Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 195, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1915 — Attracting Much Attention. An Artist Whose Work Is [ARTICLE]

Attracting Much Attention. An Artist Whose Work Is

Rensselaer is favored by having as a resident Miss Emilie Wightman, an artist of great talent and The Republican desires to call attention to an advertisement in this paper. Miss Wightman feels that having come to Rensselaer unheralded and unknown some slight resume of her former activities would not be amiss. The beginning of her musical education was secured under private professors and at Porratan College, W. Va. Subsequently she had the advantage of studying under the direction of faculty members of Dr. Ziegfield’s Conservatory of Music in Chicago. While in Chicago she was a member of the Apollo and other singing societies; also a member of thfe Western avenue M. E. church choir. A severe illness at this time which terminated in pneumonia caused her to abandon music and take up art, for which she had a natural talent, as her life work. After spending some time a broad recuperating her health she entered the Corcoran Art School at Washington, D. C. She remained there for nine years, taking up all branches of her chosen profession. She was rewarded by seeing the result of her later years’ work hung in successful competition with very notable artists. Returning to Chicago she found many opportunities for the successful pursuit of her work but upon visiting her sister in Rensselaer she concluded that the attractiveness of this quiet county seat was more to her choice than the hurry of the city.