The placing of their work alongside that of men will do much to increase confidence in their own powers; and while it would not be exact to say that the work of the two sexes was equal in merit, the difference was not great. For this reason I think the managers did an extremely wise thing in not segregating the work of the two sexes, and to have placed them side by side, so that the weak points could be discovered and remedied and the points of excellence improved. All were delighted to see the advancement women have made in sculptural art in the past few years, and this advancement is attested by the fact that they received 1 gold, 3 silver, and 16 bronze medals in this department alone.
The progress they have made in the past ten years has been most gratifying, and they are certainly progressing more rapidly along certain lines than men. The deficiencies and points of weakness brought out by this exhibition will soon be overcome, and as women have become convinced that natural endowment does not fit men for greater work than women, they will evolve grander themes than heretofore. And by firmness with which woman in art is already treading this upward path, she is convincing others that another road exists than that which their feet knew.
It is positive that the encouragement given to man on account of his physical prowess, by both men and women, has had a psychological effect in helping him to evolve ideas and to carry them out in tangible form. Women will be helped to a large extent only by women; they must not wait for that help that has been given man. They must do the work that comes to their consciousness, or that which is given them to do, without question or hesitation. There should not be any doubt or leaning on any seeming staff. Women are the originators, the creators of spiritual and material progress, and must not be fearful in expressing themselves. The female mind is more refined, more delicate, thus receiving truer perceptions than man's. The sensitiveness of the woman nature is of much advantage in any artistic endeavor.
The fine arts, music, poetry, painting, and sculpture, have been the educators of nations. Now that woman's thought is finding greater expression, their mental and moral influence on both sexes will be great; and as such expositions are world-wide educators, the beneficent influence of women as coworkers and practical idealists is above and beyond computation as a proper exposition attraction. It was a great surprise to the millions of people who saw the excellence of talent that was shown by the women artists, and the fact that women did it elevated the sentiment and appreciation of art. Indeed, without the work of women officially organized, and as individuals, it could not have reached, as it did, the height of success.
Group 12, Miss Rose Weld, Newport News, Va., Juror.
Under the group heading "Architecture" the four classes into which it was divided represented: Drawings, models, and photographs of completed buildings. Designs and projects of buildings. (Designs other than of architectural or constructive engineering.) Drawings, models, and photographs of artistic architectural details. Mosaics; leaded and Mosaic glass.
It is unfortunate that in this department the extent in which women share in the kind of work represented in this group was not demonstrated. While there are not many women architects of buildings as yet, it is believed that the number is rapidly increasing, and within the past ten years it has been discovered that their aptitude for designing and working in leaded glass is of the highest, their artistic tendencies rendering them peculiarly adapted to this kind of work.
Miss Weld reports as follows:
In this department there were only two women exhibitors, both Americans. The English and French exhibits were not open for competition, but, so far as I could find out, there were no exhibits by women from either of these countries.
One of the American women exhibited as an architect some attractive plans and interior views for a farmhouse. The other, as a landscape architect, some photos of garden scenes.