Evening star., 1935-10-29
BY LEILA MECHLIN.

never fiourished.
Works Widely Distributed.
The $4,000 or more paintings and
sculptures-the latter greatly in the
minority-produced in something less
than six months under the p. w. A.
P. were distributed to public and
semi-public buildings not only in
Washington, but all over the United
States. This amazing undertaking
was brought to an end in May, 1884.
But something had been started
Five months later. october Is. 1884.
little over a year ago, painting and
sculpture section OF the Procurement
Division Of the Treasury Department
was set up with practically the same
personnel as the P. w. A. P. on per-
manent basis, not as relief organiza-
ton, but with the purpose Of patronage
on a large scale and Of getting the best
Lessons had been learned, among
them the folly or danger OF encourag-
| ing the would-be artist without talent
to waste time and effort in production
Again there we're small surplus appro-
priations which could be spent prop
erly for paintings and sculpture to
| adorn new Federal buildings nearing
completion and public funds available
for like decorations in small Federal
buildings in course Of erection in vari-
Gus parts of the country.
With the help Of an advisory COM
mittee of experts 10 artists were
promptly chosen and commissioned to
make mural paintings for the new
Post ONCE and the Justice Buildings,
and two sculptors were chosen to do a
life-size figure each for the Post Of
flee. Then competitions were begun
through which additional awards were
to be and have now been made. These
competitions gave every artist an op-
portunity and safeguarded those in
authority from unfair discrimination
or oversight.
Exhibit Is Comprehensive.
The exhibition, now open in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, consists Of
the sketches submitted in these COM
petitions, the winning designs. in
some instances the designs which
were found not acceptable. and in two
instances the studies made for the
Justice Building by two of the artists
who were given direct commission.
Two galleries are occupied by the
exhibition-those to the right and
left Of the main staircase on the sec
ond floor. That to the left contains
the winning designs for the eight pairs
Of Post Once murals designed to NIL
panels on walls opposite the elevator
shaft on each floor; designs entered in
this competition which did not receive
award but because Of merit caused
the competitors to be placed on an
eligible list for future direct commits
sions. and designs ranked as inter-
esting but unsuccessful: also, at the
far end. designs entered in competi-
ton for murals in the Justice Build
ing, all Of which were thrown out-no
award made. And, finally, the II lit
tie figures representing the history Of
the postal delivery service, which had
been submitted in the sculpture COM
petition and accepted for execution
and placement when completed. In
the gallery to the right have been
placed sketches for murals in small
Federal buildings all over the coun-
try, which have been accepted and
are in productions; at the two ends
large size studies by George Biddle
and Henry Varnum Poore for murals
in the Justice Building. and large
company of models of figures in the
postal service entered in competition
and rejected-some of which are by
very distinguished sculptors.
In architectural competitions it is
quite usual to. exhibit the designs re-
jected as well as those receiving
award, but this Is less common in
painting competitions. However. to
do so is just to both the competitors
and the juries of award.
Designs Not Suitable.
Certainly there will be no reversal Of
judgment in connection with the de-
signs submitted for murals in the JUS
tice Building, no one OF which could
have been accepted. for they are not
suitable, either in the matter of con-
ception or in execution. In one, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is
represented as the Almighty seated
high up upon the clouds. In another,
a condemned criminal Is being led to
execution by two prison guards. In a
third. a pair of shackled hands are
thrust upward against q background
picturing every manner of crime. Ap-
parently in the minds Of these artists
justice has only to do with punish
r1ent. A strange perversion OF fact.
Surely justice insures liberty.
But even Mr.. Biddle and Mr.. Poore
in their accepted works seem to have
interpreted the spirit of justice grimly.
Mr.. Biddle in magnificently drawn,
full size cartoon, and carefully wrought
small-size studies in color, presents
sociological aspects Of life under old
standards and new-uncontrolled and
controlled-possibly as under the "old
order" and the New Dear'-and as
affecting the common people. The
contrast is between labor done with
sweat-the curse of Adam-and lei
sure, which, unearned, has no kick"
The artist is confronted with the dif-
ficult dilemma of making heaven
seem more interesting than hell, and
has succeeded poorly, despite his very
evident artistic ability.
Mr.. Poore is more dramatic in mis-
panels, but no more cheerful. One rep
resented the condemned criminal-thc
other the pardoned. IN the former
the wrongdoer is being led away to
prison by q kindly and sympathetic
guard, whereas in the other the man
freed clasps to him weeping woman
wife, sister or ENTHUSIASTICALLY over
come with emotion. The drawing Is
cluunsY the Color hrnu1n And dllll