Evening star., 1946-08-11

studied art under the arts and skills
program have had no previous art
training The volunteer workers
have succeeded in creating an inter-
est in teaching some of these men.
She explained that the instructors
never work with a patient unless
his name appears on the list that
is given to them before going on a
ward.
/. Sometimes the man in the next
bed, or one who has come over to
watch while we are instructing,' she
continued, becomes interested and
would also like to have try at
it." His name must be approved by
his physician before he is given sup
plies and instruction.
Teaching periods are short at
first. Months in hospitals have
made some of the men tense and
nervous. The great majority are
meeting art for the first time, and
tend to be trifle worried and
awed. After simple and easy first
lesson, the instructor leaves a sketch
book, pencil, charcoal and eraser
for the new student to use when he
feels like it.
I'VE have to pay several visits to
some of the men before they lose
their self-consciousness and begin to
show lis their work for criticism, -
said Mrs. Winston. Later they 20
on to work in colored chalk, water
color, oils and other media.
Staff Turnover Large
There is considerable turnover in
the instructors staff as well as the
student body" as teachers leave the
city, or are obliged to give all their
time to their professional activities,
or take. much-needed vacations.
Miss JUNE Isaminger of the Public
Health Service and John Proctor
who have worked steadily in the
corps for more than 18 months are
on their vacations at present. Miss
Robin Brant, with an 18 months
record, is still active. Miss Suzanne
F. Cassels and Mrs Elsa S. Alaspa
also aided the program for some
months. Jim Bergman, the Stars
cartoonist, gave demonstrations and
talks at intervals during a period of
two years,
The Arts and Skills Corps hopes
that other artists and art teachers
in and near Washington who have
a few hours to give each week will
volunteer for the art division at
Walter Reed.
ut would seem that an informal
type of art education administered
by sympathetic instructors has a
definite place in the rehabilitation
OF wounded servicemen," said Mrs
Winston, who has many apprecia-
tive letters from boys who have left
Walter Reed and Forest Glen. The
following brief excerpt from one OF
these letters give particularly vivid
glimpse of what the art training
means to these men:
Il owe you much. Especially for
having made a significantly. .happy
experience out of what might easily
have been miserable time for me
"% Convalescence is a most diff
cult period The mind seeks inter-
est and activity and the body limits
its scope. I remember the three
horrible days before I was directed
to the studio. I was acutely bored
Just getting treatments, eating
sleeping and reading. I needed
something to occupy my thoughts
and hands. The fact that you pro.
vided the facilities, guidance anc
intelligent handling, made me happ,
and put me well on the road tc
recovery"
| X X X X
Truman Receives Painting
President Truman recently re.
ceived a large oil painting by the
10th century Dutch master, Hendrix
Willem Mesdag, which he sale
would be given a place of honor IL
the White House"
The painting. depicting a Dutcl
fishing fleet near the coast, with
many people on the shore watching
and some wading into the sea, wa
presented July 26 by Herber
Cremer, president of the Neither.
lands America Institute, as a ''toker
OF gratitude of the Netherland
people to the American people fo
all they have done for Holland dur.
ing and after the war"
The painting was accompanied b,
a scroll and album containing tn,
names OF the persons who contrib
] ,,f.L - - vo,,ra6ae~