Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-13
TAFT AT ART SHOW
Greets the Exhibitors at the
Corcoran Gallery.
RECEPTION MARKS OPENING
President and Mrs. Taft Spend an
Hour at Exhibition.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRIZES
Sunshine and Joyousness FREEDOM
mate in Artists Productions.
Fine Array of Paintings.

A brilliant reception marked the
opening, last evening, of the Corcoran
Gallery's third biennial exhibition of
contemporary American paintings. About
two thousand people were in attendance
The President and Mrs. Taft arrived
about 10 o'clock and spent about an
hour viewing the paintings. After
making tour of the picture galleries
President Taft returned to the lower
hall and received the artists who We're
exhibitors, having in many instances
a special word of appreciation for
each. Mr.. +. d. Millet, chairman Of
the jury of selection and awards, made
the presentations. Among the artists
personally congratulated by the Presi-
dent were two of the prize winners.
Mr.. E. c. Tarbell of Boston and Mr..
Daniel CARRIER of New York. Other
artists present were Ralph Clarkson
of Chicago, C. c. Curran, E. w. Red
field, Charles Noel Flagg. Walter Nc
Even, r. N. Brooke, j. II. Moser, Z.
c. Messer and w. w. Gilcrist jr.
Army and Navy Represented.
Army and navy and official circles, as
we'll as winter residents Of Washington,
were we'll represented, and with the
lights, music and many-colored gowns
this reception took on an air Of special
festivity. The guests were received inn
mediately upon entrance by c. c. Glover.
president of the board of trustees; for
mer Senator w. A. Clark, who donated
the $1,000 given in prizes, and Bernard
r. Green. c. Powell Minnegerode, as
sistant director, made the presentations
of prizes. Among the out-of-town visitors
were the directors of three of the lead
ing art museums, John r. D. Task OF
Philadelphia, John w. Beatty of the Car
nege Institute, Pittsburg. and Miss Cor
nelia Bentley Sage of the Albright Cal
lery, Buffalo. That the exhibition was
of exceptional interest and merit all were
agreed. In fact more than once it was
affirmed that so good a showing had
never before been made by current pro-
duction.
Sunshine. joyousness, optimism are the
dominant notes of this exhibition. Wheth-
er the visitor is a lover Of art Or not. he
could not fail to find delight and cheer
in this display. 1t is as if many WIN
dows had been thrown open upon world
of pleasing aspect. This is the secret OF
the NEW art" and, to large extent,
the result of the impressionists' expert
ments. Impressionism itself has run its
course, but it has taught valuable les
sons Dspelling darkness, it has let In
not only light, but air, and demonstrated
the fact that upon these two effect was
chiefly dependent.
Many of the pictures now on exhibition
in the Corcoran Gallery manifest the
truth of this teaching, deriving their in
terest through the play of light through
atmosphere. Not that they are vague or
ethereal-1uite the contrary-but that
spirit has been rendered as we'll as form.
Take, for an extreme example, the figure
painting entitled Sunlight" painted by
John w. Alexander, president of the Ma
tional Academy of Design, and recently
purchased by the Society Of the Friends
of American Art for the Art Institute
of Chicago.