Evening star., 1934-04-22

EAuuDiIloH TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN the
Corcoran Gallery of Art. This
hibition which will occupy the series
Of nine galleries and atrium on the second
floor, will comprise over 1000 exhibits selected
from works produced in the 16 regions into
which the country was divided 1t will, It is
thought, present fairly complete cross-section
of the works produced under the P. W. A.
project and will give, not only those who have
had this project in charge, but the public gen.
orally an opportunity to judge of the value
OF the results obtained
This project had its inception in a grant
rvn-the Civil Works Administration on De-
cember s. 1888. Two months later, that is by
February z, 2,294 artists and 168 craftsmen
listed as laborers were employed. The wages
of these workers were from $26.50 to $42.5 so a
week Some of these artists were men and
women who had attained to very considerable
distinction. but owing to financial conditions
out of work. large majority of them
however were of the younger generation who
still had their spurs 10 win and it is said that
the most gratifying result of this great enter
prise has been the discovery of extraordinary
capability among artists heretofore, as 1t were,
anonymous.
BiTard Bruce in an article, implications
of the Public Works of Art Project" published
recently in the American Magazine of Art
stated: Il think perhaps the outstanding
feature of the work which has been produced
so far is its honesty and a fine quality of
naturalness 1t IS native product While
of course, it shows the signs of definite art
tradition and an art background. it is amaZ-
ingly free from ismS and fads and so-called
modern influences. Ninety per cent of it is
modern in the best sense. Any expression by
an artist of the reaction on him of the world
around him as it exists today is bound to be
essentially modern The word modern in
connection with art has been badly misused
It conveys to the minds of most people merely
he ted fOr RI
in SO many art centers.'
In this same article Mr.. Bruce, who Is, it
will be remembered. a distinguished painter
as well as an executive. pointed out that the
project should be considered from three points
of view-the reaction of the project on the
artist, the reaction on the committees working
with the artists and the reaction Of the public
to the project.
At the outset the central organization in
Washington announced as the theme for the
work to be done the American scene in all
its phases. Otherwise complete freedom was
given to the regional committees in the selec-
ton and employment of artists. Although this
was primarily relief measure, the quality of
thnapplicant as an artist was fixed as the first
qualification and the need of the employment
as the second The artist himself was given
complete freedom Of expression in selecting
the work he wished to do and the method of
carrying it out, subject only to the condition
that where the paintings or sculptures were
to be permanently affixed preliminary designs
and sketches should be submitted for approval.
The committee, it is said did not expect 100
per cent quality. but the high quality of the
works sent in has been an aStonishment to all.
The exhibition. representing perhaps only a
fifth of the works produced, will be hung by
Edward Bruce, executive secretary; Forbes
Watson, technical advisor, and Edward B.
Rowan, assistant technical advisor. This ex-
hibition, stated in the P. w. A. Project
Bulletin, will have far-reaching Implications
It may have also powerful effect on not only
the development of art in America, but the
relation Of art to governmental activities. The
private view takes place on Tuesday afternoon
from to z. The exhibition will be opened at
that time by the President of the United States.
IN THE National Museum, National History
! Building, Tenth and Constitution avenue
there was placed on view April S. to continue
to April 26, national exhibition constituting
work accomplished under the historic American
Buildings Survey, which in a measure parallels
the P. w. A. project. This consists Of collec-
tihnuuOf plans, measured drawings and photo
gT4l5hs made by architects and craftsmen dur
ing the first three months Of 1884, recording
the visible remains of our historic American
architecture These men were recruited from
the unemployed ranks of a profession extremely
In need Of employment, and at the same time
most interested in the preservation Of tradi-
tional American architecture.
This survey was made under grant from
the Civil Works Administration under the
direction of the National Park Service through
the cooperation of the American Institute of
Architects and the Library of Congress. It was
not limited to buildings primarily artistic in
design, but included all buildings of a historic
nature and as typicaly representing phases
ofnArnerican life.
For this survey the United States was divided
into 80 districts, with district officer in charge