The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-20
ELLA BOND JOHNSTON

The twenty-secOnd annual exnlDl-
ton by Indiana artists which opened
to the Richmond public Sunday after
noon, in the public art gallery, Is
about fifty years ahead in merit OF the
exhibit of twenty-five years ago, and
proves the value of exhibits and priz-
es in raising the standard OF work
sllong painters.
1t is a notable fact in which Hoos-
iers may take pride that the 1919
Altman Prize of one thousand dollars
was awarded in the National Acad-
envy of Design in New York to Victor
Higgins of Shelbyville. The year be-
fore the same prize went to Daniel
CARRIER who was born and brought up
in North Manchester. Ind, but now
living in Philadelphia. and this season
at the Art Institute, Chicago. the Log
an Medal carrying with 1t fifteen hun
dred dollars was won by Wayman
Adams a Muncie hoy" These three
painters are represented in our pres
ent exhibition.
Since the death of William Chase,
Daniel CARRIER is the foremost painter
native to Indiana, and we are happy
to exhibit one of his very best paint
ings, 1.-THE Hills of Byram" which is
loaned by the Art Institute of Chica-
20. The delectable hills shown in this
painting may lie along the Delaware
river where Mr. CARRIER paints in the
summer season but no one else has
ever seen them. The local fact of
hills, rivers, trees and goats has been
transmitted in his imagination and
fine feeling into the eternal qualities
of nature, unity. balance, harmony,
variety. and rhythm all enveloped In
a silver veil of atmosphere. We hope
that some day the art association may
own as good a CARRIER as this one.
Wayman Adams exhibits four can
vases, portrait of Jim, the janitor,
a portrait of Miss Selliclz, the teach
er of drawing in the Shrotridge High
School, Indianapolis, and portraits OF
two we'll known Hoosier painters. j.
Otis Adams and T. G. Steel. Mr..
Steel's portrait has the place of honor
in the northeast gallery occupying the
center of the north wall. 1t is not
only an excellent likeness, but is true
in character and gesture. The face
directly and strongly modelled and
receives all the emphasis with every
thing else on the canvas subordinated.
No color or accessory allows the eye
to wander from the face. Mr. Adams
has developed into very clever tech
nician. 1t is easy to believe what is
true that Chase and Henri were his
teachers His portrait of J. Otis
Adams hangs in the same gallery with
the Steele and is a more interesting
canvas in color. The face is done IN
an impasto that is rich and clean.
This portrait gives distinct impress
sion of characteristic amused move
ment quite revealing Of the sitter's
personality.
Victor Higgins has for several years
spent most of his time painting the
desert and Indians near Taos, New
Mexico, and none of the painters OF
the west catch the delicate range OF
the yellow and violet tones of the des-
ert better than he. Mr.. Higgins has
been doing war work in the far west
and did not get his paintings shipped
in time to arrive for the opening day
1t is expected to arrive today.
This exhibit is richer in portraits
and figures than any exhibit by lnd1'
ana painters shown here In the past.
They balance the landscapes, making
a satisfying variety.
Robert Grafton, whose residence has
been in Michigan City for many years,
sends his second portrait of George
AIDE. He painted a standing figure OF
Mr.. AIDE which was shown here sew
eral years ago. The one now on ex-
hibit is seated figure and is the one
owned by Mr.. AIDE. 1t is higher In
key than the Adams portraits and
fuller of color. (Mr. Adams like Mr.
Chase likes the dark background. His
recent prize portrait of JOS. Pencil is
done in black and grey)
Mr. Grafton has been very successful
with the AIDE portrait in making the
whole canvas interesting without de
tracing from the value of the head.
He has two other canvases, scenes In
New Orleans, where he has been paint
ing for several winters. 'The Fish
Cleaner" is brilliant in color, the red
fish, the blue shirt of the man and the
yellow sunlight make a striking color
triangle in the composition and sue
cessful color harmony.
The other canvas is "St. Louis Ca
thedral," showing street in the ole
French quarter of New Orleans, which
goes into the picture in narrowing per
spective, the cathedral towers reach
into a remarkable sky which comes