III.4.1 DIGITAL ARCHIVE 837785
The Conference on Inter-American Relations in the Field of Art called by the Department of State revealed an extraordinary degree of interest in the development of broader and more active exchange with the other American republics. It was attended by some 125 representative leaders from all fields of art in the United States. The vitality of its discussions was such that time was at a premium during its four sessions on October 11 and 12, 1939. The conference carefully surveyed the panorama of artistic interchange between the United States and the other American countries, and the possibilities for future cooperative endeavors.
Before the conference and during the two days’ sessions a small representative group of individuals served as a findings committee, and its recommendations were presented to the conference at its last session. An effort was made to stimulate freely the suggestions of conferees and to urge those present to respond frankly to the three or four general topics which had been selected for discussion. Those general topics were:
(1) The resources of inter-American exchange in the field of art: the contribution of the other American republics to the United States and the contribution of the United States to the other American republics;
(2) The problems of exhibitions both permanent and traveling, covering types of exhibition material and technical considerations;
(3) The program for student and professor exchange including opportunities, fields of study and other general subjects;
(4) Miscellaneous problems: such as the motion picture as a medium of exchange in the field of art; radio and its application to interchange; et cetera.
In providing a summary of the sense of the conference it has been found difficult to present any definite consensus of opinion since the purpose of the conference was to explore possibilities freely without limiting the thought. [Other suggestions:]
(5) A plan of the Los Angeles Museum of Art to organize the first of a series of Pan American Biennial Exhibitions in 1940 or 1941 which would later be available for circulation.
(6) A project whereby South American architects will be invited to visit the United States for nine months’ travel under the auspices of the Producers’ Council and the decision on the part of the Education Committee of the American Institute of Architects to make use of its fellowships for interchange between the Americas.
(7) A conference of the Americas contemplated by artists’ groups to be held in 1940 to emphasize the interchange of artists and art facilities.
Members of the conference outlined an additional group of projects, many of them proposals that might be readily executed. A rapid sketch of these suggestions will reveal the varied thinking of delegates and the wide range of subject matter. Certain major suggestions have been selected.
Recognition of the rich resource of Latin American art included the achievements from the pre-Columbian period to the present. Indian civilization was recognized as offering valuable material.
In discussing the United States, conferees explored its artistic contribution and noted difficulties of obtaining authentic examples. They suggested that prints and reproductions be relied upon for exchange. There was a divergence of opinion as to what constituted truly representative art material from the United States. A valuable collection of American reproductions created by the Index of American Design Project of the WPA was shown to be available. These are now being prepared in colored still filmstrips, and could be distributed to Latin American countries. Later in the conference the rich resources of the Work Projects Administration Art Project as a great general reservoir of material were described. Other material for exhibition interchange included examples in the housing field and in the products of the machine age. Early in the discussion a delegate made a plea for “a coordinated exhibition that might be truly illustrative of the American way of living.” There appeared to be unanimous sentiment for such an integrated exhibition.
A series of proposals involved special emphasis on the contemporary product and the living artist. The thought was expressed that the best ambassadors for artistic interchange and closer art relationships are artists themselves. Many speakers enlarged on this proposal, revealing a movement on the part of artists’ groups in the United States to stimulate exchange between the Americas. Such a movement was variously phrased as a plan to create a “round table” of representative artists of the twenty-one republics or to call a “congress of artists” from all countries. Delegates praised the present trend that has led artists to turn away from the resources of Europe and recognize the native scene as a more vital source of inspiration. An important point was made when one of the delegates asked the conference to recall that Latin America is not a unit but consists of twenty nations and must be so considered in any program for interchange.
In reviewing opportunities for student and professor exchange speakers stressed the efficacy of such projects. It was questioned whether the same funds spent on sending students to Latin America and the reverse would not give more fruitful results than would the appropriation of similar funds for exhibition circulation. Many felt this to be the case. Conferees discussed all phases of interchange and fields for legitimate study, many directors of academies, departments and institutions mentioning current activities, and suggesting how they might be integrated into the larger program of inter-American exchange.
