Evening star., 1941-03-23
American PAINTINGS
GivenPrivate Showing
AtCorcoran Galleries
/. Distinguished Assembly
+ Of Invited Guests See
{ S3o Pictures


{ 33o Pictures
The Seventeenth Biennial Exhibi-
tion of Contemporary American Oil
Paintings opened last night in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art with 8 pri-
vate preview, and the large and
distinguished assembly of invited
guests moved through 10 galleries
hung with 339 pictures-a represent
ative display OF national Importance.
The exhibition. designed TO pre-
sent an authentic conception OF
present art trends In the United
States, will be open TO the public
from 2 pm. to pm. today and
will be available daily through
Nav T.
Diplomats, Government officials
and prominent figures Of the art
circles of the Capital and other cities
were among those greeted by menu
bers of the gallery's Board OF T'rus-
tees, c. Powell Minnigerode, the di-
rector, and his associates on the
staff. The gathering was typical OF
those which have inaugursted "blen-
malls" through the years, helping
focus Nation wide attention upon
she displays. which are recognized
among painters, critics and friends
of American art i'll general as true
reflections of artists tastes in this
country.
Great Staircase Decorated.
Palms decorated the great stair
ease of the gallery last night, and an
orchestra played as the visitors
Strolled about on the second floor A
the galleries from which items of
the permanent Corcoran collection
bad been removed in favor OF the eK-
hibition choices.
The largest groups Of guests were
80 be found before the four winners
OF the w. A. Clark prize awards
chosen by the jury Of five distin-
guished American artists-F'ranklin
c. Watkins, chairman: Francis
Chaplin, Russell Cowles. Guy Pene du
Bois and Alexander r. James-which
selected all the pictures IN the ex-
hibition and served as q hanging
committee. The jurors announced
the awards last week after extended
elaboration here and at galleries
of the CorCOran'S agents i'll New
York City.
Vermont Farm" by John Ed
ward Heliker of New York City, first
prize winner, q small canvas featur-
ing the browns and greens of New
England countryside and stone slabs
jutting from the earth, hangs be-
tween Lee Townsend's 1.-TWO Two
Year-Olds," picturing pair of race
horses, and Robert Lifvendahls
"Standing Figure"
Hung in other rooms as decided
by the Jury and, like Vermont
Farm given no special prominence
except through identifying cards
are the other especially honored
paintings.
First Important Prize.
Considered a striking testimonial
10 the Strictly-on-merit principle
governing the process of selection
Is the choice OF Mr.. Helikers work
for the first w. A. Clark prize OF
$4,000 and the Corcoran Gold Medal.
This 31-year-old artist, one OF the
youngest ever TO receive the award,
boasts only three months formal
art instruction. Although his work
is represented in collections of sew
ersl well known museums, this is
his first important prize.
The other winning works are as
follows: The Good Samaritan"
Fred Nagler of New York City. sec
ond Clark prize of 1900 and Cor
eoran Silver Medal: Poor Fishing"
Max Weber of Great Neck, Long
Island, N. Y, third Clark prize OF
81 900 and Corcoran Bronze Medal.
and Dolce Far Niente," Zygmunt
Menkes of New York City, fourth
Clark prize of $500 and the Corcoran
Honorable Mention Certificate.
Mr.. Nagler and Mr.. Weber re-
eeiyed their honors i'll person dur
ing a simple ceremony in the office
of Mr.. Minnigerode last night. Mr.
Heliker notified gallery officials he
would not be able TO attend but eH-
pected to visit the exhibition soon,
and Mr.. Menkes was unable TO be
present because of illness.
The cash grants are made pos
>nible by trust fund established by
sne late Senator Clark of Montana.
and the expenses are met with in
come from a similar fund set up by
his widow. If eXcesses are pro-
duced by the endowments. they MAJ
be used, in the discretion of the
trustees, for purchases of works by
American artists for inclusion in
the permanent collection of The gall
iery.
Pictures Are For Sale.
Pictures in the biennial" are
FOR sale, and the gallery charges no
commissions for such transactions.
In statement included in the ex-
hibition catalogue. the Board OF
Trustees points out the show has
been planned to Illustrate as COM
pletely as possible what American
painters of today are doing" in
euding the best available works
from the schools of painting now IA
yored.
The primary purpose, the trustees
emphasize, lis TO show contemporary
American painting as it actually Is,
and not as any individual or group
might like it TO be-
Thus, the current grouping in
eludes such examples of varying
STYLES as julius Bloch's conservative
portrait of colored deacon and
Stuart Davis brightly-hued abstrac-
ton. Hot StilIScape for Six Colors,
Seventh Avenue Style
Among the things inspiring artists
TO effort with their brushes and
paints were a grade crossing an auc-
ton of horses, group OF men about
a gambling table, quiet landscapes,
flowers, children, a water tank on a
roof, ice skaters. artichokeS and
lemons, the Crucifxion, barnyard,
street scenes, relaxing couple on
beach. snow, fog, peaceful villages