Group of American and European artists founded in New York in December 1916 to sponsor regular exhibitions of contemporary art without juries or prizes. Among the most important artist-founders of the SIA were Katherine S. Dreier, Marcel Duchamp, William J. Glackens, Albert Gleizes, John Marin, Walter Pach, Man Ray, John Sloan and Joseph Stella. The managing director was Walter Arensberg (1878-1954). Modelled on the French Soci?t? des Artistes Ind?pendants, a group founded in 1884 that exhibited until World War I as a kind of institutionalized Salon des Refus?s, the SIA held its first exhibition, The Big Show, in April 1917. This offered artists an opportunity to exhibit for a small yearly fee, regardless of style or subject-matter. This exhibition, held at the Grand Central Palace in New York, was not only the largest exhibition in American history (about 2500 paintings and sculptures by 1200 artists) but one of the most controversial: it drew criticism for its no-jury policy and its innovative alphabetical installation, adopted to preclude judgements of a hanging committee. The exhibition coincided with the entry of the USA into World War I, a context that underlined the SIA's dedication to democratic principles as part of a larger struggle. The SIA's commitment extended to all of the arts; film screenings, lectures, poetry readings and concerts supplemented the exhibitions. Although none was as sensational as the first, exhibitions accompanied by catalogues continued on an annual basis under Sloan's long tenure as president from 1918 until 1944 when the last exhibition was held.
See the Abbreviations for further details.
