Vol. I, No. 9 
NEW YORK AND SYRACUSE 
January 1900 
HE PAST month has been the harvest time for 
exhibitions of keramics, and we wish that 
we could have accepted the many invita 
tions sent to us from all over the country. 
It is interesting to note the general ten- 
dency of each club in the different localities 
and to watch the development of the work- 
We have letters from small clubs and letters from large 
clubs, beseeching us to emphasize certain rules that should 
govern exhibitions, and to dwell upon and particularize a rule 
against exhibiting work that has been done with a teacher. 
This is something that we cannot for a moment imagine that 
any exhibitor would do, or that any club would allow. 
The New York Society of Keramic Arts has a by-law, 
that no work that has been done under instructions, nor that 
has been publicly exhibited before, can be shown at the 
society's annual exhibition ; this makes each exhibitor stand 
upon his or her own merit, and encourages originality. 
Keramic club exhibitions will never be recognized as art 
exhibitions until there are more improved rules for placing 
and lighting, until the room has less the effect of a bazaar and 
more the effect of a dignified exhibition, governed by rigid 
regulations. It should be managed, placed and catalogued as 
are other art exhibitions, with no frivolous accessories 
We were particularly delighted with the exhibition of the 
National Arts Club, of artistic pottery and fine porcelains. 
The -simplicity of it appealed to one's artistic sense. There 
were shelves on the sides of the room, broken by three square 
standing cases, then square tables below the shelves here and 
there. The corners were cut off by cupboards, upon which 
were hung framed tiles and plates; corner seats under these 
finished the appearance of a most artistic gallery. 
Work was shown by the following artist potters : Chas. 
Volkmar, New York ; Charles Ohr, Biloxi, Miss. ; Brou wer, East 
Hampton ; the Rookwood Pottery, Cincinnati ; Grueby 
Pottery, Boston ; Dedham Pottery, Mass.; some modern 
Mexican, Spanish and Hungarian pottery. There were also 
shown some wonderful lustre placques and vases by Messier, 
France, and some work from Mrs. Rowell and Mrs. A. B. 
Leonard of New York, Miss Adams and Miss Peck of the 
Atlan club, Chicago. 
A full description will be given in our next number. 
Speaking of the last exhibition of the N. Y. S. K. A. 
Town Topics says : For some inscrutable reason the art 
world has refused seriously to consider keramic decorations, 
and some haughty ones have even unkindly made the distinc- 
tion between "china painters" and "artists." 
It is probably owing to the fact that in the beginning of 
things the woman who could paint a pretty pin tray and the 
woman who could crochet a nice tidy were of about equal im- 
portance in the art world, but that is all ancient history now. 
******* jj ie art j sts w ] 10 have developed this 
society into a distinct and important factor in the art world 
should lay aside their timidity and realize their proper value. 
They should remember that the childhood of the society 
is past and that it is high time to put all childish things 
away." 
The earnest workers in the society have felt quite as 
keenly as Tozvn Topics that we have not done ourselves justice 
this year, and the disappointment is the keener because we 
were expecting such great things in view of the Paris expo- 
sition. It is right and interesting that we should show the 
work of all members at our club meetings so that the more 
advanced can mark and assist the growth of the beginners. 
But in our yearly exhibition, if we wish to demand from the 
art world the consideration and respect we desire and deserve, 
we should have a strict and impartial jury and every member 
should feel that sense of noblesse oblige, of self-respect as a 
unit of the society that he or she would desire to be prevented 
from exhibiting until her or his work was judged up to the 
necessary artistic standard. Then when members shall be 
allowed to exhibit the privilege will be an honor worth work- 
ing for. In this way there would be an incentive to better 
work. 
We are indignant that the distinction is made between 
china painters and artists. It is our own fault. As long as 
the artists among us are willing to place their work on 
exhibition side by side with work that would have graced 
the kindergarten days of china decorating, cheek by jowl with 
work copied from other keramic workers, so long they will 
receive the cold shoulder of artists and connoisseurs. 
The National Arts Club invited its members and guests 
to meet Mr. Charles Volkmar, the artist potter, on the even- 
ing of December the ninth. 
Mr. Charles de Kay made some remarks upon Mr. Volk- 
mar's interesting work and this unique reception, it being 
perhaps the first one ever given to an artist potter by a club 
of artists. He said he took great pleasure in introducing Mr. 
Volkmar whose work had helped beautify the club house. 
After this introduction Mr. Volkmar entertained the 
guests and members with a most interesting, inspiring and in- 
formal talk upon clays, glazes and lustres and the difficulties 
as well as delightful surprises of underglaze effects. 
There being a charming and important exhibition at the 
time, of art pottery in the gallery where his talk was given, 
and also an impromptu potter's wheel with an expert potter 
manipulating the clay into form, his remarks and illustrations 
so inspired the artists there that several were heard to say, 
" I should like to get to work at once." 
This club is doing a noble work in giving exhibitions of 
the arts and crafts and it is bringing patrons and artists to- 
gether. 
