Evening star., 1934-03-21
?. v. A. EXHIBITION
Of ART IS PLANNED.
Display to Be Conducted at
CorCoran GaIIery-Be.
gins April "a.

A national exhibition of what un-
employed artists of America have
accomplished under the epochal public
works of art project-designed as a
relief measure for deserving artists
will be held. beginning April "a, at
the Corcoran Gallery of Art. it was
announced today by Edward Bruce,
director of the program.
This novel show by living American
artists is expected to be one of the
most interesting ever held in the eX-
elusive halls of the Corcoran Gallery.
Trustees of the gallery, in offering the
Federal Government the best of the
eallery'S facilities for the exhibition,
felt it was appropriate for the show to
be held there, in view of the traditional
policy of the gallery to lend its full
support to American art
First Material Aid.
THE trustees welcomed this op-
portunity to cooperate with the Fed
eral Government and at the same
time to have an active part in pro-
noting American art" it was stated
today by C. Powell Minnigerode, d.
rector of the gallery. He pointed out
that the institution frequently has
co-operated with the Government in
the past-as in the George Wash
ington Bicentennial art exhibit
The public works of art project
represents the first time in history
that the United States Government
has given material aid to American
art approximately $500 unemployed
artists throughout the country have
been put to work embellishing with
paintings and sculpture a variety of
buildings supported wholly or in part
by peoples taxes The buildings in
Clude schools, city halls. State cap
itols. libraries and the like
The Governments undertaking is
a recognition of the work of living
American artists. as we'll as a recog-
milton of the right of artists to share
in employment relief measures of the
Federal Government, it is explained.
20 Artists Employed.
A thousand carefully selected easel
paintings, muralS, etchings, engrav-
ings and water colors will be exhibited
during the show, which will continue
for a month or longer. The works
will be sent here from the l6 regional
districts into which the country has
been divided under the project.
Washington is in the regional dis
trict comprising the District of Co.
lumbia, Maryland and Virginia Su-
perviSing this district is a regional
committee consisting of Duncan Phil
lips, chairman; Mr. Minnigerode, Olin
DoWS. Charles Bittinger and c. Law
Watkins. In the local area between
so and 10 artists are employed Some
exceptionally fine work has been done
in painting natural habitat back
grounds for animals at the National
Geological Park-workS which OBJ
viouSly cannot be included in the
gallery exhibit.
The exhibition, officials said, will
cover wide field, not only in char
acter of work displayed but geogrsph-
ically. Artists from virtually every
section of the Nation will be repre-
sented in the varied array of works
on display.
May Transfer Exhibits.
The show will be given as much
space as the important biennial exhi.
bitions of American oil paintings helc
by the Corcoran Gallery All of the
second floor of the old part of the gal
lery will be devoted to the exhibition
In this part of the building are 10
specially lighted and proportioned gal
leries. The public exhibition probably
Will be preceded by private view for
invited guests. Later the exhibits may
be transferred to other cities, includ-
ing New York, where there is a posi-
bility they will be shown in the
Rockefeller Center.
Artists employed under the public
works of art project were selected
without discrimination, except that
they had to show art ability and need
for aid. Judging by the class of work
already produced, officials are of the
opinion that the Government will
gain. in value of art furnished for
public buildings. many times what the
program has cost.