Memorial Exhibition of Moses Dykaar’s Works is Being Held at Brooklyn Museum

Moses W. Dykaar, noted sculptor, died about one year ago. Last Thursday his widow announced the official opening of a memorial exhibition of his works, at the Brooklyn Museum, to continue to April 15.

He passed away in the prime of life, brokenhearted and discouraged. He had attained fame and recognition after a long struggle. But the depression and its disheartening economic effects completely destroyed his stamina.

His widow desires to keep green the memory of his inspiring work. “I want the world to remember what a great artist he was,” she declared.

“His life was one long, determined search for expression,” she said, “He had to fight to achieve the ambition which he cherished since childhood.”

DISCOVERS TALENT EARLY

When the artist was still a small boy, in Russia, he discovered that his little, sensitive hands could mold clay into figures.

On his way home from “cheder,” young Moses, with curly oarlocks hanging over his flushed face, and a heavy prayer-book under his chubby arm, experimented with his new found talent.

This turn of events struck terror into his parents’ heart. They had planned that Moses should become a rabbi,–go to the Yeshiva, study the Talmud, and prepare for a holy life. No one had dreamed that the studious child with the dark, wistful eyes, would tread the dubious path of an artist. It is a far cry between sculptor and rabbi, but the ambitious Moses bridged the gap.

Persuading his mother to permit him to travel to Vilna, on the pretext of studying at the Yeshiva, he succeeded instead in enrolling himself at an art school there. He was fourteen then.

HIS FIRST CHANCE

After four years his first opportunity to strike out for himself occurred when the famous Russian Jewish poet, S. S. Frug, allowed him to model a bust of him. “From then on other well known men gave him similar opportunities. Thus encouraged, he formulated plans to go to Paris. He dreamed of that glorious city as the one destination where he could complete his artistic ambitions.

Refusing a scholarship and other financial means proffered by wealthy Russian noblemen, he determined to reach his goal for himself, He arrived in Paris with the equivalent of one dollar in his picket.

Here his troubles began in earnest. He worked all night at his beloved clay.

Fortune favored him. He received a commission to model the Premier of France. Later his statue of a young girl won first prize at an exhibition. He was then twenty-six years old.

AMERICA BECKONS

The golden gates of America beckoned to the rising young artist. He came here and settled in Washington. Champ Clark consented to pose for him, to give the young sculptor a start. The completed work proved so impressive that he had no difficulty in persuading other statesmen, and scholars and poets, to sit for him.

Among these were Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, General John J. Pershing, President Calvin Coolidge, Edwin Markham, Dr. John H. Finley, Eugene Debs, Alexander Graham Bell, Hudson Maxim, Samuel Gompers, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Abraham Cahan, Shmarya Levin, Rabindranath Tagore, and others. More of his works are on display in the National Gallery in Washington than any other sculptor’s.

“He sought to portray not only the features of his subject but also the soul,” said Mrs. Dykaar, reminiscently. “He maintained that the most interesting part of the human figure was the head.”

Dr. Frederick Robinson, president of City College, said of him: “Through his death last year the world lost a sculptor of rare commanding ability.”

His works, which are on exhibition for a month, bear witness to this testimony.