West Philadelphia High School - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 9 text:

DEDICATION N' 015: v xffl ' D I s -' ' y ll. . fs.: .-. 1 'N feffifsf' f . l ' , f V T O THE Fine Arts made accessible to us in our school, and without contact with which our student lives would have been empty and uninteresting, we, the Class of February, l936, gratefully dedicate this book-may it reflect the influence exerted by these age-old Arts: painting, engraving, sculpture, music, literature, architecture, and dancing. ini

Page 8 text:

OREWORD NLY too often we may regard the term Fine Arts as dealing with delicate things alone: things fantastic, far-removed from everyday life. ln reality, there are many timesiwhen we are freed from blank weariness or worse only by the work of some great artist, whose contribution to civilization affects, in some manner, an intimate detail of daily living. According to our preferences we may argue about just how many of these Fine Arts there are. The number seven will cover a fairly safe list, but one may claim that there are eight, or nine, or more, while another will say that living is the one Fine Art, including within itself a multitude of lesser arts through which life is expressed. No work of art, however, regardless of its exact nature, can continue without vigor within itself, or without appreciation from outside. Remembering this, we have selected the Fine Arts as the theme of this book, in the hope that by so doing we may be able to increase, among our friends, a sincere interest in all those students who are hoping some day to make their mark in the artistic world. This book is also designed to recognize those former students who have already established their names in varying fields of artistic endeavor. All literature and all dancing, all architecture, sculpture, even all lives, that have endured, must have possessed the common quality of strength, whatever their differences may have been. All, likewise, must have found respect. As the artist attempts to put grace, balance and vision into his work, whence those attributes of vigorous wisdom will flow out to all of us, we should attempt to cultivate a healthy appreciation of that work. Thus we may be sure that the artist will continue to produce for us those things upon which, chiefly, the happiness of human life is built.

Page 10 text:

To the Class of February l936: FEW generations ago a message about art written for the graduates of a high school would' have passed before unheeding eyes. ln those days the artist was a rarity-different and mysterious to the rest of his fellows. Today his numbers have increased tremendously, people begin to think of him as a human being and there is little mystery about his temperament or ways of working. The art novice of today contemplates a field wider and more varied than ever before in this country. The constraints of the depression are abating. Commercial Art and Illustration are reviving. Industrial Designing is just beginning to show promise of the gigantic artistic province it is certainly destined to become. And there are many prophets who feel that all signs point to America's becoming the center and fountain-head of the Fine Arts. A whole army of artists and craftsmen will be needed to fill these growing demands, and, judging by the current enrollments in the art schools of the country, that army is assembling. But more than numbers are needed. Unfortunately it is certain that hundreds of that army will fail to find a niche, because of lack of knowledge and proper training, deficiencies of artistic endowment or absence of the will to work and master their craft. Here is one of the most engrossing and stimulating fields of human endeavor, inviting willing workers to supply its needs. But it asks not only inclination but determination, not only an art education but the proper kind of art education, not only talent but application and enthusiasm as well. lt demands one's best and utmost, but the rewards are proportionate. HENRY C. PITZ. Six