Evening star., 1924-05-14
NATIONAL GALLERY
PROJECT is BACKED
Speakers at American Federation
of Arts Convention Stress
Need Here.
WOULD BRING RARE GIFTS
Dinner and Receptions on Program
Today.

Washington for the National Gallery
of Art was stressed today at the fif-
teenth annual convention of the
American Federation of Arts, at the
New Willard Hotel.
The United States should recognize
art as a factor of national life" Miss
Leila Mechlin, secretary, declared in
her annual report, warning that this
government cannot afford to lag be-
hind other nations"
Explaining the amendment offered
by Senator Lodge. adding s2,5o0.00o to
the deficiency bill, to begin such a
coed S7.000,000 in total cost Miss
Mechlin declared that the measure. in
reality. would be economical The
lack of space here now" she said, "is
received, would far exceed fhe value
of the appropriation necessary to
build such a structure.
Lack ~ Space Hurts.
Speaking on the same subject, DIR.
Charles d. Walcott. secretary Of the
Smithsonian Institution, in welcom-
ing the delegates, explained the gal
lery facilities already available here,
and declared that the lack of adequate
space was n loss to the city and to
the nation" What was our loss"
he said. was gain for New York,
Philadelphia, ST. Louis and Chicago.
He expressed qualification that the
federation was taking "an active part
in the campaign for gallery worthy
of the nation" Dr. Walcott predicted
that Judging from several indications
in art "a period of great promise
is surely dawning."
Tells of Federation Work.
In her report Miss Mechlin outlined
the work of the federation, the two
principal features of which she said
were activity for the national gallery
and the Venetian exhibition, which
was collection of American art
transported to Venice. This had been
achieved. she said through co-opera-
tion of the Italian ambassador. State
Department. Shipping Board, the Cor
coran Gallery of Art and the Carnegie
Institute. Pittsburgh. The pictures
have been received in Venice and now
are on exhibition.
The association also sent out fifty
travelling exhibitions with more than
200 engagements. Illustrated lee
lures filled 100 engagements. Special
issues of the American Magazine of
Art were explained, and the Secre-
tary called attention to a new publi-
cation, Art in Our Country" hand
book. which, she said. inventoried for
public works of art such as build
ings, sculptors. mural paintings and
landscape architecture.
BENEFIT for Future.
In conclusion. the secretary said it
was not simply the work which the
federation was doing today which
made it worthy of interest and sup
port. but because the work would
benefit untold generations"
Not only does the organization
cultivate love of beauty" she said,
'and tend through this to enrich
spiritual fabric which will serve as a
bulwark to turn back the downward
tide of civilization"
The federation heard this morning
the report of its treasurer. Frederic
Delano of this city. Open discussion
on problems of the federation in
cluded that on ways and means
led by Cuthbert Lee, associate Sec
retary. and travelling exhibitions.
led by Francis C. Jones of New
committee. Other problems for dis
cussion were member extension, ed
ucational work. international rela-
tionships and cooperation with the
government.
Dinner and Receptions
Speakers for this afternoon in
cluded H. NJ Kurtzworth, director of
the Kansas City Art Institute; Miss
Florence n. Levy, director of the
Baltimore Museum of Art: Miss Anna
Curtis Chandler of the METROPOLITAN
Museum of Art and Robert Under
wood Johnson, permanent secretary
of the American Academy of Arts and
Letters
Receptions were scheduled for late
this afternoon at the Phillipa Memo
rial Gallery. 1900 21st street: with
Mr.. and Mrs. Iarz Anderson. 2l1S
Massachusetts avenue, and with Mrs
Charles NJ. Ffoulke, POLL Massa-
chusetts avenue. There will be a
dinner tonight at the Arts Club for
those delegates specially interested
in school arts.
Robert w. de Forest Of New York.
president of the Metropolitan Museum
or Art, who for many years has
headed the federation. is presiding
at all meetings. The convention will
close tomorrow afternoon.