AMERICAN ART MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

Mrs. Spaeth works for the American Federation of Arts Exhibition Service, and spends most of her professional time visiting museums and galleries. She contends that ""culture"" is something to which any person is entitled if he is willing to exert himself enough to learn something about it. Art is a way of life to her, it seems, and her enjoyment and enthusiasm for the joys of museum-going and picture-owning are only tempered by some words of caution such as ""Fantastic prices have been paid for third-rate paintings by name artists"". Even though some particulars of her directory will naturally get out of date, this is a warm and worthwhile guide to American artistic treasures. The first section deals with what she calls ""the big seven"". She then goes on to lesser known museums, grouping them geographically:- New England, Middle Atlantic, Southeastern, Eastern Central, Western Central, Southwestern and West Coast. This will provide an eye opener to the casual layman, who will not only be amazed at the number of art galleries there are throughout this country, but to the quality of some of the possessions therein. One newly arrived at art appreciation should find it a helpful addition to his reference materials.