Viewing page 150 of 161

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-2-

and the ease and west coast in turn. It is now our responsibility to continue that principle of rotation and to choose another museum which has shown outstanding interest and strength in the field of contemporary American art."
The policy of selection is the same as that established by the U.S. Information Agency, former supervisor of the International Art Program under the direction of Lois A. Bingham, who continues to head the program at the National Collection. Both Dr. Scott and Miss Bingham expressed high praise for Seitz's conception for the American exhibition of oils by the celebrated eighty-four year old master, Edward Hopper, and a selection of paintings and sculpture by younger artists under the title of "Environment U.S.A.: 1957-1967."
Announcing his choices, Seitz said "Edward Hopper is recognized as one of the foremost American masters of the twentieth century. He holds a unique position among artists of the United States, for he is highly regarded by
spokesmen for all shades of critical opinion, by advocates of both figurative and abstract art, and by both conservatives and avant-guardists. Nevertheless, except for a scattering of works included in a large group exhibitions abroad, his painting is little known outside this country." Seitz continues, "Edward Hopper's painting has become so integral a part of the current scene that it is easy to forget that he was a student of Robert Henri, and that his blunt manner of depicting the life and environment of the United States originated in the time of Sloan, Luks, Glackens, Shinn and other artists of "The Eight." It is surprising to recall that Hopper was born

XEROX COPY