Evening star., 1932-09-04
MEXICAN ART HERE
for SECOND SHOW
325 Pieces Collected From
Non. Commercial Sources
for Exhibition.

Some 325 recently discovered pieces
of Mexican art, which viii comprise the
second exhibition of Mexican arts and
crafts by the American Federation OF
Arts, are now being unpacked at the
federation's gallery in the Barr Build
ing.
The late Dwight Morrow conceived
the idea Of the exhibition while serv-
ing as Ambassador to Mexico. and It
has been carried out by the Carnegie
corporation and the federation.
1t is not expected that the objects
collected by Count Rene d'Harnon-
court on a recent trip to Mexico will be
formally exhibited here. but they will
be shown in other cities. They. will
remain in the gallery In the Barr Build
ing until plans for the exhibition tour
have been definitely worked out.
Made by Indians.
The objects composing the exhibition
were made by Mexican Indians. Many
of the articles customarily found in
curio shops are deliberately omitted,
for particularly in the field of sa-apes,
glazed potter1es and feather work the
market is so filled with cheap and
gaudy roducts that the purchases for
this exhibition were made in villages
fa- enough removed from the COM
mercial centers to avoid the influence
OF the commercial exploiter OF Mexican
art.
Some. Of the most interesting pieces
are the lacquer and painted objects.
Lacquer decoration probably dates back
TO pre-conquest days and was confined
to simple objects, such as gourds,
among the Tarascan Indians. With
the conquest, however. came Spanish
and Italian designs and new objects for
decoration-boXes, trunks and small
pieces Of furniture. Vasco de Quiroga,
the first Bishop of Michoacan, formed
guilds, and the industry today Is sup
posed to be conducted along lines laid
down by him In the sixteenth century.
There are two pieces of lacquer work
in this collection from Quiroga on the
Lake, named after the long dead bishop
Black Lacquer Effect.
The first of these Is black lacquered
trunk. 1t has first been painted black
and then an interesting design OF
flowers in brilliant colors applied. The
Indian knows nothing else to keep his
property In except these trunks and
AAS AAao oman OACc AOA J~WCAJS A&A -
ones for clothing. The wealth Of the
man may be judged by the trunks he
owns.
The second Is q lacquered bowl, ex-
quisite In design and coloring. The
tourist seldom sees one like 1t for he
does not penetrate far enough into the
interior.
Pottery Is one of the most interest
ing products Of Mexico and one of the
most difficult to procure. The pottery
Is fred in an open kiln. and this. OF
course, cannot be done during the long
rainy season.
Water jug Shows Art.
Count d'Harnoncourt secured one
water Jug which was unknown before
the exhibition last year. 1t Is made OF
dull, unglazed pottery in a deep cream
and bears q design Of grass and birds.
OF particular interest is the fact that
these birds are singing, q motif from
the pre-conuuest times. Among the
Indians it Is considered much more
sophisticated to serve water in gsso-
line cans. which cost IS cents. rather
than In these beautiful pieces OF their
own handiwork.
Illustrative of the steel work of Mex
leo is a machete bearing the inscrip-
ton, For this viper,s bite no remedy
can be found in any pharmacy" The
family Aragan Of Oaxaca have the
highly priced and highly guarded Sc
cret of making fine and flexible steel.
The highest compliment Of Aragan In
gift of their steel work.
Other objects include children's fur
niture, ceremonial textiles, head-dress-
es. masks and glassware. The collec-
ton Is highly educational and speaks
eloquently Of the craftsmanship which
fiourishes in the country to the south.