Evening star., 1943-11-28
By Leila Mechlin

D,y ASpU IN z CHsbp
The story of Naval Aviation" from
pref1ight training to combat, has
been told, completely and very WV
idly, by seven artists, through the
medium of oil paintings, water COL
ors and drawings, now on view in the
National Gallery of Art. The pur-
pose of the showing is to acQuaint
the public with the activities of this
branch of the service in the interest
of victory, the security of the world
at large, the happiness of nations
at peace, and in no way could 1t
have been done so we'll as through
the pictures which compose this
exhibition.
The seven artists commissioned to
do the work were. apparently, well
chosen, but, as Vice Admiral Nc
Cain has said, the accuracy with
which these pictures portray the
most intimate details of naval avi-
alton was not accomplished by
chance. For nearly a year the art
lists lived at naval air stations, were
quartered with the men and with
them made flights until they knew
their subject from A to z. Out of
this intensive study came the pres
ent chronicle of the Navy in the
air, verified by those responsible
Tor its upbuilding and conduct.
The seven artists whose works
cover the field under consideration
were Don Freeman, born San
Diego, Calf; studied in New York,
and now an Army private at Camp
Gruber, Okla; Georges Schreiber,
Belgian by birth but American by
adoption; Joseph Hirsch, Philadel-
phian and habitual prize winner;
Adolph Dehn, born in Minnesota
printmaker as we'll as painter, win
ner of Guggenheim scholarship in
80; Howard Bear, born in a little
Pennsylvania mining town, but much
travelled, cartoonist and mural
painter; Lawrence Beall Smith,
born in Washington, D. c., in 1909,
student of the Art Institute of Chi
cago and instructor of art in the
public schools of Boston, and finally
Robert Benney. native New York
er, but for some time resident of
the Gaspe Peninsula, Canada, one
who has. however, specialized in
portraiture.
Training Activities
To Don Freeman was assigned the
work of recording preflight activi-
ties and his post was the training
school at Chapel Hill, N. c.: George
Schreiber and Joseph Hirsch worked
at the Pensacola Naval Air Station,
giving their attention to primary
and intermediate training, includ-
ing all ground and ground crew ac-
tivltles; Howard Baer'S assignment
was the WAVES and their activities,
at training bases in Norman, Okla,
and here at Anacostia; Adolph Dehn,
at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station,
had the blimps for his share; to
Lawrence Beall Smith fell the privi-
lege of pictorially reporting carrier
operations, which are many and in
trlcate. while to Robert Benney went
the work of representing combat in
all its dramatic aspects studied in
the Pacific areas, requiring of the
artist nerve and keen memory.
Obviously the hundred or more
pictures which comprise the result
are reportorial in purpose rather
than artistic, but this very fact re-
acts to their advantage and raises.
In the mind of the observer, the
very grave question whether it may
not have been lack of subject
matter, rather than skill. which has
allied art in this country of late.
These seven artists were given sub
Jects, had something to say and have
said it frankly and forcibly.
1t may, of course, be admitted that
the painter can be a good reporter
and not great artist, but the art
list who has nothing to report, very
quickly becomes self conscious and
boresome. Art, merely for arts
sake, is not sufficient But in sew
eral instances the works cnotributed
to this exhibition do, incidentally.
evidence artistic quality, command
OF medium, good drawing. correct
adjustment of light and shade.
pleasing effects of color and tone.
And what is perhaps more. they are
almost without exception thoroughly
alive.
Take for example that entitled
satisfaction Plus" which is by
Joseph Hirsch, and reproduced
herewith and on the cover of the