Evening star., 1942-08-30
Art
Bringing Order
Into a Wartime
Program for Art
Bp Florence S. Bergman.

Bp Florence S. Bergman.
ITO assist American artists who
wish to take part in the war ef1ort,
is the purpose for which Bureau
of Publications and Graphlcs has
been organized according to a state
ment from Elmer Davis, Director OF
the Office of War Information, early
this month. Francis E. Brennan,
art editor of Fortune magazine, was
given a leave of absence from that
publication, to become chief OF the
division of graphlcs.
It will be recalled that the owl
incorpora ted the division of infor-
nation of the Office of Emergency
MANAGEMENT. The latter had a
graphic division which distributed
the larger part of United States
Government posters and related
material. These have been issued
by the OEM, War Production Board,
Civilian Defense and other agencies.
The Army and Navy and Treasury
Department have been responsible
for some of their own posters. Also,
the WPA through its State units,
has issued numerous posters. The
uuantitative achievements of the
OEM Graphics Division was i'm
pressive, even though the artistic
quality of the work often left much
to be desired The new Owl Divi-
sion of Grapllics gives promise of
improvement. a
Mr.. Brennan's initial statement
says in part: "The artists transi-
ton from peace to wal is longer and
more difficult than for almost any
other professional. His is the busl-
ness of creating and projecting
images of life, SO when the world
is suddenly preoccupied with the
realities of death his readjustment
must be agonizing and profound.
His fellowmen become frantically
immersed in the immediate prob
lens of battle and are apt to thrust
him aside as one related only to
moments of peaceful contemplation.
1t is not long, however, before they
rediscover that the artist not only
spoke for them in peace, but returns
to inspire and instruct them in war.
1T would seem appropriate to re-
view the total scene as it now stands.
Many of the countrys artists are
already on the firing line. The
majority are veterans of the COM
mercial field with irreplaceable ex-
perience in the practical business OF
srt for production. This experience
gives them ready adaptability,
indispensable to the rapidly organ
ized war energies; the colossal job
OF civilian and military instruction
that these same agencies now face
grows even more complex as the
war progresses
But Job of art in war cannot end
there. In the first place. the essence
of art is freedom. Without 1t the
world of art could not exist. We
know that the enemy is trying to
destroy free dom. We know the total
pattern of his wretchedness-we saw
it first when he destroyed the works
and lives of those whose art was
a threat to his evil purposes. we
saw an unprincipled plan to de-
generate and possess mems minds.
IF this war is lost, no artist
worthy of the name will ever again
put brush to canvas in free pursuit
of his own imagination. Artists. OF
course. understand this, sooner per-
haps than most men. Many rushed
zallantly to offer their services to
the Government, while thousands
of others joined organizations"
Mr.. Brennan mentioned the COM
petitions, poster projects, exhibi-
tions and related activities "all con-
cerned with urging the people to
some kind of action" While con-
ceding their effectiveness within
their local limitations, he stated
that until each is geared to a mas
ter procedure, the people will never
get a clear idea of what they are
being asked to do, or who is asking
them to do it." Consequently, the
central Graphics Division of the
owl may be regarded as the FIRST
step toward bringing some order
into a wartime art program.
This divisions immediate objec-
tive will be to intensity and broaden
the Governments wartime graphic
efforts with the hope Of achieving
more positive results. 1t will pro-
vide a center for the intelligent and
efficient use of the talents avail
able, and for the correlation of all
necessary graphic information. 1t
will develop plans for the practical
working relationships with indi-
vidual artists and art groups.
America Needs Artists.
Certainly now" he concludes, "in
this greatest of all wars, is the time
to find out il another Goya Is fun
ing in Iowa, or another Daumler
sketches acidly In Vermont. The
American people need their artists
now--to charge them with the grave
responsibility of spelling out their
anger. their grief. their greatness
and their justice. The artist will
respond, as he has countless times
before in the history of the world,
to fight it out on the field where
no others can. How effective his
response depends on how purpose
fully his Government administers
his capabilities and his needs"
Every one interested in the full
utilization of American artists tai
ents, hopes that the new Graphics
Division will achieve it's aims to the
greatest possible extent.
However, in surveying the national
scene since last December 7, and
noting the far-flung activities of
American artists with relation to
the war, and of organizations CO.
operating with them, one concludes
that it is no mean achievement. 1t
is all the more remarkable since
cultural activities are the first to
feel the impact of national emer-
gencies The public naturally asks
What is art contributing toward
the war? How can art be tied uI
with the defense program? Is there
sufficient value in cultural activities
to warrant their continuance during
such times as the PRESENT."