Evening star., 1943-09-12
Bruce Memorial
Exhibition Opens
At Corcoran
Bv Leila Mechln.


The first of series of special ex-
hibitions to be held in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art during the season OF
l943-44 will open this afternoon and
be found of unusual interest. 1t will
consist of about ITS paintings
Chiefly water colors), prints and
drawings by approximately 100 art
ists-friends of the late Edward
Bruce, organizer of the Section of
Fine Arts of the Public Buildings
Administration, Treasury Depart
ment, and it's chief until failing
health required withdrawal.
Mr.. Bruce died last January in the
Hollywood Hospital, Hollywood, Fla,
and it is to this institution these
paintings and prints are to go as a
memorial to him and token of ad-
miration. The artist-donors, unit
ing in this doubly beneficient object,
have styled themselves THE Edward
Bruce Memorial Group"
. The artists OF America, especially
those of the younger generation,
have at no time had a stronger ad-
vocate nor stancher friend than
Edward Bruce, who, 1t will be re-
called, put aside his own art, when
he had arrived at the full tide of
accomplishment, to further that of
others-perhaps less talented, Ger
tainly less fortunate.
Coming to Washington in the
darkest of the depression years, he
formulated a plan which received
the approval of President Roosevelt
and the Secretary of the Treasury,
whereby the artists, through direct
Government aid, might continue
their creative effort and, incident
ally, assist in the establishment
of. national economy on a sound
basis. It was essential to get money
into circulation, and as quickly as
possible; artists must have paid en-
ployment or be turned from their
art. .4. ..-..-s.-z ..,..
This plan took shape as the PWA
which Mr.. Bruce directed, and it
worked. From the artists came
wide response-virtually from coast
to coast-talent was uncovered
localities made art conscious as
never before. The first fruits ap-
peared in an exhibition held in the
Corcoran Gallery-wide in repre-
lsentation and lively in interest.
Section of Fine Arts.
As time wore on the relief side of
this project was handed over to the
WPA and the Section of Fine Arts
established. OF this also Mr.. Bruce
WAS head. 1t, too, was Nation wide in
scope.
The Government of the United
States is great builder. There are
Federal buildings in every State of
the Union and in all our larger
cities. To the Treasury Department,
under which this building program
was conducted. application was
made for funds with which to secure
paintings, sculpture and other dec
orations for these Federal buildings
as completed. An allowance Of l per
cent of total cost was made,
Then began a series of Nation
wide competitions, which, in the
little less than 10 years in which
the section functioned, came to
number 191, wherein 1850 artists
competed. Nearly 4l,000 designs
and models were submitted and the
finished works are to be seen in
1908 cities. The amount expended
was $1,870,988. Obviously the
works chosen by the professional
juries of award were not invariably
works of great merit; not a few will
in time disappear; some may long,
remain to vex the spirit of the crit
ical-but what was achieved was, it
would now seem, worth the cost and
the effort. The eyes of the people
were turned on their own land and
opened to the potentialities of their
own art. 1t was for this that Mr..
Bruce strove-and valiantly.
1t was his idea that all awards
should be made through competi-
ton, and as far as possible through
competitions which were anony-
nous, SO that every one should have
equal chance. 1t was his delight to
unearth new talent. The period
1884 to 1943 was very arid, but in
response to his call thousands OF
artists found channels for express
sion that had not heretofore existed.
The time is not yet ripe to estimate
the harvest from this sowing.
Many Exhibitions Held.
In connection with this work
numerous exhibitions were held in
order that the artist might find a
public, and this public be informed.
One of these was of water colors
uniformly priced at $50 each, which
the Government was to purchase for
placement in leper hospitals. Thou
sands Of paintings were sent In and
Of that number surprisingly large
number were of fine quality. After
making its own purchases, the Gov
ernment permitted sale to the pub
lie. Great interest was shown and
q lift given to the painters. 1t was
perhaps the success of this exhibi-
ton, and Mr.. Bruce's interest in it.
that suggested to "the group" the
form which the present memorial
has taken.
This Is but the merest outline of
what Edward Bruce did for the
artists of America, but although he