Texas Art

Art has no boundaries; it may flower in any time, in any place. In the U. S., the state of Texas has never been closely associated with the production of good, or even of mediocre, paintings. In that state, nevertheless, monetary prizes, which in amount probably exceed those ever offered elsewhere, are offered for oil paintings of Texas wild flowers, ranch and field scenes. They are offered by Edgar B. Davis, famed oil millionaire and sole support of The Ladder, Manhattan drama to which admission costs nothing.

This year, the total amount of money offered to artists by the philanthropic Mr. Davis was $14,500. This was to be awarded to the winners and near winners in four carefully defined groups, as follows: 1) Pictures of Texas wildflowers by any U. S. artists; 2) Pictures of Texas ranch life by any U. S. artists; 3) Pictures of Texas cotton fields by any U. S. artists; 4) Pictures of Texas wildflowers by artists resident in Texas.

The largest prize was won by Adrian Brewer of Little Rock, Ark., who painted an undistinguished picture called In a Bluebonnet Year. This and 26 other efforts, 20 of them prizewinners, were first exhibited in San Antonio, Tex.; after this they were sent to Manhattan; soon they will leave Manhattan for other parts of the U. S. on exhibit.

For next year's catch of art, Mr. Davis has more than doubled his bait: $31,500 will be awarded to winning artists. They will be awarded more freedom also; though they must paint wild flowers, cotton fields or ranch scenes, they will not need to seek their inspiration for these in Texas originals.