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MAY 29, 1939

ROCKWELL KENT,
AUSABLE FORKS, N.Y.

MY DEAR MR. KENT:

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR LETTER OF MAY 15. EVENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO QUICKLY SINCE THAT I HAVE NOT FOUND TIME TO REPLY TILL NOW. 

THE LATEST ACTION OF THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM, IS CANCELING THE EXHIBITION WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH THE UNITED AMERICAN ARTISTS, THROWS AN ENTIRELY NEW LIGHT ON THE SITUATION: AND I, AS A CRITIC WHO HAS DEVOTED A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND ENERGY TO EXPLAINING THE PURPOSES OF PROGRESSIVE ARTISTS TO THE PUBLIC, DON'T LIKE THE PROSPECT THAT I MAY HAVE ANOTHER KIND OF JOB OF EXPLAINING ON MY HANDS. FOR MY PART, I HAVE HOPED THAT THE WHOLE AFFAIR COULD BE STRAIGHTENED OUT WITHOUT ANY OPEN BREAK. BUT THAT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE NOW. 

I WAS PRESENT LAST WEEK AT A MEETING AT RUTH GREEN HARRIS'S OF FOUR MEMBERS OF THE JURY AND SOME OTHER ARTISTS. FROM THE DISCUSSION IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE MUSEUM'S ACTION AND THE JURY'S MISUNDERSTANDING IS A SERIOUS ONE. AND I THINK I MAY ADD THAT THE FOUR JURYMEN DISTINCTLY DID NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING SADDLED WITH A RESPONSIBILITY WHICH IS PLAINLY THE MUSEUM'S, NAMELY, THE DECISION NOT TO HOLD THE EXHIBITION.

IT IS EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE FOR ALL CONCERNED, MUSEUM, UNION AND PUBLIC THAT THE BREAK HAD TO TAKE PLACE. BUT SINCE IT HAS, I PERSONALLY WAS GLAD TO FIND A MAJORITY OF THE JURY DETERMINED NOT TO LEND THEMSELVES TO ANY INTRIGUE. I SINCERELY WISH THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN PRESENT; FOR I AM SURE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE FELT AS THEY DID.

I MYSELF DO NOT INTEND TO PUBLISH ANY OF THIS BEHIND THE SCENES INFORMATION AND SHALL NOT PRINT ANYTHING UNTIL THE ARTISTS UNION HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT TO BALANCE THE MUSEUM'S; FOR I AM STILL HOPING FOR A HAPPY ISSUE OF THE PROBLEM.

AGAIN WITH THANKS FOR YOUR PROMPT REPLY.
SINCERELY YOURS
ELIZABETH McCAUSLAND