Evening star., 1939-08-13
the World Of Art Music Washng0nans
SCULPTURE NOT UNDERSTOOD
Sculptor's S Book Is
Full Definition of
Inspired Work
BY Leila MechHn.

Sculpture" said Brenda Putnam
in her book, "The Sculptor's Way"
recently published by Farrar &
Rinehart, lis the least understood
of all the arts" and she should
know, as for 80 years she has been
doing creative work in this field as
well as teaching. The purpose of
her book is primarily Ito help the
student grope his way along a dark
and unfamiliar road to the point
where he finds it glorious way"
but also it will be found to open,
surprisingly, to the layman avenues
OF understanding.
This is logical, for the way of art
can never be solitary; between artist
and layman is partnership which
cannot be dissolved without disas-
ter. The artist does not create solely
for his own pleasure; he has a mes
sage to deliver, and addresses him.
self, inevitably, to the public; upon
the response the public makes de-
pends his reward and future i'm
petus. But both artist and layman
must have knowledge to attain un-
derstanding; the more one knows
the more capable one is, on the
one hand, of intelligent expression,
and, on the other, of appreciation.
The art of the sculptor is dependent
upon genius, schooled or disciplined; ;
the joy which it engenders in the
looker-on comes, in full measure,
through following, under guidance
(as in this instance) the sculptor's S
way. No wonder Miss Putnam ex-
claims, If only we can get together
sculptor, students, teachers, archi-
tects, art critics and art lovers
what gay and inspiring band Of
Wayfarers we shall be-"
An Academician.
Brenda Putnam is the daughter of
the librarian-emeritus of the Lii
brary of Congress, to whom, by the
way, she dedicates her book. She
also is National Academician. Hers
Is the charming figure of Puck" in
the grounds of the Folger Shake
speare Memorial Library, and the
Simon Memorial in Rock Creek
Cemetery. Hers, also, is the figure
OF a swimmer, entitled The Crest" +"
in the grounds of the New York
Worlds Fair reproduced in The
Star shortly before the fair opened !;
one of only four works in sculpture
officially commissioned from women
for the adornment of this notable
exposition. She has made a name
for herself, especially, by her work
IN portraiture and by her gay gar
den sculpture of children-the for
mer evincing keen psychological in
sight, as we'll as sensitiveness of
touch, and the latter witnessing to
an inward blitheness of spirit and
power to interpret the natural JOY
BUSINESS of youth.
Among her most notable portraits
are those of famous musicians,
Casals, Gabrilowitz, Bauer. and con-
spicuous among her garden pieces
both for merit and charm-are
Two Kids" sun dial in Brook
green Gardens, South Carolina
Puck" already mentioned. and an
inimitable little Sea Horse" sun
dial
Because results, when successful,
invariably seem easy, many persons
are inclined to the belief that to
produce a work in sculpture all one
needs is lump of clay and the in
clnation to press it into shape. or,
for that matter, that paint, brushes
and canvas, only are essential to
paint a picture in which even the
novice can find the much talked of
self expression" Miss Putnam
skaters this misconception at the
outset. IF the sculptor is to lead
us to the heights" she declares, he
must have wide vocabulary, mas
terry of form, innate sense of rhy-
thm, ability to visualize his own
thought and emotion; he must be
vivid, forceful, subtle and suggestive. -
All these things imply learning and
necessitate study; patient and al
most endless toll is practically es-
Sential.
A couple of years ago Miss Put
nam gave demonstration of sculp-
ture making, in the auditorium of
the Corocran Gallery of Art, un-
der the auspices of the Washington
Society of the Fine Arts, modelling
from life a portrait bust of Clifford
K. Bergman, cartoonist of The Star,
while the spectators, composing the
audience, looked breathlessly on.
Slight of stature and quick of mo-
ton she slung the clay on the arma-
ture vigorously and with evident
knowing, deftly moulding it into the
semblance of the sitter, hand and
mind perfectly co-ordinating. But
she had neither time nor strength
to talk. Now in her. comprehensive