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INTRODUCTION
The first American Artists' Congress against War and Fascism, held in New York City at Town Hall and the New School for Social Research, February 14, 15, and 16, 1936 was a unique event in the history of American art. Through this Congress more than 400 leading American artists, academicians, and modernists, purists and social realists, were brought together on a platform in defense of their common interests. The event has already had far-reaching consequences.
The Congress was not a mere spontaneous explosion. on the contrary, it was the result of nearly a year of meeting and planned effort by a group of New York artists who took the initiative in searching for a way out of the economic and cultural impasse confronting virtually all artists. Among the initiators who met in May 1935 were George Ault, Arnold Blanch, Henry Billings, Peter Blume, Maurice Becker, Nicolai Cikovsky, Aaron Douglas, Stuart Davis, Adolph Dehn, William Gropper, Hugo Gellert, Harry Gottlieb, Minna Harkavy, Eitaro Ishigaki, Jerome Klein, Louis Lozowick, Jan Matulka, Saul Schary, William Siegel, Niles Spencer, Harry Sternberg, and Moses Soyer. 
These artists drew up a Call for an American Artists' Congress and through its publication the original group was soon rapidly augmented by artists from all over the United States. 
With a widespread reponse to the Call assured, the task of planning topics of discussion for the Congress itself became the objective of the weekly meetings. The problem of giving clarity of form to the ideas which had brought these artists together proved a tough one. The artists were masters of their own mediums, but not of words. Jerome Klein, writer and lecturer on art, gave invaluable guidance at this time in simplifying and clarifying the ideological content of papers brought forward by the artists. As the date of the Congress approached the meetings were increased to two or three a week, and finally to daily "jam-sessions," the results of which form the contents of this volume.
The Congress was attended by 360 members representing many States, and in addition delegation of 12 from Mexico, including Jose Clemente Orosco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Julia Codesido represented the artists of Peru. There were also many guest delegates from schools, colleges, artists' unions and student bodies. 
At the Congress the members voted unanimously to form a permanent organization, which is called the American Artists' Congress. Its national headquarters are in New York City. The purpose of this organization is to achieve unity of action among artists of recognized standing in their profession on all issues which concern their destroyers and cultural security and freedom, and to fight War, Fascism and Reaction, destroyers of art and culture. Its work is carried on through symposia, publications and special exhibitions, and its effectiveness is proportionate to the degree of unity which it can establish among the artists of the United States regardless of race, esthetic creed or color. Information regarding membership and activities of the organization may be had by communicating with Stuart Davis, National Secretary, American Artists Congress, Box 12, Station O. New York City.

Stuart Davis

PREFATORY NOTE

In organizing the material of the Congress for publication in its present form, the Editorial Congress has made no attempt to reconcile opposing views, or to develop further statements that are incomplete or confused. The task of editing has been conceived as that of making the material readable and compact, of keeping to the fore the issues that dominated the Congress, and of portraying faithfully the character of the participation, without violation of personal viewpoints. The book stands thus as a significant record of the response of representative arts to problems of vital immediate concern. 
The Editorial Committee
Jerome Klein, Chairman
E.M. Benson
Margaret Duroe
Louis Lozowick
Ralph M. Pearson

INDEX

Public Session
                                                         Page        
Opening Address.............................Lewis Mumford  1
Why An Artist's..............................Stuart Davis  3
What Is Worth Fighting For..................Rockwell Kent  7
Repression of Art in America....................Joe Jones  10
The Negro In American Culture...............Aaron Douglas  12
An Artist's Experience in the Soviet Union..............
....................................Margaret Bourke-White  17
Why Establish Artists Should Oppose War and Fascism.....
.............................................Paul Manship  19
Artist's Boycott of Berlin Olympics Art Exhibition......
............................................George Biddle  21
Artists Must Organize.......................Heywood Brown  23
Artists and Trade Unions................Francis J. Gorman  24
The Artists Must Choose.......................Peter Blume  27

First Closed Session
                  The Artist In Society
The Social Bases of Art....................Meyer Schapiro  31
Race, Nationality, and Art......................Lynd Ward  38
The Artist and Art
   The Artist, His Audience and Outlook.........Max Weber  42
   A Mural Painter's Conviction............Gilbert Wilson  48
   The Magazine and the Artist.................John Groth  51
   Graphic Art............................Harry Sternberg  54
The Art Museums..........................Ralph M. Pearson  55