Evening star., 1902-01-18
A RT NOTE S.

No more unique or interesting exhibition
has been held In the Hemicycle Of the Cor
coran Gallery than that of the park COM
mission, which opened to the public on
Thursday. 1t consists of drawings, de-
signs and models, made to illustrate the
report of this commission, which is COM
posed of two eminent architects, a sculp-
tor and a landscape gardener, viz, Daniel
H. Burnham. Chas. F. McKim, August
Saint Gaudens and Frederick Law Ohm
stead, jr. They were appointed by the
United States Senate to suggest the i'm
provement Of the park system of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. it will be remembered.
1t is purely municipal art, the Importance
of which Is, however, coming to be each
year more and more fully realized. Wash
ington, a city beautiful, with splendid
parks, imposing public buildings unrivaled
vistas, appears here as a reality-an ac-
complished fact; for the commission has
wisely not restricted itself to learned archi-
tectural plans and projections but has pre-
sented the intended changes in shape, in
telligib1e to all-ln water colors, drawings
and models, in which perspective plays its
essential part. Some of these illustrations
have sincere artistic merit, and one or two
are equally as decorative as they are pic
turesque 1t Is not in any sense intended
however, 1t must be remembered, as a fine
art show. In order to emphasize the nat
uIdl UedulleS Ol luo SurTOuuQlnR country
and the possibility of utilizing it unaltered
quite a number Of sketches made in the
neighborhood Of the upper river and canal
are shown. Then, to stimulate interest and
institute comparison, large collection of
Photographic reproductions Of parks, vistas,
fountains, bridges, quays, etc., in both the
old and new world cities, has been included
in the exhibition. Thus the whole exhibit
has assumed such proportions that it occu-
pies not only the Hemicycle and the oppo-
site school room, but vestibule hall, a por-
tion Of the lower northwest gallery and
the board room as well. The arrangement
Special attention has been paid to the light
ing, and evidently no pains have been
spared to make the exhibition in every way
most effective
public, and as none could see 1t without
being deeply interested and earnestly de-
sirous of having the plans put into execu-
ton, 1t must certainly prove Of great i'm
portance and be productive Of far-reachIng
results.
Never before. perhaps. has the need of a
large assembly hall, available for exhibi-
ton purposes, been more potent than now,
SO that the action taken at the last meet
ing of the Society Of Washington Artists ap-
pears peculiarly timely. AS stated in The
Star of the 14th,. this society has addressed
a letter to all the organizations, artistic, pa
triotic, musical, scientific, etc, that could
have need Of such a hall, asking them to
send two delegates to a meeting to be held
at the Cosmos Club on February 10, at 3
o'clock, to confer as to the best mode of
united action. The park commission has
provided site for a building in which the
inaugural ball, conventions, exhibitions
lectures and the like could be given in its
present recommendation, and Senator Nc
MILAN has introduced a bill appropriating
So, 900 600 for the erection and maintenance
of the same, SO the outlook is auspicious
and If the organizations respond with any
enthusiasm toothe letter Of the Society of
Washington Artists there is little doubt
but what some immediate result will be
accomplished. ts
On the 18th Of March the twelfth annual
exhibition of the Society of Washington
Artists will be held, arrangements for
which are already in progress. 1t is be-
lieved that there will be more work from
out of town exhibitors this year, as well as
from local artists, and a request has been
made to the trustees Of the Corcoran Gal
lery for an extra Room. The annual exhi-
bition of the Washington Architects Club
will be held in. conjunction with this and
the display will doubtless prove of excep-
tional Interest," Mr.. A. ]. Parsons has sig
nified his intention of renewing his offer
Of a prize of 800 for the best landscape
painted by a Washington artist, which, 1t
will be remembered. went last year to Mr.
Richard N. Brookes picture, entitled
early Evening.
X
The private view of the seventy-first an
nual exhibition of the Pennsylvania Acad-
eny of Fine Arts will be held tonight. On
Monday it opens to the public.
The Ali Baba Club. an organization of
local art students, win give a studio tea In
their rooms on the evening of the twen-
stieth. at which time some of the work of
the members win be exhibited
Last Wednesday afternoon a small collec-
ton of Mr.. Seuseney's work was exhihited