Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-04-30

Because OF this clrcum-
stance there is a natural
inclination toward the mex
pensive and to ready-made
shows. There is, for example,
a tendency for many USIA
shows to be Photographic.
Photos are easy to obtain
and to ship. Children's art
exhibitions are widely used
not only because Of their
cheapness but primarily be-
cause they have demon
strated more appeal tor the
populace at large than any
other form of exhibition.
One extremely popular ex-
hibition Of art by Washing
ton school children attracted
large audiences in Belgium
last fall and, at the request
of that country's Ministry
of Public Instruction, has
been kept for exhibition
through June. Miss Bing-
hams office has just re-
ceived prizes awarded two of
the Washington school chill
dren. Charming little
peasant dolls, of the style
called in Europe "folkloris-
tic" have been sent from
Belgium for James Roberts
and Sarah Weld, both pupils
of Mrs. Sarah Williams, art
instructor in the District Of
Colum bia recreation de-
partment.
The Big Ones
Despite the lack Of budget
and staff the art section
has done some spectacular
things. One was its show Of
goth century American art
for the American exhibition
in Moscow in 1859, staged
by the exhibits division of
USIA. This writer was In
Moscow for the show and
can attest the enthusiastic
interest the art provoked
both among Russian citizens
at large and especially
among artists and intel
lectuals.
There was the usual quota
of shock at advanced art
and at the irreverence of
Jack Levine'S welcome
Home" a painting of a we'll
fed general feeding himself
well; Russian shock at the
Levine, incidentally, echoed
the same shock at the same
painting earlier expressed by
President Eisenhower. But
the exhibition as a whole
aroused great interest. The
show gave a more balanced
and comprehensive view OF
modern American art than
had been readily available
anywhere in Europe.
Another large-scale ven
ture by USIA was the tour
of the Fleischman collec-
ton. Mr.. and Mrs. Law
renee Fleischman of Detroit
have collected a remarkably
fine group of American
paintings from just before
the Revolution to the pres
ent. For almost three years
ending in June, 1859, the col
lection, under USIA auspices
toured Latin America, thu
Middle East and, on the wa!
home, Iceland.
Mr.. Fleischman, a business
man, visited each nationa
capital at which the SHOW
opened, and spoke on Ameri'
can art. He also made
point Of visiting loca
artists along the way and
occasionally, buying thei,
work. The total result hai
been nothing but good To-
the image" Of America ant
American businessmen IL
areas of the world a bit Of
the beaten art track.
The Competition
From the overall point O.
view of the advancement o.
art one Of the problems
faced by the art section il
that under the basic chartel
of USIA no activity may b
carried on in the United
States. Hence, American
generally are unaware o
what the section does or ever
Of its existence. Hence, too
Americans generally mis-
some first-rate art shows.
Once in a while, though
the Nation does get a look a
a USIA exhibition. COMING
up in the latter part of May
at the Smithsonian, is al
/ important show Of con
temporary American ce
ramics which has been tour
ing Europe. The distinction
of the show is evidenced b!
the fact that several piece
won prizes at an OstenC
international ceramic SHOW
and several others have beer
purchased by the Belgian
and Netherlands govern
ments for their State collec.
tions. The show itself wor
the Grand Prix at Ostend
Typically, however, the exhi'
bition was scheduled TO,
Washington showing onl!