Evening star., 1936-06-13

Va ulAIuLIcEdDle pflOLOSTdpIlS. several
hundred are leading arts and crafts
projects in c. c. C. camps, settlement
and community houses. Several hun
dred are employed in operating COM
munity art galleries in the South and
West. aiding museums and the art
departments Of public libraries.
IN CONNECTION with so extensive
a program, the exhibition IN the
National Museum is extremely lin
tied. And as it is made up largely
of cleft overs" from exhibitions here
and elsewhere, and works allocated it
should perhaps not be too harshly
judged. But to say the least it Is not
reassuring-it does not whet the ap-
petite and cause a cry for more.
Four alcoves are occupied by the
paintings in water color or colored
crayon drawings of children under
instruction in community houses, set
Elements, etc, the 'underprivileged,
but supposedly normal. Forty thou
sand such children are, it is an
nounced, receiving such instruction
by teachers on this art project roll.
The purpose is ito give opportunity
for creative expression" and mod
ern methods, which recognize and
foster the children's natural freshness
Of vision and boldness of form" are
employed. In a few instances the
results seem to justify such course
and expectation; but surely among
10000 a few talented or competent
might reasonably emerge.
The ages of the children under in
struction range, it is said, from
years through adolescence, but the
majority of the works on exhibition
are by children from 9 to Is.
That their imagination has been stim-
ulated by their teachers is quite pos
sible. although the natural imagina-
tive power of children of these ages
is normally high. But certainly they
have not been taught to draw or 10
give their imaginative conceptions
adequate expression. In two instance
in the Washington section clever
paintings, inspired by puppets, arc
shown, but neither the name nor the
age of the child artist is announced.
In the sections from other parts of
the country there is one striking
painting Of three clowns by boy of
II, in New York center. Noticeable
in the local branch work is a strange.
impossible landscape by a little girl
of which is labeled Impressions OF
Van Gogh."
Otherwise the work Is about vhat
one might expect from children left 10
themselves who had no contacts with
art or conception of its meaning.
Their expression is crude and inadr-
quate. There is no evidence of effort
to cultivate in these childish mind
love of beauty or powers of observa-
ton. The teaching seems to be Of ?
negative sort, with a tendency to brea
down standards rather than develOp
them. But this is in accordance WITH
modern progressive" methods greatly
in vogue.
-FOUR alcoves are also given oye~
to prints-etchings lithograph-.
block prints-by artists working III
the graphic arts section There al
graphic arts units in Is States and
some $50 artists are employed. Sir
last October $500 prints have been
produced under these auspices arr
distributed in portfolios, and singlv
to public institutions, supported III
whole or part by taxes. The demanc.
1t is said, is greater than the presen
supply. Edt what is this extensive fire
distribution of prints doing to the a.
fists in this field of art who ha;
heretofore made a living by print
making? That is worth taking unGec
consideration. There is a POSSIBILITY.
is there not, of an overlooked mar
ket, especially when so much can be
had for the asking? And also whae
of quality? Public institutions should
lead the people in matters Of judg-
ment. Can they afford to show works
which are second rate or less? Some
excellent prints have been obtained
by the Government on order from
artists on relief-prints which any
astute collector would covet-but such
are not common at any time or place
therefore, perhaps the collection nov
on view may be considered represent
ative of the average thus acquired
with taxpayers money. They are
not incompetently rendered. but thev
are, it would seem, neither inspirinG
nor inspired. Some are better than
others-but there is nothing here to
stir the collectors envy or enthusiasm
And still worse-far worse-are the
two alcoyeS given over to paintings
in oil, not one of which would. il
might be safely ventured, pass even
lenient jury of practicing artists.
There is something pitiful about these.
because they would seem to indicate
on the part of the painters mighty
ambition and small capacity. OF
the entire number, two from Louis
lana and two from New Mexico have
most to commend them in character
and naive simplicity of expression
But these paintings, of which 1851
have been produced since last October.
are to go to public institutions, to
be hung on their walls as examples
of art foStered by the Federal Govern
ment. Possibly the exhibition in the
Phillips Gallery so soon to open, may
dispel this unfortunate impression and
these disquieting doubts. 1t is to be
hoped so-for, after all. the civiliza-
ton of people is measured by it,
art. Government patronage should
stimulate. not depress, standards and
achievement.
Cou.b;rJ H:+oI,L:I