Evening star., 1944-09-03
Bv Leila MechHn

An exhibition which will un-
doubtedly arouse much interest and
induce discussion during the season
now opening is that entitled "Por-
trait of America" assembled by
Artists for Victory, Inc, through
the collaboration and sponsorship
of the Pepsi-Cola Co. and heralded
as fresh evidence of increasing
closeness between art and industry,
The project was announced last
spring and works were submitted
early in the summer. while late in
July prizes were awarded and future
plans published. The exhibition, to
comprise $50 paintings by American
artists of today, selected by jury
composed of artists, museum di-
rectors and critics. will have first
showing in the Metropolitan Mu-
scum of Art, New York, in October,
after which it will go on circuit
to eight other museums in as many
States.
The plan of the exhibition is
unique. Twelve paintings received
money prizes as follows: First
prize, $500, to Waldo Peirce, for
Maine Swimming Hole; second
prize, $1,000, to Philip Evergood. for
"Wheels of Victory; third prize,
$500, to Louis Bosa, for Side Walk
Market: fourth prize, $1,000. to
Joseph D. Martini, for Summer
Day" in addition to which eight
prizes of $500 each went to Vincent
Spagna, Lucille Corcos, Zavier Con-
zales, Pfc. o. Gugliellmi, Stuart
Davis and Philip Resman, totaling
$1,000 in all.
Nucleus of Collection
The paintings receiving the first
four prizes become the property OF
the sponsor and will, it is under
stood, serve as the nucleus OF a
collection to be assembled from the
best. currently produced, and even
tually find its way into a public
Institution The eight, and remain
ing 1873, constituting the present
exhibition. will be available for pri-
vate purchase at the artists asking
prices without commission or fee
All 12 prizes will be reproduced in
full color in a calendar for 1945, to
be issued in an edition of 100000
for distribution among Pepsi-Cola
agencies. etc The paintings will
inconspicuously bear the company'S
trade mark.
Three thousand artists from At
States. as well as the District of
Columbia. Puerto Rico, the Canal
Zone and Alaska, submitted works
TO the jury Of selection, they in
every case bearing the expense of
transportation to the meeting place
of the jury meeting in New York
and when not accepted, also on
return. This means that the artists
themselves put into the project
very much larger sum than that
given in prizes and in the case of
the majority without any return.
Estimating on probable average
cost of $50 these expenses must
have come to about $4,000.
A scard Announcement
1IlS dN dl VI Jl lACo was dil-
nounced formally at a luncheon in
New York on July 25. at which
many notables were present. Among
these was Mayor La Guardia, who
stressed the Importance of doing
everything that could be done to
prevent the interruption of creative
art during wartime" IF an artist
can't eat he can't produce" the
Mayor said. The newly rich" he
declared, formerly supported art
through purchases, but since taxa
tion had become SO high this source
has literally dried up Mr.. William
Church Osborn, president of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, said
that an immense amount of good
art is being displayed today and
the appreciation of the public is
increasing constantly. Others like
wise emphasized the value of the
patronage of art by industry.
Industry has been sponsoring art
IN this country for some time, and
in the best possible way, by the
employment of talented designers
and creative artists, who through
their gift have raised the quality
and hence value of various products.
Before the war we as Nation eX
celled in many directions and fields