The sun., 1916-10-29

I'm these columns, but in case there
might be a reader In doubt as to what
a group" exhibition means II may
briefly be explained that the group
chooses Itself, hires the gallery and
each member Of the group sends In
such works of art as no or she
pleases. There is no jury to say may"
to anything. Once you belong to a
group everything goes. In this man
ner the cost Of coming before the pub
lie is reduced to the minimum, and
genius that refuses to conform to the
cut and dried formulas Of committees
can no longer be stifed.
The gallery has the disadvantage ~
being scqucstered in a private club
and the general public seems afraid to
venture Into II IN large numbers In
spite Of the fact that the press Is con-
tinually assuring the public that II has
the privilege. Nevertheless the deal
ers keep ar we upon the Mcdowell
Club groups. and at the first hint that
an unusual artist Is appearing on
F1fty-ifth street. swoop down upon
the place and carry OF the rara avis
to Fifth avenue.
There h. rot much likelihood that
anything of tho sort will occur upon
the present occasion, however. 1t IL a
first exhibition Of the year. and too
Don for the rare birds to flock.
To be quite frank most OF the cX-
hibitors are not OF the rank that one
usually mentions. They appear to
he students of n more than usually
hazy condition OF mind. Take "liit or
Mis- - Tor ,pat.,,o ~. 10, tr,,to mad
borg Richards. What possible boon
can Miss Richards expect to result
from it's exhibition? She scarcely dared
hope for praise, to judge from tho
title OF tho work. a portrait OF u
woman in a check shawl. and II Is
not likely that she hoped to realize
upon a campaign Of ridicule a. did
the famous Cherry Sisters Of blessed
vaudeville memory. for her sketch is
not worth ridiculing. II advice 10
what she seeks, tho only advice pos
sibls under the circumstances 10 to
paint the picture over with something
else as quickly as may be.
The sketches by Israel Doskow are
almost equally immature and futile.
his yellow Mask" being peculiarly
Objectionable both from the point Of
view of good taste n style. The
After Dinner Story Is badly COM
posed and drawn, and the title of II IL
rather hit or miss" like Miss Rich
| ards's styls OF painting. II MIR. Dos
kow continues as an artist n paints
more pictures. he can save this title
for the future when he shall have
heard. 1t In to he hoped. some real
after dinner stories.
Others who exhibit and who may
scarcely lie said TO have a style AZ
get are George Mather Richards. WILL
lam r. Matthews and Robert Merrill
Gage. a sculptor.
Contrary to my usual custom I re-
serve the hest for the end Of the re-
view. the best being Arthur Convey,
Julius G.. Sommer and Charles s. Chap
man. Mr.. Chapman paints the soil
tudcs Of the north in a romantic, ex-
aggerated fashion and contrives effects
that would not te bad II carried out
upon the stage. Everything Is bathed
In n greenish light and the deer in
these pictures appear to lead fright
fully lonely and fearsome lives. They
are marked clear for n tragic end. but
then that Is true enough TO the facts
OF animal life as Ernest Thompson
Seton tells them to US.
Mr.. Sommcr paints decorative gall
Icons on stormy blue seas like Max
well Parrish. and also panels with en-
chanted islands against gold back
grounds. MIR. Covey's sketches for
mural decorations are much tho most
professional work that is on display.
but his sketches Of fishing boats and
docks lack harm They are hard,
cold, clear and without especial charm