Evening star., 1940-11-26

States gives evidence of a wide
spread productive movement. This
is well, but owing to the elimina-
ton of distance and the wide dis
tribution of reproduction in black
and white and color Of artists
works, there is less regional differ
ence shown than might be expect
ed-certainly less than would be de-
sirable from the standpoint of prog
ress. II our art Is to be truly
American, rejecting that which Is
best in our land, it must be no less
free and independent than we are
as a people
The highest-priced work in this
exhibition is the sculpture by Ahron
Ben-Shmuel of New York, The
Wrestler" valued at $4,000, which
has been placed at the entrance to
the auditorium. and is undoubtedly
forceful as well as plastic-posses-
sed, as is much of the sculpture
of today, with kind of primitive
strength. We have. it has been said,
gone back to the Stone Age, putting
aside for the moment, gentleness
and refinement of touch and finish.
Perhaps this is well, but only if
thereby we recover something val
liable which has been unwittingly
lost, and which once regained will
be stepping stone to finer achieve
ment. A terra Gotta group-two
little girls-"The Skaters" by Lenore
Thomas-is another interesting ex-
ample in which motion as well as
bulk has been skillfully expressed.
In the main, the sculpture shown
in this exhibition is a collection
assembled by the Sculptors Guild
of New York to be sent on a cir
cult From here it will go to the
Cleveland Art Museum, from there
to the Albany Institute of Art, then
to several New England organiza-
tions and finally to Chattanooga,
Tenn, in May. 1t is this guild
which has staged several very sue
cessful outdoor exhibitions on
vacant lot in the heart of the New
York business district. Among its
members are sculptors of as diver
gent styles as William Zorach and
Paul Manship, Helene Sardeau,
Cornelian Van A. Chaplin, Maurice
Sterne, Robert Laurent and Louis
Slobodkin. The collection now on
view is fully representatives of new
trends in this field.
Demonstrations of sculpture
making as well as painting, print
making and the handicrafts will be
staged daily.
Crafts Exhibit Praised.
1t is, however, the arts and crafts
section of this exhibition which will
be found most nearly to fulfill the
purpose of National Art Week-to
bring American art into the homes
of the American people. In this
section are many beautiful things
designed and made by American
craftsmen for use, but which are
inherently artistic. Here are works
in metalsilver, copper, brass, pew
ter-baskets, pottery, woven fabrics,
needlework, carvings and the like,
which are fine in form, color and
pattern, eminently suitable and in
finitely more lovely, from the stand
point of workmanship, than any
thing any machine can turn out.
These things evidence an esthetic
feeling on the part of the makers,
a SensitivenesS and sincerity which,
finding expression through a CO.
ordination of hand and brain, mean
real culture.
Wehn a few years ago Harvard
University wished to make known
the character Of its founders, and
of the time in which they lived, it
arranged an exhibition of the
things, such as these, that were to
be found in their homes.
Among the craft objects on view
are many different sorts from vari-
GUS parts of our country, from the
Indian pueblos, the North Carolina
mountains, the plains country, the
deep South and from beyond the
Rocky Mountains. This wide rep
resentation is very encouraging,
especially when so high a standard
is uniformly upheld.
At the formal opening yesterday
afternoon the speakers were the
three persons who have had most
to do with making Art Week what
1t is-Edward B. Rowan of the Sec
ton of fine arts, Mrs. Florence Kerr
of the w. p. A. and Francis H.
Taylor of the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, New York, who served as
chairman of the Advisory Council.
How gigantic an undertaking, and
with what amazing skill it was or
ganized. only those who have had
experience in such matters can
fully realize. Mr.. Taylor spoke OF
it as perhaps one of the most mo-
mentous events of the present day
with reference to its influence on
the future. But he did not fail to
stress the need for cooperation be-
tween artists and the public. No
industry, or art, ne said, can -four
ish &. without generous support
through purchase-not even the
automobile
theoretically all this is very true
but in art as in automobile manu-
facture, what we want is not guam
titative but qualitative production.
Automobiles that do not give service
are not bought, pictures which have
no power to kindle imagination and
extend vision are not wanted. A
great opportunity is unfolded to the
artists of the country by this Ma
tional Art Week. Let the slogan
be Better American art for sll
American homes"