Evening star., 1938-08-14

/ Unity" and Peace" for which he Is
done by others under his supervision.
They are to adorn the main facade of
the building and were selected from
424 works entered in competition.
Judging from Photographic reproduc-
tions of the model of Unity" the
winning design is extremely modern
istic or very archaic. (Revolution or
evolution. who shall say?) 1t repre-
sents huge female figure, half nude,
with right arm clumsily upraised.
Against her stand, less than waist
high, three equally clumsy and archaic
figures of man, woman and child.
The competition for mural paint
ings for this Government building was
announced about the time that the
sculpture competition was closed.
These paintings are designed for the
great halls of legislation and the
judiciary. Each will be los feet high
and 81 feet wide and in subject mat
ter must be related to those branches
of Government for which the halls
are named. Five thousand dollars will
be paid for each design-$l0,000 for
the two-and again the work will be
executed by others than the winning
competitor, but under his supervision
THE designs entered in the competi-
tion will be on the scale Of three
eighths of an inch to one foot, but
the winning competitor will be re-
quired to execute a working cartoon
in full color on the scale Of one-and-
one-half inch to one foot. The num-
Der Of sketches which an artist may
submit is not limited and may be for
one or for both halls On the Jury
Of selection and award such well
known mural painters as Eugene
Savage. Reginald Marsh. Ernest
Peixotto and Leon Kroll will serve,
together with the United States Com
missioner General to the Worlds Fair
Commission, E. J. Flynn and the
executive assistant, T. T. Hayes
as well the architect Of the building,
Howard L. Cheney; Edward Bruce
of the Treasury Department. section
Of painting and sculpture and one
of his special assistants, N. Max Dun
ming. The competition closes Septem-
Der /.
In announcing this competition Mr..
Bruce thus addressed himself to the
artists of the country at large:
Three years ago American painters
were clamoring for wall space. They
have had many opportunities since
then to try their talents in the field
OF mural painting. I am sure the
artists will realize that with the an
nouncement of the competition for
the mural paintings In the two great
halls of the United States Govern
ment Building at the New York
Worlds Fair the most superb spaces
which have ever been offered to
artists for decoration await their
imagination. 1t is a challenging op-
portunity. and confidently expect
the artists to enter into this compe.
tition with the same enthusiasm with
which they have responded to our
previous projects"
Undoubtedly he is right, and the
result will be awaited with great in
terest. In any event a novel expert
ment is to be tried which, If success
full, may have far-reaching effects.
THE award of commissions for mural
paintings, sculpture and archi-
tectural designs through competitions
has been much discussed of late and
would seem to be growing in favor.
There is, of course, much to be said
for it. 1t gives every man equal
chance. Also it would seem to afford
opportunity for the young artist to
prove his talent and demonstrate his
power. But the fact is that it entails
enormous waste and very seldom
seems to bring forth the best result.
Every artist who enters a competi-
ton obviously hopes to win, and If
he does not he is without compensa-
ton for his time and effort. Also in
not a few of the competitions held by
the Government not single entry was