Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1914 — ART DISPLAYS AT INDIANA FAIR [ARTICLE]

ART DISPLAYS AT INDIANA FAIR

Paintings, China, Needle Work, Embroideries, Craftsmanship. MADE BY HOOSIER ARTISTS Talented Women Will Display Their Skill in Many Lines—Notable Exhibit of Pictures in Oils, Water Colore and Photography—Great Exposition of Decorated China. The richest display of the handicraft work of Hoosier women that has ever been made is promised for the Indiana state fair the week of Sept 7, Including all lines of endeavor to which the home makers of this state turn their talented fingers. To make sure that the exhibit will go ahead of other years, there has been a general revision of the prize offerings in the women’s department of the fair, some of the old classifications having been discarded and newer ones added, while there has been a general increase in the premium money. In two departments of the fair where Indiana women mostly show their capabilities as home makers—the fine arts and culinary departments—the total awards offered are over $2,000. The most notable change in the women’s departments will be that of paintings and drawings, the total premiums of which reach SSOO, and which is expected to bring to the fair’s art gallery the representative work of the best Hoosier artists. In other years anyone who could paint any kind of picture in oils or water colors could show their work at the fair, but at the next fair a new method will be followed, for each picture will have to be approved by a jury made up of artists who have exhibited work at the annual Indiana artists’ exhibition at the John Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis, and this jury, after a critical examination, will determine what pictures are worthy to go on exhibition at the fair. No state fair or exposition in the country ranks with Indiana in its exhibition of decorated china. This exhibit at the next fair will show some notable improvements, for there has been a revision of the classes and an increase of prizes which will bring forth the best work that the professional and amateur painters have to offer. The total prizes on china will be over $550. Because of a revision in the arts and crafts division and an increase of prizes there will be extraordinary qualities of stenciling, block printing, handmade jewelry, leather work, weaving, wood carving, pottery and other lines of craftsmanship shown. The amateur photographers, who are always busy in Indiana, will again have an extensive show, but their pictures must all be of this year’s make. The Fair is always rich in the needlework of Indiana women, especially In crochet and knitted work, handmade laces and embroideries, pillows and other fancy work, and special specimens of hand sewing. A new division will be needle work done by women of sixty-five years or older, and another will be for girls of fifteen years and under. The culinary exposition will have fine displays of those kitchen products for which Indiana women are nationally famous—breads, cakes, pastries, fruit products, relishes. There will be a distinctive class for the amateur culinary exhibitors and another for the professionals.