Vol. Ill, No. 5 
NEW YORK AND SYRACUSE 
September 1901 
he Keramic Studio would like to suggest to 
those students who have returned from their 
summer vacation and are now planning their 
winter work, to plan it carefully and with in- 
telligence. Besides the usual routine of the 
studio in classes and in order work, it is wise 
to select some special line of study, and also to plan a special 
piece of work that may do one credit at an exhibition, a piece 
of work that has been carefully studied as to design and color. 
In the hurry of life, unfortunately, one has the inclination to 
do a lot of things that may not stand criticism, but at least 
one may try to do something that shows study and thought, 
especially when that piece of work is exhibited as an example 
of that which one is capable of doing. The fault of most 
keramic exhibitions is that there is too much work hurriedly 
done, work that could not stand the test of a jury, were juries 
generally employed. 
Instead of doing simple things that are good, and making 
them count, one sees such a lot of overloaded work with 
absolutely no meaning at all. The average decorator tries to 
put everything he or she knows into everything that he or she 
does. It is much more difficult, of course, to make good 
simple things, because they require thought, but after they 
are finished they are forever good, and always in demand, if 
decorators understood the fact. We would advise a course of 
study, either in a class or individually. Study in classes is 
rather better, because one has the advantage of the other's 
criticism. But it is only in classes where designs or subjects 
are worked out by the student that the greatest benefit is 
derived. This was plainly shown in the lectures of Mr. Dow, 
when the students were allowed ten minutes for a sketch, and 
after a criticism the same subject was carried out carefully 
and intelligently at home, to be again criticised before the 
class. This was difficult at first, but those who worked the 
hardest were the ones who received the greatest benefit. 
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF MINERAL PAINTERS 
AT THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION 
M. Helen E. Mont fort 
SO many trials and tribulations were encountered in the 
beginning that it seemed rather a foolish proceeding on 
the part of the League to attempt to place an exhibit. Strikes 
among the workmen — first carpenters, then painters and 
electricians — the work held up from day to day for this or 
that reason. Cold, rainy weather, no possibility of getting 
rid of the frost, no decent walks, impossibility of getting 
goods carted to Exposition, etc., together with dampness of 
the building and the red tape necessary to unwind before any 
move could be made, all tended to retard the installation. 
Days, even weeks, passed without being able to see that we 
were making any headway. A notice was served one morn- 
ing stating that the exhibit must be ready May 20th. A glance 
at our space made one feel the hopelessness of the demand, 
but pluck and determination won, and on the afternoon of 
the 19th we had three cases filled and ready to show, the 
remainder of the boxes and bundles piled in the background 
and covered from view. At 5 P. M. came a notice that as 
there was so little to show the Inner Court would be closed to 
the public on the 20th. All that extra work was lost, and it 
was nearly June 1st before the Inner Court opened. We 
had the pleasure of knowing that we showed the first case of 
work in the Court. The Inner Court represents the finest of 
all the manufacturer's arts. There are the Tiffany Company, 
with jewels and silver work, the Tiffany glass in all its glory, 
the Gorham Company, the Rookwood, the Grueby Pottery, 
the National Arts Club. With such neighbors, we were im- 
pelled to do our very best. Our location is not, perhaps, all 
that could be desired, but it is by no means bad, and with the 
means at our disposal, our exhibit is really a credit to us. 
In this collection we have been fortunate in our figure work. 
People look at it with wonder, and many of them quite 
doubted my statement that it is painted on china. Among 
the best specimens of this work are seen the names of H. O. 
Punsch, Mrs. T. A. Johnson of Seattle, Washington, Mrs. L. 
Vance Phillips, Miss E. C. Adams of Troy, Miss M. Armstrong 
of Chicago, Mr. George Collins, Mrs. H. C. Foster, Mrs. I. S. 
Hammond, Mr. E. Aulich, Miss Mary Phillips and others. 
There is more variety in the work than ever before, therefore 
it has been much more difficult to arrange in a small space. 
We chose a cool green for the background, and while it is 
only a cotton delain, it does not detract from the china. The 
New York Keramic Art Society is well represented, and the 
work being varied and along all lines, it has caused a great 
deal of wonder. Each artist has had his or her share of 
attention, and New York may be proud of her workers. The 
Duquesne Club is well represented, if only by a few workers, 
and the work shown is of good quality ; it is a delight to handle 
it. The Chicago Ceramic Association has on exhibition a 
large number of pieces. They show great diversity of styles 
and ideas, and perhaps more originality than do some of the 
other clubs. Other clubs exhibiting are Brooklyn Mineral 
Art League and the Jersey City Keramic Art Club. They 
send only a very few pieces. A good sized case filled with 
work of the quality they have here, would surely have brought 
to those clubs a great amount of praise, if not a more sub- 
stantial reward. 
I would like to tell you all about the plates that are 
entered for the competition for the service and bronze League 
medals, but I must leave that for another time. My only 
regret is the fact that there are so few of them. San Francisco 
has sent its beautiful work, and work that is well executed. 
I should like not only to be able to describe it all, but to 
photograph it. Then there is Denver, with its jewel-work 
and finely painted heads. Boston, we regret to say, is repre- 
sented by only one member, and Bridgeport has only two 
members. Eighteen individual members are exhibiting, and 
they cover a wide range in decorating. 
There is great chance for study here, and the questions I 
