University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Quiver Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

Page 20 text:

Painting of Old Building by Chris Olson Federal Art Project has Ikhmi res|xuisiblc for bringing American painting out of mannerisms into a healthy, wholesome expression. The tiling that has happened is best told l y Holxer Cahill, National Director of the Federal Art Project. For the llrst time in history a direct and sound relationship has been established 1m tween the American public and our artists. It has brought to public attention scores of artists who are capable and worthy of recognition. It |M ints out a certain trend which American art is taking throughout the country, the trend which conforms to the sentiment and spirit of American life. It promises much toward the reestablishment of a broad American approach in painting. There is little danger of overestimating either the g«M l that has already come of this project or its potential good. Its true significance lies in the general standards that have resulted; in the quickened appreciation on the part of millions of |M oplc throughout the country. The Wisconsin State project has lieen under the direction of Miss Charlotte Partridge, Director of the I ayton Art School and (lallery. She has contributed a great deal of time and energy to the work and has lieen responsible for the splendid 8ttcc ss of the Federal Art Project in this state. The State Teachers College has furnished materials for the work and the government pays the artists for their time. As a result the college lias two large murals: many fine linoleum block prints; a number of small oil (lower, still-life and landscape paintings; and historical series of the Fox River, many lantern slidi s and photographs for various dc|Mirtmonts. and a set of s«-enery for the stage. The Federal Art. Project at the College has I icon under the sii|»ervision of Kthel J. Hehncke. Paintings and prints by artists working on the Federal Project will soon Ik framed and placed in the college buildings.

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College Library The Library A.v arrangement was liegun in 1KS0 muter President Alins by which tin simlents were divided into sections « f a dozen to twenty each, meet in j: onee a week with a timelier to report on hooks wliieh had I icon read. The hooks were selected hy the teaelier of literature so as to meet, tin presumable mental attainment and taste of each section. The students and faculty have organized a Heading Room, where the leading periodicals are furnished at a nominal cost to each pupil.” A student was employed to put the ncws|Mipcrs in the holders and otherwise keep the room In order. 'I'h employing of a librarian to catalogue the books and assist students In using them was likewise liegun hy voluntary contributions. Stimulated by this example. the Hoard in 1KNX authorized librarians at Platteville. Whitewater, and Oshkosh at salaries of . 12.% js r annum. In 18J11 the Hoard granted . .% Hi for clerical work and services as librarian in the Normal School tit Oshkosh. The first catalogue mentions: After the tire of HUB the present library unit was started in 1017 and finished in HUS. The lire was a great disaster, for many books in the reference library could not be replaced.” The library contains 21».oou books for circulation, 20.0 Ml for text books, and about 2.«hhi pamphlets, and hundreds of pictures. It receives regularly 170 l»criodicnts. besides some of the outstanding news-pa|M rs. Its reading room will seat 300 students. The walls were |tuiut -d and a new floor was laid under the WPA project. The mural was i hi luted by Hurton Potterveld under the Federal Art Project. It I tort rays the throe important phases of the development of the Fox Valley, namely the Indian. The Legendary Stories of Paul Hunyan. the industrial development of the lumbering.

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Ilorsc-Car Days In Chris Olson Chris Olson of Kurckn. Wisconsin, nn artist on the Federal Art Project. Inis finished a series of historical pictures of Oshkosh. The above picture is one of the series. The eiie depicts the days of the horse-drawn stn et -ars, showing the corner of Algoma and West Algoma streets, with tlie Sawyer house, ns it originally looked, in the background. The artist has wanted to paint as n business as well as a hobby ever since he was a boy. He started work in oil iKiinting when la was a small child, receiving his im|K tus from tin uncle, who {tainted in oil as a hobby. Mr. Olson's training was all in the public schools, with the exception of six weeks' work under (J. Oher-(auger of the Chicago Art Institute. For many years the artist painted only for his own pleasure. lie did sell a few pictures, but never nearly enough to support his family. The historical series includes: The landing of the lirst white men in Oshkosh; the coming of the pioneers in covered wagons, typical pioneer homes and implements: the growth of lumbering industry along the Fox river: the busy mills, a log Jam. a raft of logs being pulled by a river tug; Main street bridge and the water front when the river was the center of trans|H rtation: a view down Main street from the bridge, when women wore long full skirts and bonnets and the street was lined with horse-driven wagons; the original normal school; the steam-l oat era on the Fox river and the horse-drawn streetcar. The pictures are painted on building board in oil and will Ik a permanent collection of the college, to Ik framed and placed as a scries of early Oshkosh history. Ciiris Oi.sox