Page 15 - Studio International - January 1972

figures in art administration, four Sirs, two Report from and although the Centre certainly helps to
OBEs, and two CBEs. In addition there is a make Washington a cultural capital, the
body called APG (noit) consisting of eight Washington building, unlike the proposed National Gallery
artists acting as an advisory body to APG. APG extension, may well be the worst piece of
has several Directors, a Chief Executive, a Roy Slade architecture in America. So are the extremes
Co-Ordinating Director (not named in the and contrasts of America reflected in the
Report), an Acting Chairman, a Registered capital city.
Office, and Publishing Consultants (Studio Private galleries continue to flourish and
International). listed in the yellow pages are over 100
The Holy Fool endures because he is a commercial galleries, of all shapes and varieties,
loner, with the capacity for instant adjustment from frame shops to print parlours. Amongst
to changing circumstances. But who has heard these galleries are some of international
of a Committee of Holy Fools ? Maybe none reputation, particularly the Jefferson Place
survived! Gallery and the Henri Gallery. Both encourage
Washington artists, particularly the Jefferson
APG and art history Place Gallery, which first showed the work of
In designing its policy APG ignored the fact Noland, Mehring, Davis and Downing. Along
that the interaction of art, science and with the Pyramid and Gallery Marc, these
technology in this century has been guided by galleries are on P Street. In Georgetown,
artists with a strong leaning to the Left in amongst the galleries of note are
politics, with a marked effect on the theory of Protetch-Rivkin, concerned with conceptual
the mechanical and kinetic arts. A large body In recent years Washington has emerged as a art, and the Fendrick Gallery dealing with
of literature exists to confirm this. This tradition vital cultural centre. Museums and galleries prints. With the public collections and private
is extremely valuable, since a critical attitude expand. Most important, artists are working in galleries there is an increasing opportunity for
towards Capitalism hinders the absorption of increasing numbers in the city. The lively research and scholarship.
the artist. As a consequence, APG's contact scene that results indicates that Washington Traditionally, Washington art has been
with art history is very shaky : it talks about the could emerge as the art centre within the next associated with the Washington Colour School
present and romanticizes about the future, but decade. and the international recognition of Noland and
never seems to mention the past. The APG However, until a few years ago, little Louis, a tradition carried on by Leon Berkowitz,
artist or Individual, goes boldly into Industry, opportunity existed to see modern American Gene Davis, Tom Downing, Howard Mehring
lays on his Delta, thus > , and confidently art. Paradoxically, at a time when American art and Paul Reed. Outside the city, recognition of
awaits the day, twenty years hence, when every was gaining world recognition there was no the Washington Colour School has tended to
member of humanity (including many as yet evidence of this within the nation's capital. obscure the emergence of growing individuality
unborn) will receive the democratic benefits The Washington workshop in the early 5os among the artists working here. Some artists
thereof. encouraged such artists as Morris Louis and are continuing that tradition, others are breaking
We know what the lone Individual with a Ken Noland. In the 6os the Washington Gallery completely away and others have come into the
high Delta rating has produced in the past ... of Modern Art was showing work by city with fresh ideas and outlooks. However,
what makes APG so certain that its Individual contemporary American artists. The Corcoran the Washington Colour School proved that
will not come up with the equivalent of non- Gallery of Art (a non-profit institution) was world art could emerge within the city and has
disposable bottles ? founded in 1871 'to promote and encourage given artists realization that great art is possible
This Report will certainly damage the American genius'. Stimulated by the WGMA, in Washington.
delicate relations between art, science and the Corcoran Gallery of Art began increasingly In a recent catalogue for 'Washington Art'
technology. Leaders of Industry may encourage to emphasize exhibitions of contemporary Renato Danese wrote: 'There was a time, less
the Holy Fool, but scientists and technicians American artists and the two institutions merged than twenty years ago, when the subject of
have no use for him. Leading figures in art in 1968. The Corcoran Gallery continues to advanced art in Washington could be covered
administration are members of APG. I promote lively and controversial exhibitions fairly adequately within a single article or essay.
challenge them, and indeed all members of APG, and to support and encourage local artists. But in the past two decades Washington art has
to defend this Report in public. Its existence is The national institutions have now become developed to a degree where such an attempt
one more proof of the amateur and irresponsible involved in, and recognize, the importance of would be presumptuous and not without serious
manner in which art is administered in this modern art. The Smithsonian has the National limitations. For the issue of the visual arts in
country; a report of this kind dealing with a Collection of Fine Art, a large old government Washington has become a complex matter,
`serious' subject like finance, would cause a building elegantly restored and exhibiting having a history and a continuity which is
national outcry. American art. The National Gallery of Art has greater than the sum of isolated phenomena and
announced its plans for a new extension. The consisting of interrelated but unique and often
Future action architect, M. Pei, designed a building which extraordinary contributions by artists of major
The past ten years have seen dramatic may well be one of the major pieces of twentieth- significance from the early fifties to the present.'
changes in the connecting areas — art, science, century American architecture, and the Artists to note are : William Christenberry,
technology and industry. Some genuine progress extension will allow an expansion of the Donald Corrigan, Bill Dutterer, Sam Gilliam,
has been achieved, plus a variety of false moves. National Gallery activities, including the Cynthia Green, Rockne Krebs, Blaine Larson,
It is time to chart these developments. A development of the twentieth-century collection. Ed McGowin, Robert Newmann,Eric Rudd,
commission should be set up composed of people The Hirshhorn Collection of modern art, Robert Stackhouse, Brockie Stevenson and
who have made significant contributions. It after much controversy, is to be housed on the Elliott Thompson. During the coming years
might consist of twenty members, operate for Mall. The John F. Kennedy Centre for the one-man and group shows by these and many
nine months and then publish its findings. The Performing Arts has just opened, providing other artists, too numerous to mention, will
commission must be completely independent of facilities for opera, ballet, symphony, theatre continue to demonstrate the vitality of
any organization, and cover developments both and film. Its possibilities for exhibitions and Washington art.
here and abroad. education programmes have yet to be realized, Washington has a predominantly black

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