Evening star., 1934-09-23
WASHINGTON BECOMING
ART CENTER OF RENOWN
Government Recognition of Field and
Availability of Private Collections
Enhance City's Importance.


fourteenth biennial will open at the
Corcoran next Spring and will be one
Of the events of the season, as previ-
Gus biennials have proven to be. In
addition to these nationally import
ant exhibitions, the Corcoran Gallery
arranges a continuous program OF
displays of paintings, sculpture and
works of art in other mediums, to the
total of about 80 shows a year.
The Phillips Memorial Gallery "of
modern art and its sources" admira-
bly, supplements the predominantly
traditional art in the National and
Corcoran Galleries. The Phillips
Gallery has national reputation for
progresSiveness of the most con-
structive type. Mr.. Phillips has done
a great deal for young American
painters in the modern idiom, whose
works he brings to Washington as
one-man shows from time to time.
Rare Items in Myers Museum.
George Hewitt Myers Textile Mu-
scum of the District of Columbia is
another privately-owned foundation
open to the public. 1t has rare col
lections of Persian, Egyptian. East
Indian and other Oriental textiles as
well as Spanish and Peruvian. The
items on exhibition are changed at
intervals and occasional lectures are
given on rugs and textiles.
The Arts Club of Washington,
founded in 1916, the -year-old Art
League of Washington. and the re-
ntly-organized Arts Group are Wig
orous organiza tions of artists and lay
members, occupying their own
homes" and hence equipped with
gallery space for exhibitions Of con-
temporary art. musicals, lectures. dra-
matte performances of the creative
Little Theater" type and other ac-
tivitieS which do much to elevate
Washington's status as an art center.
Washington also has several organiZa-
tions Of artists which hold annual ex-
hlbltiOns of their members works in
local galleries. such as the Corcoran,
Arts Club and Public Library. These
include the Society of Washington
Artists, the eldest founded in 1890;
the Washington Water Color Club SIX
years younger; the Landscape Club,
the Society of Miniature Painters,
Sculptors and Gravers of Washington
and the National Society of Inde-
pendent Artists. organized only last
year.
The Public Library has been active
in behalf of the arts in recent years,
supplying space in its central build
ing and branches for exhibitions. both
group ard one-man, chiefly by Wash
lngton artists.
Manifesting Washington's impor-
tance as an art center is the presence
IN this city Of headquarters of sew
eral great national organizations: The
American Federation Of Arts, which
was founded here and has chapters
and members in every State in the
Union. as well as in foreign countries,
and which every two years holds its
convention here. bringing to Wash
lngtOn noted artists. museum work
ers. lecturers. teachers and others
connected with the arts: the Ameri-
can Institute Of Architects, estab-
lished in the unique Octagon, built in
1900, designed by DR., Thornton, origi-
nal architect Of the United States
Capitol Building; the American Asso-
citation of Museums. headquarters at
the Smithsonian Institution. and the
American Civic Association, which
promotes better and more beauti-
full living conditions throughout the
country.
Private Foundations Are Superb.
Two private foundations which
form additional attractions to art
lovers in Washington are Dumbarton
House, headquarters Of the. National
Society. Colonial Danes of America.
built in the eighteenth century and
furnished with superb examples of
early furniture and other decorative
arts. museum exhibit of the finest
type, and the Folger Shakespeare Lii
brary, housing the unsurpassed COL
lection of Shakespeariana. and also
numerous paintings, sculpture. prints
and other works of art. The building
itself, with its sculptured facade,
stained glass and EhZabethan audi
torium, is masterpiece
The Washington Society of Fine
Arts and the Archaeological Society
Of Washington are cultural orpani-
+
which sponsor lectures and otherwise
promote the appreciation of art.
Washington is also rapidly becom-
ing a center of education in art.
Twelve art schools are listed in the
latest edition of the American Art
Annual. Three of these are affiliated
with galleries already mentioned: The
Corcoran. Phillips Memorial and Art
League. Separate schools include the
Abbott School of Fine and CONNER
cial Art, the American Master-School
of Interior Decoration and Architec-
ture, the Critcher School of Painting
and Commercial Art, the Hill School
of Art, King-Smith Studio-School.
Livingstone Academy and the National
School of Fine and Applied Art.
George Washington and Howard Uni
versities have art departments giving
courses in architecture, painting, de-
sign and related subjects. leading to
degrees. Judging from the number
of out-of-town students who come
/ here from many parts of the country,
Washington art schools are of ma
tional Importance.
Hence it appears that Washington
is becoming increasingly important
from the standpoint of artists and art
lovers When the art spirit f1ourishes
in the city which is also the Nations
Capital. its influence must inevitably
spread throughout the country.