Evening star., 1924-12-12

A leading member of the United
States Commission of Fine Arts is
authority for the announcement that
when the National Academy Of De
sign of New York City celebrates its
centennial anniversary next year 1t
should do 1t with an exhibition of a
| century of American art, and that the
exhibition should be held in Wash
ington. This exhibition, he says
need not be a large one, requiring
a special building, but it might be
accommodated in the National Mu-
scum, where some of the permanent
exhibits could be removed for the
occasion.
The query as to how such an enter
prise in the Capital would be viewed
by the Main Street residents of New
York did not disturb the Washing
tonian, for he explained that the
exhibit might be shown later in New
| York, and even In Chicago, but it
should first be seen in Washington.
which is destined to develop as the
great American art center.
X X X X
There is nothing which so fiatters
a Washingtonian as to speak of the
Capital as the future art center of
the world. All residents of the Dis
trict of Columbia are "futurists" as
to that dream In considering the
present art status OF the city, IL is
encouraging to note the many in
fuences which are active in bring
ing forward a fuller appreciation of
tho fine arts, even in the midst of
a political and nonresident" atmos-
phere. The main difficulty in all of
Washington's civic advancement prob
lens is ascribed to the fact that the
powers which regulate the affairs
of the National Capital are more
concerned in the country fairs of
their home districts than In an art
center Of the Nation.
X i: x i.
How much is art appreciated in
Washington? The city is rich in its
statuary, although it is quite fash
ionable to speak slightingly of most
of these products of the sculptor's
genius. 1t is SO much easier-and
safer-for the spectator to look dep
tent to judge, and to assume that all
the sculpture is bad. even though it
is Commemorative" than it Is to
Judge, or even to enjoy, it's art.
We are told that there are but 15-
some say only 2-statues in Wash
ington that are not "atrocious." One
of these two, being a replica of the
JOAN Ol AIC VI I dTlS, iS nOl chg iuic,
therefore, to the centennial exhibit of
American art. The other is discreetly
unidentified, hence might be any but
the one piece which the tyro might
dare to admire or enjoy. 1t is so un-
safe to admire!
X X X
AS for pictures, Washington Is rich
in precious canvases, though unfortu-
nately the public has little access to
some Of the best How aristocratically
exclusive is some fine art! 1t breathes
in mystery; it is sheltered in cellars
like old wine in cobwebs. Should it
be poured out like pearls before a
pork barrel? How like the dark, un-
fathomed caves of ocean are the
warerooms of the Corcoran Art CAL
lery, the National Gallery of Art and
We deep!-the Freer Gallery! What
splendor lies in the canvases hid in
our many private galleries and their
storage chambers!
l. For years there has been an urgent
demand for the erection of a large
separate building in which to house
the National Art Gallery, a few of
whose pictures now hang in the Ma
| tional Museum, close to skeletons of
ancient animals and savages--neigh-
bors, perhaps, Of the Neanderthal
man.
A year ago Congress appropriated
| land for such an art building, and
then private funds were subscribed to
forward the architectural design.
That design has now been. submitted
Ito the Commission OF Fine Arts, and