Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

in these columns on publications
but a. recent publication entities
Il "A Collection in the Making" is
sued by the Phillips Memoria
Gallery. is so much more than ;
book on art that exception is made
by Duncan Phillips and. is eXplana
tory, not only of how the gallery
memoriaAzing his father and brother
came into existence, but of the pur
poses and policies which govern it
DEVELOPMENT and are at the same time
ats reason for existence.
Because the Phillips Memorial Gal
Iery, while open to the public. is sc
entirely different, one might almost
say radically different from any
other public art museum now in exist
ence. there has naturally been won
derment CAUSED, and to a certain ex
tent misunderstanding, all of which
Vanishes with fhe readingSof this most
recent publication.
1t seems that ar Phillips has
from the beginning had a definite and
original purpose, but because his eff
fort was directed along new lines, and
therefore TO an extent experimental
he has SO far not attempted inter
probation. Now, however, he takes
the public into his confidence and
<SAldtNS Will oA3& WIN 1AO SdthSAVA0y
interested to care his ideals, his
dreams, inviting cooperation in their
realization.
Primarily, Mr.. Phillips declares his
purpose in establishing his gallery to
be not merely to commemorate his
father and his brother, the memory
of whom he holds in devoted admira-
ton, but also to create a beneficent
iorce in the community where he lives
ia joy-giying. life-enhancing in
iluence, assisting people to see beau
" as true artists see" Pic
iures,'' he claims, 'send us back to
fe and to other arts with the ability
see beauty all about US as we go
our accustomed ways" 1t is the
> 4inter's point of view which he is
ldeavoring to make manifest to the
,aople. and this is we'll
X x y X
% secure the desired results Mr..
Phillips is employing what he
himself terms novel and attractive
methods of exhibition" He is re-
\ rising. he says, 'the usual process
popularizing q picture gallery. In
,ad of the academic grandeur of
trble halls and stairways and the
a.les of chairless spaces" he is try
ing the effect of domestic architecture,
ating a place to which peoDle will
inclined to return again and again
or special study and special enjoy
ms mt. His scheme includes the ex.
J. ition from time TO time of specially
,stituted units. He quotes what
] INK Jewett Mather, jr., of Prince
;, has said, that "a season Of pic
es at the Phillips Memorial Gal
7 should be as exciting to Wash.
tomas a season of opera.
X .k * X
TIE Phillips collection, Mr.. Phillips
= himself tells us, is based on def.
MT. policy of supporting many meth
ce:s of seeing and painting, and herein
rf' 1aps is to be found its most un.
al character. The policy of the
lips Memorial Gallery is to choose
ii best representative painting as
i as the best creative designing and
q honor and TO do reverence to both.
Iisiakes in the works of the great
M tiers. 1t also experimentally takes
In he work of the newest unknown
painters, and it dares to hang them
sitie by side. az purchase" says Mr.
r.. lips. many examples of the work
rtists i especially admire and de-
!. to honor, even IL they have not
come into general recognition, in
a of having one example of each
he standardized celebrities. take
III, chance of being wrong" What
"a d be better? Would that all col
] ors followed, In this respect, Mr..
l. lips example.
1larging upon this characteristic.
Phillips says: There are fashions
81 painting and they affect market
les, but the market values and ar.
& values do not always coincide,
]; am interested only in artistic
'es. The test of artistic value is
: :, and l shall not live to know
Their the men in whom / have be-
ID have justified my faith in their
ire. To stimulate contemporary
sts by establishing personal con-
and friendly relations, to win
confidence and to help them to
arstand themselves and to succeed
their own best methods and in
ions, resisting the temptations to
back on commercialism of one
l~or another-such a policy | con-
of the utmost Importance.
e had more pleasure recently in
! overing and helping some new
whose modest genius might have
ed unnoticed, and others whose
zing originality is far In advance
heir time, than from the rather
e ting negotiations with foreign
Ge> lers to secure one or another Of
tt>s master works by Daumier as a
omit to our Daumier unit" Mr.
l'aillips points out that it is possible
'ursue this policy because the Phil.
H. Memorial Gallery is not "a fixed
T. langeable institution" 1t is one
instt, and not a board. 1t Gan act
~ KY, and its actions are not ire
N.e Bile.
X X \
liz great artists represent what is
permanent in the collection, those