Sunday Chicago bee. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1925-19??, 1940-07-21
Negro Artist to the Present
Frances L. Moseley

glous masters of Rome, but on his
way he stayed in Paris and de-
clded to study there. His mas
piece "The Resurrection of Laz-
arus" brought his acclaim in 1897
from renowned fellow artists and
won from the French Govern
ment the gold medal and place
in the Luxembourg Museum.
Edwin A. Harleston of Charles
ton, South Carolina, is known for
his talent in portraiture. Among
his best works is the canvas,
Bible Student, exhibited in
1927 at the Chicago Art Institute.
Formerly purchased by Jesse
Bnga, it is now owned by Will
liam P. Harrison Of Chicago.
Historically important is the
contribution Of John Patterson
Rollins, born in Lynchburg, Vir-
ginia, whose interest was in
seascapes. Studying in Italy, his
faverite subjects were Venetian
scenes. Some of his works are in
possession Of his niece, Mrs. Lii
liam Summers of Chicago.
Rendering distinctive service to
the Race came two notable wom-
en- sculptors, Meta Vaux Warrick
Fuller and May Howard Jackson.
Mrs. Fuller, a native Of Philadel-
phia, studied in Paris and was
fortunate in enisting the inter-
est and approval Of Auguste Ro-
DIN, then the greatest figure Of
the French art world. She turn
ed her attention to Negro types
when in 1907 she was commits
stoned to do a series commemor-
ating the history Of the Negro for
the Jamestown Tercentennial Elk
position.
May Howard Jackson, also Of
Philadelphia, preferred to devel-
op Negro subject matter, daring
ly venturing to express in her
work something of the social sit
uation, for example her "Mulatto
Mother and Her Child obviously
touching upon the problem Of the
1alf-castes.
Dominating the Chicago scene,
William EdoWard Scott having
studied under Tanner in Paris and
he Chicago Art Institute, was re
,ipient of the Harrison Gold Med
Al award in 1927. Mr.. Scott has
executed numerous murals on
and has recently
a new series in his
,oric incidents in the develop
nent Of Negro life since slavery.
Of the contemporary groups
probably the best known are the
Richmond Barthe and
Augusta Savage, both Of New
York and in the artist group, Aa-
ron Douglas, Hale A. Woodruff,
Palmer Hayden, Sargent john
son, James Lesesne Wells, James
r. Porter, William H. Johnson,
and Lois Jones.
A Cuban, fedora Ramos Blan-
% is commanding attention as
in the sculpture groups.
Chicagnans have long been
working toward art development,
ed by Charles G. Dawson, Viii
lam Mcknight JarroW and
Archibald Motley, Jr. Today
here are large numbers Of young
r artists seeking expression X
mong them, Charles White, q
FAINTER Of bold murals, William
carter, Eildzier Carter, Margaret
Taylor Goss, Charles Seabree and
Joseph Kersey, the latter sculp-
or. Bernard Goss is one Of {
lumber moved to expressing pro-
est themes.
Rejecting on the development
If Race artists in recent years,
he outstanding factor seems to
oe the turn toward the Negro
heme as a vital phase Of the ar
.istic. expression Of American life.
Other observations are that the
number Of artists has greatly in
and, happily, that def
mite consciousness Of the Negro
advance to the front, ranking
with other artists, has been arous-
I'd.
Indicative Of this fact is the
current movement to establish a
Art Center, opening
still wider avenues to art express
lions for greater numbers spon-
sored by the Federal Art Project.
These developments are encour-
aging but in the words Of Doctor
Alaine Locke, noted Negro writ
ar and philosopher, in his book
Negro Art Past and Present." r
quote:
"But however rightly and fully |
he may share in a program Of |
public art support, temporary or
permanent, needed and logical |
step in the support Of the Negro |
artist and the development Of Ne
gro art must come from an awak-
7ned interest Of the Negro pub
lie in this matter. Negro church.
S, schools, organizations Of all |
types should make Negro art vital |
and intimately effective in our
group life by studying it, circu- |
lating it and commissioning it
Only under such circumstance: |
will it become truly representa-
tive. Only under such condition.