Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 27, 1945)
Resourceful Reporter Relates Warner’s Windowless Wonders By DOROTHY THOMSON “Art museum feature story”— that was my assignment and it didn’t look like a very exciting one. It was raining too, and that didn’t help the gloomy outlook of the wThole thing but soon my bun dled figure timidly entered the curious looking structure known as our art museum. After explain ing my mission, I was given a pamphlet which contained the necessary information for my ar ticle. It seemed that the Murray Warner Art Museum was but a dream of the future in 1928. The repeated mention of “Murray Warner” aroused by curiosity and here was the explanation. The aforementioned collection of Ori ental Art was started by Major and Mrs. Murray Warner while the Major was serving the American government during the Boxer re bellion in China. He had a con -<*times there were countless oppor tunities to obtain beautiful speci mens of Chinese are treasures. Mrs. Warner began a collection of these objects as a hobby. But what was her interest in the University? Why did she choose to give her valuable collec tion to our University ? Here was the solution to that question. It seemed that her son was a profes sor in the law school here at that time, and when her husband died in 1920 she gave her art collection to the University as a memorial to him. The art wa salso dedicated to promote interest and appreciation between the Eastern and Western mind, and she felt that the West coast—looking across the Pacific to our Oriental neighbors—was the \ ideal place to foster this feeling. __ Then the whole story began to [take shape and I became more and more enthralled with the history of the building. Money was ob tained for the actual construction from state wide contributions amounting to some $250,000. The people of Eugene gave $25,000 of this total. The plans for the mesum are the work of Dean E. F. Law rence and Holfortd of Portland. 1 At the ceremony of laying the cornerstone, Edward Thomas Wil liams, professor of Oriental langu age and literature and the Univer sity of California and author of “China, Yesterday and Today,” gave the dedication speech. Some of the things he said give new meaning to the works of art in our museum. “In the study of oriental art, well shall become acquainted with Oriental society. Such an acquain tanceship cannot but cause feelings of prejudice to vanish and friendly interest to replace them.” He went on to say, “This is a university. That means that here we seek the wisdom of all lands and all ages. Civilization was born in Asia. From Asia we derive our faith, the beginnings of our science and our philosophy. Her art is also worthy of out study. I hope that Oregon will continue to gather here the rare art treasures of the Orient to be an inspiration to her sons and daughters.” Finally in 1930, the art museum was completed and the Emeralds of that time were full of pictures of the new building and stories of the opening exhibit. Have you too wondered about the peculiar struc ture and why there are no windows and only a few doors? It seems that the effect of light on the textiles and paintings is ruinous and it is hoped that the collection will remain intact through many generations. The lack of windows is also to prevent theft of the art treasurers valued at some $500,000. Mrs. Gertrude Bass Warner, the original donor of the Oriental Art collection, was named director of the museum for life, and since the time of her first donation she has been devoted to seeking new works of art for the museum. The Warner collection includes many rare and perfected preserv ed objects which include Chinese paintings by old masters, tapes tries and embroideries, beautiful jade jewelry, Chinese porcelains, and ancient bronzes that date back to the Chou, Han and Sung dynasties. Much Japanese Art There are also Japanese prints, brocades, temple hangings, and beautiful collections of silver, pewter, copper bronze armor, and wood carvings. The Korean and Russian exhibits also contain countless treasures. On the modern side, the museum contains a large assortment of modern water col ors, woodblock prints, and oil paintings with Oriental subjects by Helen Hyde, Elizabeth Keith, Charles Bartlett, Bertha Lum and Maude I Kerns. The museum library contains a Campus Carnival Chairmen Named The second annual WAA all campus carnival, to be held Satur day, January 26, will feature booths from every University liv ing' organization, and dancing all evening. reference coilection of about 5000 volumes pertaining to the Orient. The religion, industry, literature and especially art and history of China, Japan, Russia, India, the Dutch East Indies, and the Pacific basin are contained in these books. About one-half of these are rare books and much time and effort has been spent in their accumula tion. Virginia Scholl, WAA vice-presi dent, announced present appoint ments for committee heads for the carnival. They are as follows: Barbara Wells and Pearl Peterson, general chairmen; Dag m a r Shanks, publicity: Joyce Nieder meyer, decorations; Wanda Lue Payne, refreshment concession; Bobbie Fullmer, booths; Jerry Arnold, clean-up; Barbara Borrc vik, tickets; Betty Ingebritson, finance; Mary Anne Hansen, arrangements, and Marguerite Hirschbuhl, properties. Each organization will keep the money it makes from its booths, and pay a small fee for the floor space used'for the booth. There will be an admission charge and scrip will be used at. the booths. Town people, as well as University students, are invited to attend. flewevuj, jpsi Gh/UitmaA This year make your gift a lasting remembrance Cultured Pearls Single Strands Double Strands Triple Strands Earrings Solid lOKt Gold Sterling Silver Pearl, all sizes Black Pearl Oregon Seal Gold and Silver CHARMS Rings for Men & Women Matched Sets Sterling Silver Pin, Bracelet and Earrings Compacts Large, for loose powder. Silver plated Save Time and Money, at the UniDersitij CO-OP* EMERALD WORKERS Come in Now and sign up to work on the Special Christmas Issue. FEATURE WRITERS LAYOUT WRITERS AD SOLICITORS