Acknowledgements

IT IS A MATTER of great pride for Indiana University to be associated with the National Museum of Bangkok and seven leading American Museums in bringing to the United States an Exhibition of the Arts of Thailand. An enterprise of such scope is not only proof of our faith in the value of cultural exchange on an international basis, it is evidence also of the passion we as a nation have for becoming acquainted with the arts of all lands. Circulating exhibitions, remaining for appreciable lengths of time in some of the main centers of culture across our land, afford opportunities for prolonged and repeated enjoyment of the masterpieces of all countries and every epoch. In the last fifteen years there have been enormous movements of artistic treasures from one continent to another, to the lasting delight of all visitors. The present Exhibition is merely the latest one in an Asian series which began in 1953 with the importation of works of Japanese Painting and Sculpture and which continued with the Masterpieces of Korean Art in 1957. This series will be climaxed but not ended with the announced tour, beginning in 1961, of the treasures of Chinese Art now housed on Taiwan.

Long in preparation and, like its predecessors, complex in its arrangements, the present undertaking has enjoyed the support of many official and unofficial bodies, public servants, and private persons, whose contributions in terms of money, services and indispensable advice are now publicly acknowledged.

The United States Department of State has supported the project from its inception and has made a grant in support of one Thai curator and his replacement for the entire duration of the Exhibition. The Asia Foundation of San Francisco, through its President, Mr. Robert Blum, has matched that subsidy in support of a second Thai curator and his substitute, for an equivalent period.

The United States Navy has cooperated to the extent of transporting the Exhibition and the curators overseas both ways.

The Rockefeller Foundation has made two grants, one in aid of the expenses of the American Committee of Selection, and another towards general administrative expenses. Mr. John D. Rockefeller, 3d, has made a generous and unrestricted personal grant.

Miss Ardelia R. Hall, Arts and Monuments Adviser to the Secretary of State, has been a source of advice and help during all the phases of planning and the intricate negotiations involving two Governments and a dozen public or semi-public institutions. Special thanks for technical and administrative advice are also due Mr. E. James Adams, Assistant Secretary of the National Gallery.

Three participating Museums have earned special gratitude for allowing members of their staffs to contribute distinctive services: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, whose Secretary, Mr. Dudley T. Easby, Jr., has acted as legal and administrative adviser of the project; the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, which permitted its Curator of Asiatic Art, Mr. Kojiro Tomita, to function as a valued member of the American Committee of Selection, and its Designer, Mr. Carl Zahn, to take charge of designing and supervising the production of the Catalogue; and, finally, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, which sent its expert packer, Mr. Walter Fraine, to plan and supervise the packing of the Exhibition in Bangkok.

The aid given by Mr. U. Alexis Johnson, United States Ambassador to Thailand, and the staff of the U. S. Information Service in Bangkok was of incalculable value. Particular acknowledgment must be made of the devoted services of Mr. Donald H. Rochlen, Cultural Exchange Officer, both in facilitating the work of the Committee of Selection and in the preparation of the Catalogue. Acknowledgement must also be made of the help given by Mr. Harry Pierson, The Asia Foundation representative in Bangkok.

The cordial cooperation and the generous hospitality of Thai officials and private individuals during all the stages of the project are gratefully remembered. Particular thanks go to M. L. Pin Malakul, Minister of Education, to Mr. Dhanit Yupho, Director-General of Fine Arts, to M. C. Subhadradis Diskul, Chief Curator of the Bangkok Museum, and to Mr. Bhunthin Attagora of the Ministry of Education. The kindness of the Bureau of Public Relations of Thailand in supplying photographs is also acknowledged. Professor Carlo Feroci is to be especially thanked for preparing material for use in the Catalogue.

Miss Elizabeth Lyons, of New York and Bangkok, has not only made a contribution to the Catalogue but has consistently placed her intimate familiarity with the artistic resources of Thailand at the disposal of the organizers. As for Mr. Alexander B. Griswold, of Bangkok and Monkton, Maryland, his services as member of the Committee of Selection, as author of a major part of the Catalogue and as general adviser to the project from the very beginning, can never be adequately recognized.

At Indiana University the advice and help of Professors Henry R. Hope, Walter Laves, Willis P. Porter and Joseph L. Sutton, and the never-failing encouragement and administrative aid given by Mr. A. Peter Fraenkel, Assistant to the President, Mr. T. E. Randall, Assistant Treasurer, and Mr. J. W. Hicks, Controller, are duly appreciated.

For more than five years Professor Theodore Bowie, of the Department of Fine Arts of Indiana University, has most patiently and energetically devoted himself to the good cause of the Exhibition. As organizer of the project, Director of the Exhibition and Editor of the Catalogue, Professor Bowie has earned the thanks of all those who will enjoy the Exhibition of the Arts of Thailand.

HERMAN B WELLS
President of Indiana University