Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-25
BY LEILA MECHLIN,
Art Critic of The Star.

Announcement mas been made OF
the award to Robert M. Cronbach
of New York Of commission to ex-
ecute two statues, each approx
mately feet high, to adorn the au-
ditorium of the new Social Security
Building. This award followed a
national competition conducted by
the Section of Fine Arts, Public
Buildings Administration, Federal
Works Agency, headed by Edward
Bruce, artist and executive. Bull
letin No. 81 not only announced this
and other similar forthcoming COM
petitions, but explained at length
in an article by A. J. Altmeyer,
chairman of the Social Security
Board, the meaning of social secur-
ity to the people of this country
and also gave explicit directions for
competitors.
BY the rules, each sculptor was
obliged to submit before September
3 plaster model embodying his
conception. on the scale of IL
inches to the foot, and at his own
expense. The price to be paid the
winner was $4,000 for each finished
work. from which, however, were to
be deducted the cost of wooden
base, execution and installation.
More than one work might be sub
mitted by any competitor, but all
must be unsigned. the competition
being declared anonymous.
Two hundred and eighty-nine
sculptors from various parts Of this
country submitted $50 models. 1t
was from this number that the jury
Of award, consisting of Chain
Gross of New York. Ralph Stack
pole Of California and William Nc
Vey Of Texas. meeting here in
Washington. selected the two stat
ues by Mr.. Cronbach as most meri-
torious.
Winning Pieces Described.
The three members of this jury
are all sculptors Mr.. Gross was
born in Austria, but has been living
in New York, where he studied at
the BeauX Arts Institute. He and
Mr.. McVey, a native Bostonian, now
head of the art department of the
University of Texas, have executed
sculpture for the Federal Trade
Commission Building in this city.
Mr.. Stackpole was born in Oregon.
studied under Arthur Putnam of
California and later in the Ecole des
BeauX Arts. Professionally
conservative training. His speciality
has been portraits. OF the three,
Mr.. Gross alone is what may be
termed left wing" leaning strongly
toward the new school of expression.
Because of the subtle relationship
of art. in this instance, to contem-
porary life and to the ideals and
policy of the present administration,
this competition takes on impor-
lance greater than the thing itself.
The winning statues are of man
and a woman, and are said to en-
body the ideals or story Of social
security. They appear, in reproduce
ton, utterly puerile and forlorn.
The one of the man is grotesque in
| the extreme. In appearance he Is
lanky, stupid looking and unkempt;
one foot rests on the ground, the
other on the second step of flight
of winding stairs. In his right hand,
dropped by his side, he holds book,
while with the left he clasps. as
though for much-needed support, a
fragment Of the curving stair rail.
The woman, better poised, and
clad In single garment, once
called a shift" stands beside a
bench and looks down upon baby
lying thereon face upward. Be-
side her is fragment Of what may
have been a house or shelter. at
the foot of which is seen a climb
ing vine. The man is supposed to
symbolic progress in security,
work and education the woman
protective" shelter and continual
ton as we'll as growth of family"
Both are as dreary and unln-
spired works as ever came from an
artists studio, and yet they were
adiudged the best of $50.
Is there something the matter
with our artists or with us?
Absurd and Discouraging.
According to report, these strange
and incomprehensible works were
chosen because Of their suitability
Of design and originality of con-
ception, as well as merit OF pres
entation." But who would under
stand the Symbolism without ex-
planatory labelling. and why, after
reading Mr.. Altmeyer's excellent and
thought-provoking exposition Of the
meaning of social security, should
the theme be presented in such un-
attractive guise?
If we believe in the potentiali-
ties Of better living for all, even
in a machine age. WHY be so mel