Praise for Ashley Gallery
siR, I read with interest the letter from "A Catholic Artist" in your May 15 issue, and wonder whether our friend does not realise that there is such a gallery as he
envisages right in London the Ashley Gallery. A call at this gallery and a chat with its director. Miss Iris Conlay, is the high spot of my too rare visits to London. It seems to me that Miss Conlay has shown the work of many important artists working on the religious theme and 1 can only hope that some of them eventually find opportunities for commissions in churches in England, and elsewhere for that matter. I only wish we had such a gallery and such a director in the United States.
Rut I doubt that any cultural art centre should be run by nuns or clerso. It may be different in England, hut in our country the nuns and clergy, when they are engaged in art matters (assuming they are competent) are not exactly free agents but are too often subject to the whims of superiors. Lay direction of such agencies is necessary and advisable. With encouragement and active support in the shape of definite commissions Miss Conlay and the Ashley Gallery could accomplish a great deal for the Church in England. And I hope that the recent exhibition at Park Lane House-The Christian Theme in Contemporary Arts-will have some influence for religious art in England.
Maurice Lavanoux, Secretary.
liturgical Arts Society, New York City.