Evening star., 1935-06-09
ARTS AND CRAFTS EXHIBIT
TO BE OPENED In MEXICO
Aim of Exposition Is to Give Dynamic
Picture of Cultural Evolution
of the Americas.

nation and nation and man and man
today"
Miss Naumburg emphasized that
this is not to be one more lifeless
museum exhibit. Its purpose is to
bring the cultural energies OF the
three Americas into currents of SYM
pathy and understanding by an eX-
change and sharing Of their racial
heritage. 1t is proposed to make this
a travelling exhibition and to have
the exhibit accompanied not only by
some one who can lecture intelligently,
but by several teachers of the arts
and crafts so that, as the exhibit
travels through all the countries, 1t
can be effective In directing the en-
thusiasm and creative interest aroused
into channels Of fresh artistic express
sion. There Is a growing public Of
youths and adults, on both sides of
the Rio Grande. ready artiStically as
we'll as educationally to respond to
such an exhibit.
In Latin America the plan Is bound
to receive genuine and wholehearted
support. For years leaders of thought
in the southern republics have been
pointing to the prevailing lack Of
cultural knowledge among the in
habitants of the Western Hemisphere
as the greatest barrier to pan-Amet-
ican understanding and friendship.
The Latin Americas will certainly
and earnestly welcome a movement
Of inter-American rapprochement
which, for once, is directed into cham
nels other than commercial or purely
self interested.
Because of their own racial make
up and their traditional background,
the Americans of Latin origin are
| temperamentally inclined to favor
any new cultural undertaking. And
they are doubly 30 when such an
undertaking Is related to the promo
ton of q continental understanding
which both political and commercial
methods have. so far, failed to
achieve.
Fears Should BE Allayed.
Besides, and in this respect the
authors Of the plan have shown
great tact, the interest and the en-
| IIluSldSIIl vi IIlc LdIlll otldl1
be increased by the fact that the
exhibit will be launched, originally,
down there, in Mexico and Central
America. only later to travel through
the United States. This should give
them q sense of joint responsibility
in the enterprise, and allay the fears
and suspicious left by previous and
| less altruistic cultural schemes
which were practically forced upon
them from the north.
Last, but by no means least. many
| of the Latin American countries, all
those with q large Indian population,
will find their interest in the plan
augmented by the study and revival
Of the local Indian cultures, which
will eventually be one of its objectives.
| In some Of those countries, where the
men in the government have already
realized both error and injustice OF
| the oblivion and relegation in which
| the Indian masses have been kept
since Colonial days, the plan will be
officially encouraged as one more
means for the desired rehabilitation
| of the Indian culture. In others,
where the class in power Is still bent
on preserving all that refers to the
old indigenous culture in the dark
that the Indians may be more easily
and permanently exploited by the
white minority-the plan will have
the ardent, vigorous support of the
Intellectual elements and the leaders
Of the younger sectors who have
taken upon their shoulders the task
Of national regeneration.
tcepsrisht, 1854