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THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202 * Phone 313-833-7900 * Cable DETINARTS

THE CITY OF DETROIT: Coleman A. Young, Mayor. THE ARTS COMMISSION: Lee Hills, President - Ralph T. McElvenny, Vice-President - Mrs. Elvin L. Davenport - Mrs. Edsel B. Ford - Judge Damon J. Keith

Frederick J. Cummings, Director
Wm. A. Bostick, Administrator and Secretary

June 17, 1976
Mr. Anthony Smith
66 Stanley Road
South Orange, N.J. 07052

Dear Tony,
There is a Spitball here waiting for you. We talked about your buying the piece but perhaps you would be willing to consider an exchange. The museum should have a really fine Tony Smith painting and perhaps this is a way. Please understand that I find this difficult to suggest to you and that I am in now way implying that the paintings are not valuable.

Wandering Rocks which belongs to the Kahns in Michigan will probably have a new home. Bill and  Ellen Kahn are divorcing. I told her how vividly you remembered her late Avery oil on paper. (I wished they would give them to us but apparently money is an issue.)

I don't know whether the museum would want a painting from the mid-1950's or whether the larger painting upstairs from the early 1960's, black, blue and yellow - imposing black form, would be closer to what John Neff, Curator, would want. If an exchange is a possibility, great, if not, there is still a Spitball here waiting.

I think about my visit to you often. Jack Hilberry sends his best regards.

Affectionately,
Susanne
Susanne F. Hilberry
Curatorial Assistant
Department of Modern Art

SFH:hpo

P.S. (For Kiki) We saw Gordon very recently. He seemed fine - nearly broke JH"s hand during "the handshake." Is living on Hancock nearby the university with Amy, (or something). He was pleased to know you all think of  him.

S.