ZEAL FOR ART

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 11

ZEAL FOR ART

KEPT ALIVE IN PRAIRIE TOWN. FORT RANSOM, N. D., Dec. 26. Unique in cultural independence, this tiny inland village, with a total township population of about 200, stands out among small communities in America, its social life and culture being reminiscent. of an old world communitv. e, pecialW in the mountainous countries of Europe. Nearly ('very one of the, adult population, most, of them farmers. pursue one or another of the major arts and there are many hobbyists and collectors. Included are a large number of ] (linters, in both water colors and oil, most of whom belong to the Art Club. At a recent community programmeevery musical number was original, both words and tune-;, and several artists painted on the stage for the enters tainmc.nl of the people in attendance. There are composers who write works of their own and who do ari ;>irr< in' tns. occasionally seeing them imld-ih, especially for n " of St.aiid'navian people. Many musical instruments are made in the community, including violin*. Their plays arc written by local neeplc and at least one woman is suc- .. fed selling short, stories and movie scenarios. Also she has pnbli hmd a Some write poetry, and folk lore is rr--servpd in dance and song. Mood

curving is practiced; and v. envoi o, Tngeis. actors, translators and collectors abound. When relics are exhibited, pieces dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are hauled out <>f trunks and treasure chests. Carl Thompson, a farmer, is building a pipe, organ for his own use, on which he has been at work snic.e Ul». securing wood for it from many of the world. Some of it had to be aged 10 years before he put it into I he instrument. He made- a latne ftom an dd cream separator on which to fashion delicate parts. He also balds violins, which bring a. price in the commercial world, though his diei interest is painting. Olaf Henrickson, violinist, is dean of (he community's musicians, willing. arranging, composing. When a famous Norwegian actor came to N'.rth Dakota, he needed some speemi I music. Henrickson wrote it for him—- [.■ N iiweglan dance. Now it is used i widelv in Norse programmes. Mi. ami Mrs. E. K. Peterson, ;i farm couple are self taught artists, spending their winter time learniw art from ' l ooks at homo and putting it Io praci(icc on canvas. When they first be-i-.an, oy-li was shy and they paiui’ d m 1.’., parale rooms, never looking al each loHur's unfinished work. Scenes (along the vallev of the Sheyenne ißiver, furnish many subjects tor them. ■ Mis. I’vler on always puts animals into (her foregrounds. Iler husband does ! portraits as well as landscape;:.• yi n Mpg gives expression to much artistic urge, a male chorus, affiliated vith the Norwegian Singers of Arne-

rica, having functioned here since 1885. it has been direetd since 1911 by Henry Henrickson. Fort Ransom was settled by emigrants from Norway about 1880, when the government reserve was opened to homesteaders. They concentrated first on becoming economically inde-

pendent, then turned their spar© time to the pursuit of the arts. Their children carry on a programme that is their natural heritage, at the same time demonstrating one of the most rceoinmmended cures for social ills. Almost every resident of the community was born and raised there.