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Show THE ANNUAL ART ESSAY CONTEST ItV MAE HUNTINGTON Most great industries have their by-products, and in many cases these by-product.9 turn out to be of great importance and profit to the industry. So we might designate des-ignate this institution of the art essay contest as a by-product of the art project. During the April exhibit each student is asked to write an essay entitled "My Favorite Picture." In the essay the student describes his reaction to the picture which he selects as his favorite among those exhibited. exhibit-ed. Consequently he enters the gallery time after time to scrutinize, scrutin-ize, study, and analyze the pictures pic-tures that appeal to him. Thi? careful study increases the value of the exhibit to each student in many ways. 1 It increases the student's interest, sharpens his appreciation, apprecia-tion, and enlarges his knowledge of the pictures and their painters. 2 It gives him increased ability to express himself. 3 It has been the means of ' placing scores of oil paintings in homes throughout the community. Critics who have read these ' of the "Literary Digest" for its issue of December 31, 1932, he sent with that painting the theme written by a Springville high school student; and the editor of the "Literary Digest" considered it to be of sufficient literary merit to publish part of it in the columns col-umns of his magazine. The winning essays are selected select-ed by the English teachers and by members of the art committee, and an oil painting, the gift of an exhibiting artist, is presented to the winner, one for the best in the Junior high, and one for the winning theme in the Senior high school. If the essay contest does and we maintain that it does increase the student's appreciation and knowledge of art, if it increases his ability to express himself, it is a worth-while feature of the art project. But more than this the struggle for expression adds a sense of beauty to his soul which perhaps exceeds all other gains, though at the time it is the least tangible of all. It opens his eyes to the beauties around him; it helps to interpret the universe in terms of the beautiful and the sublime. It helps him to see in nature the i nets, how they work with an aim behind it. The very sea itself seems to be saturated with the perspiration from the faces of the boatmen. The catch means a lot to them; it means a full market tomorrow and ' probably a day of rest, above all, it means the joy and satisfaction that comes with honest toil. There is an atmosphere of joy hovering about the picture. One would not imagine that such an occupation would be much pleasure, pleas-ure, but those toiling fishermen seem to enjoy it. They can't help enjoying it in such surroundings. Now and then a sea breeze arises aris-es and compensates the workers for their labors. Just to breath the sea air and watch those fishermen fish-ermen at work would give one an appreciation of life. The reason, I believe, that this picture so impresses me, is the fact that it is so common and characteristic of the ordinary movements of life. We work, we live in hopes, we have faith in our efforts; and we go on playing the game of life. , I hope that this painting will become one of our permanent collection; col-lection; that every time we enter ' the gallery, we may be led by it to seek distant shores of knowledge. know-ledge. That we may be' found industriously in-dustriously "hauling nets." . LeOra Petersen 1931 student essays or who have heard the students expressing their opinions on various works of art, h;ivc said that it is ermarkable to hear the studenls of the high school discussing the merits and domnriLs of a picture in terms that stagger the layman. Wm. P. Silva of Carmel, California, on a visit to the gallery said: "One might get a real lesson in art criticism merely by following a group of students around the gallery gal-lery and hearing their discussion of the composition, color harmonies, har-monies, spacing, proportion, and appropriate design that make a picture outstanding." Each year the best essays written writ-ten are sent to the artists whose paintings are the subject of these essays, and almost without exception ex-ception artists have written letters let-ters of appreciation for the fine thoughts so well expressed by the students. Often their commendations commenda-tions have been expressed by gifts of prints, photographs, and even paintings. Leland S. Curtis, one year sent four prints in acknowledgement ack-nowledgement of his appreciation; Colin Campbell Cooper sent a framed print of his painting "The Pool'' to the student who had ivritten on his picture. . Walter Koeniger, whose painting paint-ing "Through the Birches" is one of the finest in the gallery, was so pleased with the essay sent him that when he was asked to furnish a painting for the cover things the artist portrays upon canvas. It leads to a fuller appreciation ap-preciation of the marvels with which nature has surrounded him for: "We are made so that we love First when we see them painted, things we have passed Perhaps a hundercd times nor cared to see. 1 And so they are better painted better to us Which is the same thing. Art was given for that Lending our m.ds out." Browning Following are two essays written writ-ten by students as a result of the essay contest: "HAULING NETS'' I don't know just why "Hauling Nets" by Anthony Theime appeals to me, but there is something about it that impresses me , very greatly. Critics say that a painting paint-ing isn't good unless one can see beyond the painting on the canvas. I have seen and studied boat scenes before but never have I had created within me such . a desire and ambition to be on the sea; to work, and keep on working. If every person in the sea. of life could work with such sincerity of purpose as those fishermen do, I am sure that their nets would be hauled full and. overflowing. I think it is that which has so forcibly impressed me. Observe how they tug at the "GULLS" By Arthur Prince Speiir Upon a rugged sunbathed rock, Amid the ocean waves, Sat nature's human masterpiece Surrounded by a haze. Some graceful gulls were fluttering flutter-ing near , Some perched upon the rock. The fleecy clouds up in the sky, Grace to the beauty wrought. 'Twas like a fairyland to me . Those figures on the rock. Such beauty I'd ne'er seen before! Such ecstacy.it brought! . , The mighty sun's soft rays were sent To linger on the nymphs; Its warm glow caught in golden hair Of Heaven just a glimpse! These figures formed with utmost care In Mother Nature's Mould, Are curved and rounded gracefully With beauty in each fold. The gull's fair wings, so powerful. Well fit for such a bird, Are strong enough for any flieht. To fartherest heights they've spurred. To us they're dearer than to most In this, our Western State, Because when first; our , people came, Gulls saved them from sad fate. I fancy I can see them soar , Above the rocks and spray; Their beauty and their gracefulness graceful-ness Enhanced by sun's first rays. I like the quiet of the scene-Its scene-Its loveliness is rare, It soothes a sad or troubled heart, And makes the world more fair! In years to come, when I recall These school days glad and fair I know my life will better be, . ' By knowing art so rare. Virginia Boyer |
