The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, July 6, 1961, page 5 (of 20)

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TIMES By Robert S. Hurwitz

EVERYWHERE THE PITTER PATTER OF TINY CRITICISM The bandwagon is on the roll against the spirit of AE (Abstract Expressionist) Art. Look for the sensationalists to ride America's one and only claim to absolute originality in art to the ground. The back breakers of any art form are the biggest critics of All-America institutions. As Roger Fry said, "Everywhere we hear the pitter patter of tiny criticism." Never in our cultural heritage has appreciation and awareness of art been so emotionally stirred as with the advent of America's abstract expressionists. My contempt for the destructionists of the AE form leads me to wonder about the future of culture in our land. No matter what happens, AE art will always be recorded as a major contribution to the happenstance of our times. Let the fugure artists copy or reconstruct the styles of the old Masters, but they will never, never, never be able to create the spirit found in the paintings of our current Abstract Expressionist Painters. NAME DROPPING! Whatever else you call me, you can now add the "name dropper" tag. I'll record some of my observations about people dedicated to the field of the painting arts in our town. Robert Von Zimmerman, knowledgeable artist with a wide range of subject matter to draw from. Gentle in manner, he has the ability to portray his inner fabric and though in a forceful outpouring of recognizable art distorted only when needed. Marie Valienti, a charming, sensitive artist and gallery owner who will help foster art in the area by her sincerity. Bruce Larson, an unknown to this area, working night and day in dedication for his one-man show later in the year at the Modern Museum of Art. He's a perfect example of an abstract artist, ready and willing to qualify his intentions. Bernard Davis, owner of the Miami Modern Museum, wins my favor more and more as one of the country's true contributors to our heritage. Always willing to give you a lice of his knowledge. Tony Scornavacca, who moved his gallery into the Grove, seems more relaxed and eager to plant our Miami art desert with meaningful beauty. His studio is worth a visit, for keeping up with his progress can be rewarding. Robert Draper impresses me as the man most qualified to get a quick answer from. He's vocal about art and artists, galleries and foolishness. He took over the Mirell Gallery and should make a major contribution to the scene. I feel that it's important that you visit our galleries, talk to our artists, and participate physically and mentally in art activities. Seek out better talents out and give then an opportunity to educate you. It might be different for a change. GROVE HOUSE DOOMED? When the civic group in the Grove opened the Grove House for the advancement and sales of works by local artists, this column described it as a major step forward. Since that time, little has been done to advance the idea. Selection of works exhibited is of a compromisable nature. There is very little change in items displayed from one month to the next. A general "bargain basement" presentation of crafts and accessories has been created. The idea is still wonderful, the people donating free time is to be applauded, but the direction is missing and the leadership must come forward before it is too late.

'All Men Are Not Equally Endowed'