Among the miscellaneous subjects touched upon towards the close of the third session were problems of film preparation and distribution. Experts brought out the usefulness of photographic collections of artistic works. The resources of governmental photographic archives were mentioned. Members of the conference presented current projects for wider distribution of motion pictures and still films. The audience was asked to present its own reaction to questions pertinent to motion picture and still film distribution. Resources of “still pictorial film strips” were discussed. Radio possibilities were also weighed, experts pointing to this important medium of cultural exchange.
The conference closed on Thursday afternoon, November 12, after accepting the suggestion of the Findings Committee.
Mr. Robert Woods Bliss, former Ambassador to Argentina and president of the American Federation of Arts, was named as chairman of the Continuation Committee. Although he was not able to attend the conference, Mr. Bliss kindly accepted this responsibility.
The four-point program of the Continuation Committee is appended to the digest of the discussions. The Continuation Committee is charged with the responsibility of:
– drawing up definite suggestions for artistic cooperation;
– relying upon the proposals made at the conference and subsequent suggestions which conferees may send in, (it was agreed that the conference be considered a panel from which the Continuation Committee might draw for advice and counsel);
– approaching representative Latin American art groups, and reporting findings to all members of the conference.
Mr. Bliss—having been authorized by the conference, to appoint the members of the Continuation Committee, in consultation with the Division of Cultural Relations—takes pleasure in announcing that the following representatives in various fields of art have consented to serve on the Committee:
• C. G. Abbott SECRETARY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
• John E. Abbott EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
• George Biddle VICE CHAIRMAN, ARTISTS’ CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS
• Edward Bruce CHIEF, SECTION OF FINE ARTS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS ADMINISTRATION
• Holger Cahill DIRECTOR, W.P.A. ART PROGRAM
• Gilmore D. Clarke CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON FINE ARTS
• Walter W. S. Cook CHAIRMAN, INSTITUTE OF FINE ARTS, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
• Stuart Davis NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, AMERICAN ARTISTS CONGRESS, INC.
• Réné d’Harnoncourt EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, ARTS AND CRAFTS, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
• Richard Foster Howard DIRECTOR, DALLAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
• Concha Romero James CHIEF, DIVISION OF INTELLECTUAL COOPERATION, PAN AMERICAN UNION
• Edward A. Jewell ART EDITOR, NEW YORK TIMES
• Josiah Marvil [sic] [JOSIAH P. MARVEL, DIRECTOR, SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM OF ART]
• Everett V. Meeks DEAN, SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS, YALE UNIVERSITY
• William Milliken DIRECTOR, CLEVELAND MUSEUM
• G. McCann Morley DIRECTOR, SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF ART
• Robert C. Smith HISPANIC FOUNDATION, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
• Herbert J. Spinden CURATOR OF AMERICAN INDIAN ART AND PRIMITIVE CULTURE, BROOKLYN MUSEUM
• Roy Stryker CHIEF, HISTORICAL SECTION, DIVISION OF INFORMATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
. . .
The Findings Committee of the Conference of Inter-American Relations in the Field of Art met on the evening of October 11. The Committee was impressed with the wealth of ideas and suggestions that had been offered during the discussions of the Conference. It recognized, however, that insufficient time was available before the end of the Conference to give to the proposals and projects advanced by various speakers the careful consideration they so clearly merit. It also believed that those proposals and projects should be studied, not only by members of the Findings Committee, but by the entire membership of the Conference.
The Findings Committee accordingly proposes for your consideration the following procedure:
(1) That a representative Continuation Committee be chosen to digest and analyze the stenographic transcript of the Conference’s discussions and that such digest and analysis be sent promptly to all members of the Conference, for their study and comments.
(2) That the Continuation Committee draw up definite suggestions for cooperation in the field of art, and for approaching the representative art groups in the other American republics, and that these suggestions be sent for study and comment to all members of the Conference.
(3) That Mr. Robert Woods Bliss be named as chairman of the Continuation Committee, and that he, in consultation with the Division of Cultural Relations of the Department of State, appoint the members of the Committee, to include representatives of artists’ organizations, museum representatives, educators, architects, representatives of the industrial arts, of motion pictures, still photography and the radio, and representatives of general arts organizations.
(4) That the members of this Conference be considered a panel from which the Continuation Committee may be permitted to draw in the future for advice and counsel.
October 12, 1939