Evening star., 1937-05-22

ton, by mural paintings principally
of more than thousand public build
ings, work acquired on a merit basis
with public funds, the cost approx.
mating nearly one million dollars
Mr.. Rowan was followed by Thomas
c. Parker, assistant to the director
Holger Cahill, Federal art project
w. P. A., through the instrumentality
of which more than three thousand
artists are employed. as a relief meas
ure, at living wage, and an extensive
educational program is carried on
The picture of this astounding ac-
tivity, reaching to the farther-most
corner of our country, and, accord
ing to Mr.. Parker, adapting us to a
new life under completely changed
conditions, was finished by D. S.
Diefenbacher, assistant regional ad-
wiser who told of the establishment of
community art centers in the South
and West on cooperative basis and
their conduct under governmental su-
pervision and management.
Then came three women speakers
and an artist, Dorothy Gray, critic
of the Philadelphia Record. speaking
from personal observation and as the
daughter of the late Charles Crafty,
sculptor, reared In studio environ
ment, deprecated the lack of concern
apparent for quality in production:
the low standard maintained, and
questioned gravely the improbability
of the artists now employed becoming
self-supporting. These fears were,
however, brushed aside by Mrs Hal
pert of the Downtown Gallery, New
York, who was of the opinion that, by
lowering prices and increasing pub
licity, new public for works of art
was being created. The third woman
speaker was Mrs. McMahan, secre-
tary of the College Art Society and
actively engaged on the w. P. A. art
project in New York, who admirably
summarized all the facts brought out
by the several preceding speakers.
However, before this excellent conclu-
sion, painter and art teacher, Ar
shile Gorky Of New York, was intro.
duced and permitted to present his
point of view, which was essentially
that of those who demand support
and feel that they may do so as a
right, regardless of achievement. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Gorky, the only living
art is that of the present-the only
remedy for unemployment-un
ton. The art of the past was scorn-
fully referred to by this speaker as
produced to flatter the rich patron,
and the collector of today, who bought
and gave such to the public as seek
ing publicity
BY the audience the utterances of
this speaker were taken in jocular
mood, and no opportunity was given
for general discussion. However, op-
portunity came later at the luncheon,
and was admirably used by DR.. Henry
M. Wriston, the new president Of
Brown University, member OF the
Board Of Trustees OF The American
Federation of Arts, who presided at
.he morning session. With extraordi-
nary force and clearness, in a five
minute speech, this eminent educator
1lscipated much Of the fog created by
confusion Of facts and ideals. He
promptly and firmly rejected the sup
position that today differs utterly from
know more of the lat
,er than the former" he said, that
is all": defended the great art of the
past on the ground of universally,
,oday as yesterday and tomorrow, and
he asked with startling directness,
Why must the artist live-if he has
nothing to give?", reminding his list
,ners that in the history of mankind
,he greatest gifts had come out Of
poverty, rather than plenty.
Such frank dicussion of the Fed
eral Governments art projects and
program could not fail to be thought
provocative and helpful.
Annual Summer Exhibition
OF Members Works Opens
In the Arts Club.
HE last of the current seasons
exhibitions opened in the Arts
Club the first of this week. It con-
'ists of the annual Summer exhibition
of members works and will continue
until early Autumn. Twenty-Five oil
paintings are hung in the gallery and
IN equal number Of water colors and
prints in the reception room, dining
'oom and hall. The collection, as q
whole, is not so good as it might be,
out there are some interesting and
excellent exhibits Outstanding, for
among the oil paintings is
an interior, Room at Arlington" by
Charles Bittinger, president OF the
Society OF Washington Artists, which
attracted much favorable notice when
recently shown In the Corcoran BIZ
ennial Exhibition. Mr.. Bittinger (who,
by the way, is accompanying the
expedition Of scientists to view the
solar eclipse from South Pacific
lsland) has made = speciality Of in
teriors. but rarely has he painted
with such breadth and command as
in this instance. Not only does he
present to us q charming room-in
design and furnishing inherently q
work Of art, but his presentation in
itself Is charming-the way it is
done is quite as delightful rs the
thing itself. But how skinully the
effect has been produced, how excel
lent Is the composition and how At
tractive the color scheme, enlivened
to the right degree by q touch of
flaming crimson In precisely the
proper place. And, what Is more,
this room has atmospheric Is q
place presumably lived in, pregnant
with life. whether Of the present or