A Legacy Reimagined
Dayton once maintained its own art school. Established in the early 1900s by local artists, the School of the Dayton Art Institute served as the origin point for the city’s prominent fine art museum. The institution operated with a focus on practical application and technical rigor. It provided a space where students could refine their craft amidst the evolving cultural standards of the region.
Now, a special exhibition at the Dayton Society of Artists brings this history back into view. Titled "School of the DAI Alumni Retrospective," the show assembles works from over 40 former students. Many attendees studied during the 1960s and remain active in the local arts community today. The exhibition serves as a record of the school's long-term influence on the city.
The Saturday School Model
The school was often called a "Saturday School" because classes occurred at the Dayton Art Institute during hours when the building was closed to the general public. Students moved art horse benches into the galleries at night to study directly from the permanent collection. Beyond the gallery spaces, the school maintained studios and a dedicated art library for its pupils.
This informal yet disciplined structure persisted until the school closed its doors in 1975. The closure marked the end of a specific chapter in local education. Still, the impact remains visible through the work of generations of artists who refined their vision within those walls. Tamiko Stump, Executive Director at the DSA, notes that the retrospective serves as a full-circle moment for the organization.
Historical Context and Future Questions
Historian Kathleen Caffrey points out that early 20th-century artists in Dayton pursued three specific goals for the community. They sought to establish an art club, a museum, and a formal school. These groups initially met in parks and living rooms across the city. By 1938, they finally moved into the museum space, which is the same year the Dayton Society of Artists formed. This period solidified the city's infrastructure for creative development.
One featured alumna is Winnie Barnett Potter, who attended from 1937 to 1939. Her piece "Fireside Safari" is a gouache and ink illustration originally created for a Rike’s department store advertisement. It won a 1967 award from the Dayton Ad Club. The work represents a time when graphics were crafted entirely by hand rather than through digital tools. Today, the work stands as a historical document of the regional advertising industry.
Other notable figures are included in the retrospective. Willis "Bing" Davis showcases his mixed media piece "Ancestral Spirit Dance," which demonstrates his ongoing commitment to traditional African textile patterns. Davis attended the DAI during the 1960s while balancing his career as a teacher in the local school system. The exhibition highlights how these individual paths contributed to a broader regional identity.
Another display is "Flying Machines" by Paul Melia, a watercolor work from 1995. Melia, who passed away in 2019, earned a scholarship to the School of the DAI before a lengthy career as a commercial illustrator. His composition layers an angel with the Wright Flyer, referencing the city's industrial and historical roots. The presence of these works forces a question about the current state of local art education. Dayton continues to support a museum and an art club, yet the formal school that helped build both is no longer active. The exhibition asks visitors to consider the value of returning to that model.