Evening star., 1941-08-10
THE WASHINGTONIANS IN
PHILADELPHIA.

The great need today is not to make
1t easy to get work shown, or into
museums. but for the creation of a
tains. Twenty-Five years ago there was
a real need for a liberal revolution, but
the pendulum has swung too far in the
opposite direction. The decline Of Amer
lean art patronage almost to the vanish
ing point is probably due to many reasons
more or less obscure. But one reason
l think must be the progressive lowering
of our standards, which has created in
the mind of the public confusion and
resentment.
I'm times of decadence, as at the
present, it is well to have a few in
stitutions that are above and beyond
the ever-shifting tastes of the moment.
1t Is only through them that storms
are weathered. That is the purpose Of
an unalterable creed in an organized
religion, of q constitution in govern
ment.
II consider the situation serious ="
it Is evident that we have reached some
kind Of all-time low in depravity. Just
one illustrative incident:
In q local (New York State) art
exhibition, consisting of the work of
adult artists, an 11-year-old girl was
given a place of honor She was given
a dinner, had her picture in the paper,
etc. And her work, not without naive
Lztt
any ll-year old child does. In another
current exhibition boys of Is have their
work accepted along with older men.
We are 50. so afraid we are going to miss
q few geniuses. But 1t never hurt a
genius of twice Is years to be kicked
around little"
A settlement of the gallery debate
is suggested by John Steuart Curry, dis
tinguished artist-in-residence at the
University of Wisconsin. He thinks
it would be sgood idea" for the Gov
ernment to build a second art museum,
contemporary works could be placed in
this and be allowed to sit for some years
before they would be moved up to the
National Gallery"
Completed plans for such a museum
= of modep art are already in the poses
sion of Edward Bruce, head of the sec
tion of fine arts in the Public Buildings
Administration. This would be the pro-
jected Smithsonian Gallery of Art, on
the site across the Mall from the Ma
tional Gallery. Mr.. Bruce, well known
painter, considers its construction vital
to house examples of an American art
which is on its way as never before"
The idea also finds favor with Di-
rector Finley of the National Gallery.
Reporting the gallery. is firmly opposed
to letting in contemporary art, he points
out that it was the idea of Andrew Mel
Ion to follow the lines of the National
Gallery in London and the Louvre in
Paris, where there is similar period of
waiting after the artists death, until
his reputation has become firmly es-
tablished and his work can be judged
more dispassionately."
Work of living artists may be shown
at the gallery in brief loan exhibitions
he adds, and permanently in other
washington museums,
While only formal portraits are nov
seen in the American collection, Gil
bert Stuart and Benjamin West are
among the famous artists represented
I'VE hope in time to secure fine ex-
amples by Whistler, Ryder, Winslov
Homer and other great Americans moi
now represented" the director reports
A survey has been conducted 10 de-
termine what Is available.