Evening star., 1939-11-01

Federal AhGoes
On View Tomorrow
Al Corcoran Gallery
Paintings and Sculpture
To Decorate Buildings
Included in Exhibit

A huge exhibition Of painting and
sculpture done for the decoration Of
Federal buildings everywhere in the
land through the Section Of Fine
Arts of the Public Buildings Admin
istration Of the Public Works Agency
opens to the public tomorrow at 2
pm. at the Corcoran Gallery Of Art.
It will continue through Novem-
Der 81.
Central features Of the exhibit are
the winning designs Of recent COM
petition for post ofice murals In all
Of the 48 States, as well rs runners
up. A total Of ass murals and sculp-
lures are listed In the exhibit, some
in full size.
Edward Bruce, chief of the Section
of Fine Arts said at press preview
Of the exhibit yesterday that he
considered the post ofice murals es-
pecially represented q fine 'pano-
rama Of America, triumphant and
unafraid, fresh and clean-cut and
without any 'isms' in them"
Mr.. Bruce admitted that the mu-
rails were not all fine arts, but added
that they were good art for the
people to see. with war raging In
Europe and every gallery closed, In
nearly all foreign countries, now Is
the time to keep art alloat." Nr.
Bruce asserted. we can do this
service to humanity in this country"
- Compete In Contest.
There are IS 900 post ofhces In the
United States. An average Of 9,000.-
600 persons 60 in them every day.
where could you find . better art
audience than that?" Mr.. Bruce
asked.
In speaking Of Federal buildings
other than post ofices, Of which
there are IS 900, Mr.. Bruce said the
same thing went for them. The re-
mainder Of the exhibit, exclusive Of
the post ONCE murals, is devoted TO
painting and sculpture for the latter,
done in the last five years.
The post ONCE mural competition,
or "48 State mural competition"
as 1t Is called, resulted In the SUBJ
mission Of work by - American
artists from all parts Of the country.
The competition was opened last
June, open to every American artist
who cared to compete. Scale paint
ings were unsigned and Judgment,
for this reason. was meted out on
the most impartial basis possible,
The jury was headed by Maurice
Sterne.
The remainder Of the exhibit in
cludes q comprehensive cross-scction
of the decorations, both painted and
carved, which have gone or are going
to decorate Federal buildings In
Washington and elsewhere. Included
is the controversial statue Of the
young Lincoln" done by Louis
Slobodkin for the New York Worlda
Fair and which was ordered de-
stroyed by q fair ofncial. Mr.. Bruce
termed this incident . "cruel thing
yesterday and announced that Z
full-sized bronze cast Of the figure
would be installed In the Interior
Department here.
Special Broadcast.
Winners Of the post ONCE COM
petition will share In more than
$3s, 1000 prize money through con-
tracts to paint their murals depict
ing American life ON the walls Of Z
new post ONCE In each State In the
Union, Mr.. Bruce said.
It was announced today that pre-
ceding the opening Of the exhibit
Senator Robert M. La Toilette and
Mr.. Bruce will speak on . special
radio program for IS minutes over
the red network Of the National
Broadcasting Co. The program will
be broadcast in Washington by Sta
tion WMAL and win come directly
from the Corcoran Gallery.
The exhibition win be subjected
to the regular hours Of the gallery
except that two evening openings
have been set aside. The exhibit,
% well as the Corcoran 0alleryil
popular price" alumni-art student
sales exhibit across the hall, will be
open . week from tonight and on
November Is from 7:S0 until 10
o'clock.