Evening star., 1932-04-24
DEVELOPMENT OF WASHINGTON
AS CENTER FOR ART URGED
H. K. BuSh-BroWn, Local
Sculptor, Thinks City Needs
More Than Museums.
Appeals for Real National
Salon in Advocating
Three-Point Program.

The National Capital can stake a
rightful claim to the distinction OF be-
ing the cultural and scientific center OF
America. and perhaps the intellectual
center, but what of its ranking in the
field Of art?
Henry K Bush-Brown, prominent
sculptor of this city, believes that some
thing more is needed in washington
that museums-something that may add
worthwhile contribution to the de-
velopment and appreciation OF art in
the Federal City.
On the eve of the Bicentennial Con-
ference on the National Capital, to take
place here this week with dozen
Leading artistic groups, headed by the
AFterican Institute of Architects, par
tjsipating, Mr.. Bush-Brown feels that
the time is ripe to take stock and see
where we are in regard to fine arts in
the National Capital"
In expressing some Of the views he
believes should come before the con-
ference. Mr.. Bush Brown pointed to
need for encouragement OF articles in
the fields of their work. In this con-
nection he advocates:
Establishment Of sufficient exhi-
bition space to provide real national
salon.
2.-Provision for the same kind Of en-
couragement for artists that the Library
of Congress offers for research and
creative work in the field Of literature
3.-Allocation Of space in new Gov
ernment buildings, at no great addi-
tional expense in cost of construction,
for studios for research work in the fine
arts.
Development Traced.
Tracing the development OF the
National Capital in the fields Of litera-
ture and science, Mr.. Bush-Brown
said
George Washington had the vision
to make this city the intellectual CEN
ter of the Nation and for that purpose
left in his will fund to the Govern
ment for establishing a National uni
versity
"The net result has been the estab-
lishment of a naval observatory, and
it was placed on the ground which
Washington and LEnfant set aside for
the university In the course of time,
the enlarged Naval Observatory was es-
tablished on Massachusetts, avenue and
the Naval Hospital erected on the old
observatory grounds"
The idea of a National university
has filtered through every Congress
from Washington's day down to the
present time, the sculptor points out.
As time goes on. however, the need for
such an institution becomes less with
the growth of the George Washington
and American Universities and the two
Catholic institutions, Georgetown and
Catholic Universities.
Through the munificence Of Andrew
Carnegie" Mr. Bush-Brown asserts,
I'VE have here the Carnegie Institution
for Scientific Research, helping to make
Washington the great scientific center
that it is The Smithsonian Institution,
established in the early days OF the Re
public. has been well fostered by annual
appropriations of the Government.
Maintenance Of its museums and re-
search in science has been carried out,
but its department of arts has been
starved to a great extent"
1t has long been the hope of artists
that the Government might establish
in the National Capital great art
museum. the lack of which has cost
Washington many fine collections that
has gone elsewhere, Mr.. Bush-Brown
said.
Sociological Side Remains.
The Arts Club of Washington, he
continued, has contributed its share in
bringing together the latent talent of
all the arts in the city, and 1t is now
one Of the most active arts clubs in
the United States.
This provides for the social side Of
art life, but the sociological remains to
be considered" Mr. Bush-Brown said.
"The American Institute of Architects
several years ago recognized their duty
along this line, and bought home
here, and they hold their annual con-
ventions here every alternate year The
institute has been very effective in the
development of the National Capital
This sociological aspect Of art is
that which I wish to bring to the at
tention Of the painters and sculptors OF
the country. BY reason Of their neg
lect, the Nations Capital has turned
out to be the happy hunting ground
of foreign artists
This neglect was found by Henry K.
Brown, my uncle. in 1858. The Army
engineer in charge of building the new
wings CT the Capitol was employing