Art: The Revolt of the Pelicans

"The undersigned painters reject the monster national exhibition to be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art next December . . . The choice of jurors . . . does not warrant any hope that a just proportion of advanced art will be included. We draw to the attention of these gentlemen the historical fact that, for roughly a hundred years, only advanced art has made any consequential contribution to civilization . . ."

This message, addressed to Metropolitan President Roland L. Redmond, appeared in Manhattan newspapers last week. Because many of the 28 painters and sculptors who signed it are abstract...