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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1942)
Tuesday, April 7, 194 Weber's 'Landscape' By Marsa Lee Civin. Jj DAILY NEBRASKAN I JhsL (Daihf 71bI)MaIjcul VOKTY-PIKST YEAR. Subscription RatPn are $1.00 Per Semester or $1.B0 for hn College Year. $2.50 Mailed. Single copy, 6 Cents. , Entered as second-elans matter at tho pop.toifire In Lln loln. Nebraska, under Act of Congress Mnroh S, 1S79, and at special rate of postage provided for In Section 1103, Act of October 3. 1017. Authorial September 30, 19:'2. i'uhllshed Dnlly durlriK the iichool year except Momlnyn and Boturdnyi. vncallona and examinations perlnila hy Ktudenti of th University of Ncln-anka under tin supervision of the Pub lications Bonrd. Offices llnlun UulldltiK nay-2-7181. Nlnht 2-7193. Journal-2-3330. Editor Paul E. Svoboda . Business Mmager Ben Novicoff MHTOIUAl. DKI'AK I .Ml.NT. ManaKinR Editors ilurjnrie UruimiH, Unh Bohloter News Kdlturs Ocort;s Ahhtitt. Alan Jacobs, June Jamlesnn, Helen Kellcy, Wurjone May. Hpiirti Kilitor Bob Miller Member Nebraska lcs Asscciatlon, 11)11-42 111 NI.NttMC lllil'AIIIMKM. Aumiitniit Itus MHiiaiiers Betty Dlxnn, I'hll Kantor Circulation Manager Sidney schwarts All nnl(nrd rrtitnrial are the opinions of (he editor and should not be conMrucd lo reflect the views of the ad nilulHlralion or of tho univernlly. In a recent edition of the Daily Nebraskan we published a letter by Mr. Herbert Meyer in which he criticised the purchase by the Ne braska Art association and the University Art faculty through monies provided by the Hall bequest of a picture painted by Max Weber entitled "Landscape." The following is in answer to Mr. Meyer's criticism written by Prof. Dwight Kirch, chair, man of the university art department. Due to the length of the letter deletions have been made in the interest of space conservation. In publishing both Mr. Meyer's and Mr. Kirch's letters the Daily Nebraskan doesn't make a stand "pro or con" except to urge students to go over to Morrill and take a look for them selves. (Deletions are marked " "). Mr. Herbert Meyer Dear Mr. Meyer: I am taking time to reply because I believe that any member of the student body or of the community, who has the intense interest in art and our art program that you have demon strated, deserves a hearty handshake and a personal expression of gratitude. You also de serve to know more of the facts about the for mation and use of our art collections at the University of Nebraska. It seems to me that you have not looked at all sides of the question fairly: To use an old expression, you have been unable to see th forest for the trees. In other words, you have let your dislike for a picture stand in your way of seeing the whole picture the picture of what our art collections may be some day, as a valuable part of the University's educa tional assets. We have had definite gaps in our collec tions historically, between the work of these artists and the more recent painters of the "American Scene." Whether you like it or not, the influence of French post-impressionism and abstract art has been widespread and im portant in America: So important, in fact, that our American "streamlining" and industrial design would not have developed without it. All contemporary artists derive their styles in some measure from other sources, even the most experimental abstractionists, or the "re gional artists" like Thomas Benton. Painters who copy the surface mannerisms of others are imitators. Those who understand t lie basic in tent of their favorite masters and who add something of their own are creative and in many cases original. Such an artist is Max Weber; so also are Walt Kuhn, John Marin, and Marsdcn Hartley. Though each owes his style in a measure to the impetus of Cezanne and other French moderns, each has assimilated the principles of modernism and interpreted it in his own individual and masterful way. We must have works by these artlsta in our collec tions to complete the picture, as well as semi abstract studies (for example, by Stuart Davis or Lyonel Feininger) complete abstractions, and examples influenced by surrealist art. Now as for your reasons fer opposing the Students at UCLA aren't confining their drill to the KOTO parade ground. At leasl lliis holds true for two students Paul Make and Leonard Kobinson who were reported to Los Angeles police for drilling holes in the concrete of one of (lie city's overpasses. The two were allowed lo continue their work when police found that they had secured permission from the Stale Depnrf nient, of Public Works and from Hie City of Berkeley lo drill in the structure. Blake and IJohinson, civil engineer majors, were obtaining bridge temperatures for use in writing a thesis. Texas' first aerodynamic research labora tory is being set up at the University of Texas as nart of the school's newly established grad uate program in aeronautical engineering. This laboratory will provide one of about fifty wind tunnels in this country operated by various government research laboratories and by the aeronautical departments of several outstanding engineering colleges. The goal of $1,000 from the sale of de fense stamps and bonds was surpassed at the University of Indiana where the drive had been on for three weeks. Burglars at UCLA are getting a Hobin Hood complex these days. Members of 1'hi Kappa Sigma fraternity were robbed of $.'U one night and then found their trouser pock ets full of change the next morning. If enough student interest is shown another Dandelion Day similar to one held last spring will take place at the University of Kansas. Last year 3,400 students piled up a mound of 93,000 pounds of dandelions, rocks, and dirt. Prizes were awarded to teams pull ing up the most little vellow weeds. choice of the Weber "Landscape," for pur chase: 1. " It is a bad picture ' ' I challenge you to prove that it is a bad picture, which .1 doubt if you can do by any just art standards any more than 1 can prove that it is a "great art" in either case only time will tell. I maintain that it is at least a significant picture, worthy of very serious