The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international exposition — John Shaqi
The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international expositionPerry, Stella G. S. (Stella George Stern)
General
The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international exposition
Perry, Stella G. S. (Stella George Stern)
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.); Sculpture, American
The above is true also of the Column of Progress, which was again made
possible by the instant comprehension of the architect, Mr. W. Symmes
Richardson. The Column illustrates a new use for an ancient motif. A
type of monument which while distinctly architectural in mass has been
humanized by the use of sculpture embodying a modern poetic idea. Now,
Mr. Critic, it does not matter in the least whether you care for this
idea or not. The fact remains, and is all important, that as a type of
sculptured column it is new and fills architectural and aesthetic
requirements, so that other columns of the same or kindred types will be
designed.
The Fountain of Energy and the Fountain of the Earth are the two
original fountain compositions. By which is meant that while there are
many other very charming fountains on the grounds they are distinctly
conceived within the rules of precedent and offer no new suggestion of
type. An exposition is the proper place to offer new types in design and
execution and happy are they who accept the challenge.
The fountains in the Court of the Universe are examples of how the charm
of sculpture can vitalize architectural conventions. The crowning
figures of these fountains, representations of the Rising and the
Setting Suns, have achieved great popularity.
The still potent charm of archaic methods applied to modern uses is well
illustrated in the groups of the "Dance" and of "Music" on the terraces
of the Court of the Universe. Again on the rotunda of the Fine Arts
Palace and elsewhere this tendency crops out and always with the
assurance of pleasing. The group representing the "Genius of Creation"
lends a modifying note of refinement against the vigorous Western facade
of Machinery Building, and adds much to the interest of the vistas north
and south of the Avenue of Progress.
There are figures and reliefs of genuine feeling that do not gain by
resemblances to the mannerisms of Rodin and Meunier, that are not in
harmony with the surrounding architecture. The original figures in the
south portal of the Palace of Varied Industries and the panel over the
entrance to the Palace of Liberal Arts are quite successful inserts of
new thought in old frames in spite of a touch, of this influence. Rodin,
the emancipator of modern sculpture, and a notorious anarchist as
regards architecture, is not always applicable. The imitation of his
style induces a negation of modeling only in evidence in one of his
manners of execution.
There is a vague tendency voiced by some critics to advance the theory
that the real future democracy of art depends on the verdict of the man
in the street. This is ridiculous. The future of art depends on no one
class of men, aristocratic or democratic. It depends on all men. Art is
neither democratic nor aristocratic. It knows no class - it is concerned
with life at large - elemental life. Art is praise and all things in
life are its subjects.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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