Evening star., 1939-08-13

of the Folger Shakespeare Memorial
Library: fundamental laws are set
forth; and then the reader is intro
duced, quite abruptly and very sur
prisingly, to pipe cleaners-yes really
pipe cleaners-Which, by text and
illustration, are instructively used
to teach what every sculptor should
know. Twisted into all sorts of fan
tastic shapes they teach rhythm and
balance; character, action-unfor-
gettably, delightfully."- How is 1t
that, as winter evenings entertain
ment, pipe cleaners have not been
discovered before. What jolly dane
ers and skiers and skaters they
make! Who could be dull with such
companions? But, of course, they
are but the sculptor's Skeletons
one step removed from the all-im-
portant armatures-the bones on
which the clay figure is hung.
Modelling in Relief.
From modelling in the round, one
comes to modelling in relief. which
is not so simple as it may seem, and,
comparatively speaking, how few
ever completely master it! The
French are more adept at it than
are we, but We have had some out
standing medallists. For sculpture
in relief, as we'll as in the round,
a knowledge of anatomy is essential,
and to this subject Miss Putnam
devotes over l30 pages of text and
Illustration. Invaluable to the stu
dent, this section of The Sculptors
Way" chiefly impresses the layman
with the need of tremendous prepa-
ration for professional achievement
and the extensive knowledge which
the author herself has at her COM
mand. The accidental result in
sculpture, or in painting, is not to
be discredited when it occurs, but
only through knowledge and expe-
rience can standard be maintained.
Completing the survey are chap
ters on technical methods of pro-
duction and reproduction stone
cutting, wood carving, casting IN
plaster and bronze. enlarging me-
chanically and reducing. Some Of
these have been contributed by fell
low sculptors whom the author
thought more expert along certain
lines than herself. The illustrations
are numerous and well selected.
No one who reads this book from
first to last will lay it down with
out having become convinced that
the sculptor's way is long and
devious, by no means easy and to
many barred. But also its fascina-
ton will be felt, for even its more
than occasional roughness is set
forth with Zest-the zest OF one
who loves and honors her own pro-
fession. To the layman who under
Miss Putnam's guidance makes the
journey sculpture in stone and wood
and bronze will never again be Just
an imitation of nature but work
of art, created. to be sure, through
great labor, but also inspired;
thing with life and spirit; beauti-
full in the best sense of the word;
human and yet divine; stimulating
to both the senses and the mind;
something to be remembered and
made part of ones self. It's judg-
ment will not be matter of like or
dislike, but understanding, compre-
hension of the artists meaning and
conception.
Defines Sculpture.
Miss Putnam quotes Nine. de
Stael as defining great monu-
ment as music both continual and
fixed" and makes the definition
her own of sculpture. 1t is al
ways, she reminds her readers,
found at the beginning, the founda-
ton of each new era of cultural
development. Waning as civiliza-
ton wanes, it rises as the greater
force rises, as do waves in the
sea. From the 18th to the goth
century sculpture, she declares,
foundered in the depths while mu-
sic and literature rose to the
heights. 1t was Rodin, the peasant
sculptor of France, who, she thinks,
brought sculpture back, and it is the
new school OF young sculptors, still
near to the soil, who will lift it
up to the crest once more-if knowl-
edge and scholarship can be wed to
genius and inspiration. To be a
leader at such titme is a great
calling. 1t cannot be attained over
night. But belief in such possibility
should give impetus. If we are to
rise from the trough of the sea,
which at present threatens to en-
gulf not only art but man, it must
be through such faith and convic-
ton as Miss Putnam has voiced, &C
cepted and widespread This is the
thread which leads inconspicuously
all alopC "Tba Cc,,1ptor'c UJoyo