The Times feels there is unusual clarity in the presentation of the viewpoint below. It is reprinted, not as an expression of this newspaper's editorial point of view-there are parts of Dr. Mathes' piece with which we disagree-but it is presented for its interest and forcefulness of expression. BY DR. F. A. MATHES Pastor, Granada Presbyterian Church Every human soul possesses equal spiritual value in the eyes of God. We are what we are by the grace of God for, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." (James 1:17). Christianity is not a revolutionary force which demands at once the abolishment of all distinctions. "There is no respect of persons with God" (Colossians 3:25), yet God has created all men with vast differences in native endowments, in vocations, in temperament, in capacities in heredity and in responsibilities. All men are equal spiritually, but not equally endowed. Christianity enters the social order not as dynamite, but as leaven, and moves quitely about its work within the existing framework. It does not demand revolution or reformation, but seeks to reach and redeem individuals within a disordered society, and thus gradually seeks its transformation of human life into more of the kingdom of God on earth. The message of our Lord Jesus Christ is a personal message to individual hearts. It attacks not so much the social evils of our day as it strikes at the roots of sin in human hearts that produce those evils. Each child in a family has equal status, the six-year-old, the 16-year-old, and the 21-year-old, but not equal privileges, restrictions or responsibilities. Discrimination is a word that is greatly misunderstood and abused in our day. "No discrimination with regard to race, color or creed" has become an American slogan, but a hypocritical one. Many speak these words, but few practice them. Least of all does aetheistic communism implement these high-sounding notions. In point of fact, the Bible does not support this slogan but discrimination with discernment is one of the great spiritual principles taught in the Bible. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24:15). "Seek those things which are above" (Colossians 3:1). "Go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Proverbs 4:14, 15). "Be not among wine-bibers" (Proverbs 23:30). "They chose Stephen, a man full of faith" (Acts 6:5). "Paul chose Silas" (Acts 15:40). "Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). The Christian is always a man with discriminating taste. Where there is no vision, or spiritual discernment, or discrimination, the people perish. No one can deny that distinctions exist in human society, and even in the Christian fellowship. The sin of them is not in their existence, for God has creatively endowed us all different in quality and degree. The sin lies in un-Christian attitudes and relationships within and across lines. Diversity within unity is God's order for the universe. Therefore, economic merger, political uniformity, educational amalgamation, and-or racial integration, in my judgment, are not taught in the Bible. These are areas for private conscience and free voluntary choice. Legislation, or the force of court decrees, will not produce Christian relations. Jesus did not legislate in these areas, but taught the principle of benevolent good will on a voluntary basis. So should we. Christians must catch again the vision of the church in which all men, even across sinful barriers in an imperfect society, feel a rich spiritual oneness in Jesus Christ. That will not do away with all distinctions, or discriminations, but will Christinaize relations within the existing framework of living. Christianity demands a stainless inner purity of life and is a spiritual comradeship with Christ and one another in which we, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). This I believe! Will you help make it, come true?

THE MAILBOX

EDITOR: One of the most enjoyable features of The Times is "Remember the Times." Quite often the items noted recall pleasant memories of the old days. And serve as reminders, too, that things do get done... as the note about the University of Miami planning to open a medical school. That is reality now. Let's hope some of the plans of today will turn up as favorably ten years from now. DOROTHY GILLESPIE 12200 Vista Lane

OFF BEAT By MAURICE LABELLE

Knowledge, information, facts - the truth - insidiously subvert and destroy cherished opinions and beliefs. Any good reporter will tell you that you can write a much better story without them. They are like shackles on the mind. The more the reporter learns about a story, the more difficult it becomes to write it. Relating the facts, putting them together logically and arriving at some judgment about the meaning is a chore that sends many newsmen into public relations where many of us feel these factors are not so likely to get in the way. Given only a smattering of information sprinkled with a few inaccuracies, a writer can really get carried away. It is for this reason that I "dislike" KENNETH KNABLE, superintendent of the Coral Gables Post Office. Knable walked into the Times building the other day and in the course of the conversation that followed shattered a treasured belief. The portly superintendent told about the problems faced by the Post Office Department in its every-day job of delivering the mails. But the thing that hit me hard was the extent which the department employs persons who are mentally or physically handicapped. There is no other large business in the world employing so many persons incapacitated in one way or another, Knable pointed out. It will have to rate as one of the greatest humanitarian acts in history. And, Knable added, these handicapped persons must be given credit for wanting to work and not becoming wards of the state or a burden on their families. Most of them are excellent workers; others have not completely overcome their handicaps. One might say the same thing of persons with no obvious liabilities. For that reason, the next time a letter takes two days to go from one end of town to the other I promise not to go into a temper tantrum. And there goes another good story shot up in smoke. - ML - For the first time since anyone can remember, there is no member of the Board of Realtors on either the Zoning or Planning Boards, WILLIAM ANDERSON, executive vice president of the board, points out. "It's unfortunate because it is so closely tied in with real estate," said Anderson. Departure of FRANK KERDYK from the City Commission has also muted the strong voice realtors once spoke with.

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