Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-14
i. s. ART PROJECT
DUE TO Be REVIVED
Accomplishments of First
Venture Lauded as Hop
kinS Reveals Plan.

The Public Works of Art Project,
under which 3,749 unemployed artists
turned out thousands of murals, paint
1ngs and etchings, to adorn public
buildings throughout the country, has
completed its course.
So successful was the venture, in
the opinion of Harry L. Hopkins, that
the present works progress admins
TRAITOR is contemplating conducting
similar work under the new $4,000
100000 works program this year.
All the 1868 original works of art,
some of which drew criticism when ex-
hibited and others lavish praise, are
now in the hands of the ultimate con-
sumner, Hopkins announced yesterday.
In wages, the huge art collection cost
the Government $1,184,748 during the
Winter of 1884, under the former
civil works program.
In addition to the originals. thou
sands of prints have been made. This
phase of the project has just been
completed by the distribution OF a fin/
group of 1888 etchings, Autographs
and wood-block prints to universities,
high schools, museums and libraries.
All but the five New England States,
which previously had shared largely
In distributions, received portion OF
the last remaining prints.
Art Exhibited Here.
The works of art products have
been exhibited from time to time at
the White House, Corcoran Art Gal
lery. the Senate and House Once
Buildings and the various Federal
buildings in Washington. Practically
all the departmental buildings have
received generous numbers OF the
paintings to embellish their walls per-
manently.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
L. w. Robert, jr, who headed the ad-
ministrative organization in providing
work for the unemployed artists, yes
terday submitted his report to Hop
kins. He said the works of art would
remain in public buildings through
out the country, as permanent records
of the Federal Governments efforts to
provide work and at the same time
produce tangible, socially useful re-
suits.
The project, Robert reported, "was
born -" at exactly the right pSy-
Geological moment. The American
artist had just gone through period
of eclecticism. but a few years be-
fore the beginning of the project he
turned his mind away from theoriZng
for its own sake toward the life and
people Of his own country.
Remarkable Record"
"When the project started, the new
nationalistic movement in our art
was already at its height. For this
reason. however, time may evaluate
the work done as art. we can already
say without rashness that the work
done comprises a remarkable 'Ameri-
can record.
Paintings and sculpture rejecting
contemporary European influences
were the rare exception in our ma
tional exhibition. Had the exhibition
been held 10 years ago they would
have been the rule.
I'VE know, then, that the public
works Of art project has made a truly
native record and we can safely leave
the rest of the estimate to the
prejudice-cooling processes Of time"
Only about 10 per cent Of the 15,-
900 works of art were sent to Wash
ington for distribution.
More than $500 of the prints made
from originals were framed for the
Offices Of prominent Government Off
Gals in the National Capital and as
many more distributed among edu-
cational institutions throughout the
country.