, q series of
travelling exhibitions under private
auspices, and, finally, the recognition
OF the merit Of this work by the Fed
eral Government and the award of
commissions for mural paintings for
public placement.
Acee Blue Eagle was represented in
the International Exhibition of Art
In Sport, held in connection with the
tenth Olympiad in Los Angeles in
1882, by 1e water colors, and carried
of one Of the much-coveted awards
bestowed by the international Jury.
He was represented in the Exposition
Of Indian Tribal Art in New York, and
In 1884, under commission, did large
painting Of q buffalo hunt for the
U. S. s. Oklahoma. A year ago last
Summer he went to England to give,
by invitation, a series OF lectures on
Indian art at oxford University,
which led to further invitations to
lecture in Scotland and in France.
Upon his return he became head OF
the art department of Bacone Col
lege in his native State q position he
still holds. He is under 80 years of
age, the grandson of q famous Creek
chief, from whom he inherits his
name, Blue Eagle, and on his mothers
side Is Pawnee. He began drawing
when but child, and Is q very clever
craftsman, but he has not restricted
himself to one branch of art. He is
no less well known as an Interpreter
OF Indian ritualistic dances, than as
q painter and musician.
IN AN essay on Indian art, pub
hshed in connection with the Ex-
position Of Indian Tribal Arts, Herbert
J. spinden, a leading authority, says:
"The Indian is a true artist, un-
usually qualified by natural abilities
In several provinces of esthetic ex-
preston. His dramatic ceremonies
combine music, dancing and pageant
ry, with the use of words in the FORMS
OF poetry and imaginative prose. He
Is also gifted in applicat tons of color
and design, and retains an ancient
but evergrowing skill In the home
crafts of weaving and pottery making
and in the illimitable fields of painting
and sculpture.
These facts are attested by the
pre-Columbian record of his activities
which archeologists have brought 10
light, and by the intimate revelations
Of the symbolism and significance
which ethnologists, after patient and
sympathetic questioning, have found
In their works. They are attested,
still more effectively, by departures
OF the present day." To which he
adds: There comes to my mind Gin
this oonnection) q phrase from the
Night Chant Of the Navajo, In old
age wandering on trail of beauty,
lively may I walk = We have
in our Indians q reality of Already
that is not dead, q spirit that may
be transformed into a potent leaven
in our own times"
1Aho 4CnNCu hIQ JLlS Ocduty Will,
without question, be found in the
paintings of Acee Blue Eagle, which
from tomorrow for three weeks may
be seen in the Arts Club.
The artist will attend the opening
Of his exhibition tomorrow afternoon.
A dinner is to be given in his honor
at the Arts Club this evening, at which
Mrs. Samuel A. Kimberly and Mrs. L.
M. Leisenring will be hosts, after
which he will give an address on THE
Art of the Indian in Painting, Music.
Drama and the Dance" It Is TO be
hoped that arrangements may be
made later for a repetition of this
address in hall for che accommoda-
ton and enlightenment Of the public.