INTRODUCTION TO THE 43rd
ANNUAL EXHIBITION CATALOG
The exhibition took place in November,1983,
at
CITY GALLERY, 2 Columbus Circle,
under the auspices of
The New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs
In
1940, when the world was tottering on the brink of war, a handful of artists
grouped together in New York City, establishing the Federation of Modern Painters
and Sculptors. Throughout the years, Federation has dedicated itself to the
freedom of artistic expression, to the independent development of the arts,
to the exchange of ideas between artists and the welfare of the artists. The
First Federation exhibition was in the Rotunda of the "American Art Today" Pavilion
at the New York World's Fair in 1940. The Second Annual Exhibition was held
at the Wildenstein Galleries in 1942 with 62 artists participating. In a New
York Times article of May 22, 1942, a Federation statement for this Second Annual
Show was quoted, "Today America is faced with the responsibility either to salvage
and develop, or to frustrate Western creative capacity. This responsibility
may be largely ours for a good part of the century to come. If the Federation
can manage it, it seems the opportunity will be handled worthily, to the glory
of all concerned." In 1975, for the 35th anniversary exhibition, David Shirey
of the New York Times wrote: "Anyone who knows anything about the history of
modern American art will feel a rush of nostalgia over the exhibition of the
Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors at Nassau Community College's Firehouse
Galley. This organization, which was founded by American artists in 1940, means
a great deal to many people in the art world. It represents a group whose members
have steadfastly been committed to the highest esthetic principles in art, who
fought for the independence of different kinds of creativity, who made it possible
for artists devoted to styles of all kinds to have public exposure by means
of exhibitions throughout the country, and who encouraged intellectual exchanges
among artists and a special sense of comaraderie and spiritual community." As
the Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors celebrates the 43rd anniversary
of its founding the spirit of artistic integrity and independence continues.
Ahmet Gursoy President
With
special thanks to Barbara Krashes for her help in catalogue preparation, Ahmet Gursoy
and Halm Mendelson, Presidents of Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors
for
their leadership in organizing the 43rd anniversary exhibition and the catalogue.