study by any real lover of contemporary art. Your leaning on the fact that Weber is a "foreign artist" is no more sensible than to say that becauseyour name is Meyer and mine is Kirsch, we are not Americans. As for subject matter, you have made a gross error: You forget that Nebraska is the "Proud Tree-Planter State" which produced J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day. 2. "It is a bad buy" In the first place, the University of Ne braska (through the First Trust Company) did not pay $3,000.00 for this painting. It is quite customary for substantial reductions to be asked for and given, in the case of purchases for public collections. Though the exact prices paid are absolutely confidential, you should be glad to know that through the advice of our two visiting "experts" we were able this year to buy over a third again as many art works for our money as the asking prices indicated. I hope that you understand, too, that these purchases arc made, at no cost to tax-payers of Nebraska, from a fund set aside for this spe cific purpose. The money in the fund is ex pended according to the exact terms of the will, which stress Mr. Hall's deep interest in purchasing works of "a high standard of excellency." I wish that there were more students like you, and that your missionary zeal in the cause of art could be enlisted to stimulate more stu dents to participate in the art events which are offered them. In spite of the free gate for students (provided by the payment of a share of exhibition costs by the University adminis tration for that express purpose) relatively few of them even come to look or to listen to the series of gallery talks we provide and adver tise. My heartiest thanks for your enthusiasm, even if it is momentarily turned to excitement and frenzy. We don't want "The green spot in the white spot" ever to grow dull. Sincerely, Dwight Kirsch, Director University Art Galleries Carl Blomc Gels Commission in Air Force in Florida Carl H. E. Blome of Dalton, who attended the University of Ne braska from 1935 to 1939, has been commissioned an ensign in the U. S. naval air force of the naval reserve, according to a release from the naval air station at Jack sonville, Fla. Ensign Blome joined the navy at the U. S. naval academy at Annap olis, Md., and went through elimi nation training at the naval re serve air base in Anaoostis, D. C, before reporting to Jacksonville last June. Dr. Henry Gilman, professor of chemistry at Iowa State college, has been re-elected councilor-at-large of. the American Chemical society. J.I l Vl!72 1 I V CourtoHy Sunday Journal and Star. "Landscape," the picture shown above, was recently pur chased by the UN art galleries and has developed into a contro versial issue. In an exchange of letters between Dwight Kirsch and Herbert Meyer, the oil painting has become the center of much speculation and criticism, explained in column one of this page. "Landscape" was painted by Jlax Weber and shows the de velopment of certain phases of French modernism that arc an outgrowth of Cezanne's experiments. Prizes won by Weber in his one-man show in New York place him among the great con temporary American painters. D I n . . . . - w Eleanor'n Me By Alan Jacobs Wver since last fall when the Pep Queen was named we have always had a burning, passionate desire to be a member of Nebraska's royalty. We have watched kings and queens and sweethearts come and go, and here we remain just nothing! Now we are a peppy person and should certainly qualify as a Pep Queen. Mother has often told us that we were "just a little sweetheart." We bet that she would have elected us Nebraska Sweetheart. If not that, she would have stuffed the ballot box, or even flushed votes down the Union lavatories, to get us 1-F Sweetheart. And if were a pledge, she would have thrown her support for lis. Mother is a sensible women. Why doesn't anybody else agree with her? Ann Craft made a pretty Prom girl, and we'll admit that our figure is not quite as lovely as hers, but we're not too bad. We wouldn't have made a bad Prom Girl. And we should have been a cinch for BDOC. But the crowning blow of all; the insult which hurt us the most that was the King of Hearts. (Don't think us conceited, because we are explaining all of this for a purpose.) Anyway, with our physique thanks to Charles Atlas we still can't figure out why we weren't chosen King. After all, 190 pounds of brains and brawn, five foot eleven inches of power, a forty-six inch waist, a 38 inch bust, and a pretty good neck can't be ignored. Not to speak of a school girl complexion, a YWCA character, and a John Barleycorn personality. All of this preliminary information is to strengthen our claim for the big honor which is coming up. We want to be the Nebraska Queen at the Drake relays. We heard that you get to pick the UN representative, and honestly, Miss Russel, you need not be worried about the fair name of Nebraska beauty. Please let us go to the Drake relays; please give us an opportun ity to join the royal family; please let us be a Queen. P.S. Did you ever find your billfold! Ag Students Get Blanks at Ag Hall Application blanks for ag of fices for the spring election may be obtained at the office of Miss Nevada Wheeler in Ag hall the Ag Executive board has announced. Quiz Teams . . . (Continued From Fage 1.) tion submitted to the Union of fice. During the quizes, which will take place through the month of April, team members will be al lowed to consult together before answering the questions. This is the first time the contest has been opened to all students. Colorado School of Fines Summsr Session July 6 -Sept 2 Engineering Courses May Be Completed Equivalent to Half a Semester's Work, Chemiitry; Civil, Electrical. Mechanical, Petroleum Engineering; DeKTiptive Geometry; Engineering Drawing; Economics; English; Geology; Mathematics: Mining; Physics; Metallurgy. AIjo Field Coursei in Geology, Metallurgy, Mining, Petroleum May 25 to July S; and Plane Surveying May 25 to July 3 and July 27 to Sept. 5. For further information write Director of the Summer Session Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo.