Page 16 - Studio International - January 1972

population and there is every evidence of the Correspondence Index covers 35o artists, whose work is
growing emergence of artists within the black documented with biographical and general
community, with concerns from politics to promotional information, and approximately
painting. Sam Gilliam is an artist of international 7000 35-mm transparencies. By arrangement,
repute working with vast suspended canvases. those interested are given a preliminary
Other black artists vary from Alma Thomas to screening of each artist's work. Transparencies
Carroll Sockwell. Local contemporary artists are in classified magazines (2-dimensional,
have been supported and encouraged by the 3-dimensional static, moving or wall-pieces,
Corcoran Gallery of Art. Walter Hopps, its multiple/graphic work, environments, events
Director, has done much through workshop and theatre). Note is made of those artists' work
programmes, studios and exhibitions in the in which clients show special interest and a
museum. Of particular interest is the Corcoran further presentation is made in depth by
Dupont Center print workshop organized by a screening transparencies from the artists'
printmaker, Lou Stovall. In the Gallery there individual magazines; supporting information
are rooms given over to ever-changing displays of is then presented from the artists' personal
work by Washington artists. As Andrew Hudson files, containing biographical material, press
comments : 'The opportunity for the young cuttings, catalogues and black and white and/or
artist to be shown at a museum is greater in this colour photographs, together with any other
city than any other in the world.' Last Autumn material the artists provide to support their work.
an innovation was an exhibition of sculpture Clients who wish to make contact with specific
where the sculptors were given the main artists will then be given the artist's address or
galleries and atrium of the Corcoran and, almost that of his/her gallery or agent. Photographs
acting as curators, were invited to create an and duplicate transparencies are generally
exhibition. Exhibitions increasingly appeal to a available for loan or sale for publication,
wider public, such as the work of Soleri, compilation of catalogues, lectures, sales,
concerned with arcology. This Autumn, the promotion, etc.
exhibition 'Wilderness', organized by the AIR'S facilities include, on an advisory and
National Endowment for the Arts, of the organizational level, assistance with the
American landscape, was also shown at the setting-up of exhibitions, both in the UK and
Corcoran. abroad. AIR also maintains contact with art
At the Henri Gallery, exhibitions of work of schools, galleries, theatres, cultural
Mary Beth Edelson and Ron Grow contrast organizations, and many individuals—both
surreal paintings at the Henri II with surreal artists and others associated with the arts. It
sculpture at Henri I. The Jefferson Place Gallery issues a lead-line sheet of information relevant
in December exhibited the crazy ceramic cows to the arts, and operates an index of technical
by William Lombardo. information for artists.
At the same time outside the city, AIR has no direct interest in any commission
Washington artists show their work. A major from the sale of work but, if requested, will
installation of laser beams by Rockne Krebs at liaise between artist and client, in which case a
the Delgado Museum at New Orleans creates fee of 10 percent of the contract sum is
a green beam which shines across the city. The normally charged. AIR is supported by fees
Museum of Modern Art in New York has given charged to clients using its services, and by a
two galleries over to the suspended canvases of grant from the Arts Council, but it operates on
Sam Gilliam. a non-profit making basis.
The National Collection of Fine Arts and the Art Information Registry was set up
National Gallery have had retrospective shows because of the inadequate communications
of twentieth-century American artists from within the arts. It has grown in direct response
John Sloan to William Johnson. All are to the practical demands and needs of both
exhibitions which bring attention to American artists and art public. Apart from the steady
art and provide an opportunity for scholarly expansion of the Artists' Index, AIR has over
research. the last four years acted as a catalyst, assisting
During the past year, among the many a wide variety of activities, services and schemes
museum exhibitions, diversity is indicated by that have emerged within the art world.
contemporary British painting and sculpture Now that AIR is moving to a more central
shown at the National Gallery, an exhibition of Art Information Registry office in Burlington House, it will advertise in
Cezanne paintings and water colours at the Art Information Registry, which began in 1967, the UK and abroad, and hopes to introduce the
Phillips Collection and a retrospective of the provides two-way information between artists Registry to a far wider field of clients. Artists,
light works of Thomas Wilfred at the Corcoran and organizers of exhibitions/events/ gallery or museum personnel, critics, collectors,
Gallery of Art. Lecturers and visitors are also performances, dealers and buyers, cultural and art-related organizations interested in its
numerous from Sir Kenneth Clark to Sol Le organizations and art services. Its directors facilities are asked to contact the Secretary at
Witt. In the summer at an event on P Street, include Andrew Forge, Bridget Riley, Prof. the address below.
artists worked with searchlights, dry ice, hay, A. West, Peter Sedgley and Peter Townsend.
burning wood and indicators to the magnetic The secretary is Letty Woods. Art Information Registry Ltd
north. Many other exhibitions and events take Open to all professional artists free of charge, Burlington House
place, numerous and varied, all reflecting the AIR is building up an Artists' Index which is Piccadilly
emergence of Washington D.C. as a cultural an extensive visual library of current and London W1V 9AG
capital within the world. LI experimental work. At the time of writing, the 01-734 3604
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