Woodbury, Conn.

phone 435 ring2

Nov. 22, 1948

Dear Mr. Hayes,

Thank you for your letter of Nov. 18th. I am in principle always
agreeable to cooperate in show organized by art institutions, and I feel
the same about the exhibition which you have written to me about. But be-
for committing myself I would like to know some more details about the
purpose of this exhibition and the works which are to be exhibited. Who
are the other artists participating and can you give an approximate idea
of the character of their work?

Will the kind of material be the only pivot of the exhibition?

You will allow me to explain why I am asking these questions. I consider that the main weakness of the actual situation in art, and in particular of modern art, lies in the fact that the public is intentionally kept in ignorance of what to look for in a work of art. Their attention is deliberately attracted to all which lies on the surface of art and not to that which represents the very heart of any work of art, namely its message, its image, and the psychological impact which it makes on the person of to-day. The public is told more about the means, the technique, the materials, and I am therefore wondering whether this exhibition which you are now planning is not going to contribute just a little more to this misplaced emphasis?

I am strongly convinced that art as well as the artist must be independent from any particular material. One can create a work of art out of the dirt of the earth or out of the rays of the sun. It does not matter much provided the esthetical is clear and its impact powerful.

I am afraid that an exhibition compiled exclusively of work done in
one particular material may turn out more a propaganda for the material
than for the art.

I know about you from my friends and I am sure that you will endeavor
to do as much as anyone can do to clear up misunderstandings on that account,
but I cannot help wondering whether any one is capable of undeing with
words what will be done by the immediate experience of the exhibition. I
will be glad if you can write me more about it and dispell my doubts.

As far as availability of my work is concerned; the exhibition in
Washington is now over and I am expecting the work back here by the end
of this month. I also have a few works here in Connecticut.

There is one other point which I would like to discuss; as I have no
dealer in this country, I have to look after my affairs myself. I would
like to know whether the Addison Gallery is interested in acquiring some-
thing of my work for their collection?

Looking forward to hearing from you furthur,

Yours,

March 8, 1951

Dear Mr. Hayes,

I have just written to Mr. Stout about my construction. I want to give
you some advice about handling it.

The construction is packed in a special box, provided with removable
spring clamps, each numbered and the place for it indicated on the box in
pencil. When they are removed, the sides of the box open by themselves and
then the construction can easily be taken out, holding it by the two ends.
The construction is not to be lifted by the strings.

It can be exhibited the way it stands in the box or on the other side.
The safest is the first way, but it is a good thing to also show it the other
way if care is taken that nobody plays with it.

I am comforted by your promise that the construction will be returned to
me, not by truck with other things, but by car. The reason for this anxiety
on my part is that it has no outer case and the box may easily be damaged on
a long truck journey.

Wishing you success with your exhibition and please confirm when you
receive the construction safely.

The title is "Linnear Construction in Space, no 2."

Yours,