The sun., 1919-11-02
NEW ACADEMY HAS
FIRST EXHIBITION
Nothing Sensational Is Shown
and Merit Is Well Dis
tributed.
INTERESTING TO PUBLIC
Improvement Displayed by
Beal, Chanler, Dougherty
and Others.

Whether the new society OF American
Painters, Sculptors and Gravers will be
permanent success is not certain but
this much is sure the first of its ex-
hibtions-which opened yesterday with
private view in the Gimpel and Wild
erstein galleres-will be found inter-
esting to the public. Merit Is pretty
evenly distributed among the various
artists who take part, and while moth
ing sensational is to be recorded the
average is distinctly higher than in the
recent official exhibitions of American
art.
The members OF the new society, most
OF whom belong to the Academy. have
issued a statement in which II is denied
that they intend to secede> from that
institution or that they intend to
antagonize it. Their sole excuse, it
seems in banding together in group
IS that they wish to hold exhibitions of
a non-partisan character---n word to
be more liberal. There are mo juries
and no prizes--havlng borrowed that
idea from the Independent Society
and the members send in works OF
their own choosing. knowing in ad-
vance that such works must be received
and hung
The exhibition contains comparatively
little that might not have been shown
In Fifty-seventh street. but as the new
society has apparently been on its metal,
1t has gone to extra pains in the at
tempt to justify itself 1t does justify
itself in so far as It has arranged an
exceedingly creditable show and It also
suggests that the Academy might give
better account OF itself IL it's commit
tees were to go campaigning for good
material instead of resting. as they have
every appearance of doing, upon heavy
oars. In these days there seems to be
degree of business connected with
every enterprise and aggressive methods
are necessary.
Its Liberal Features.
Under the circumstances the first
curiosity of the public will be to see
how liberal" the new society is. to
see what works the new collection con-
tains that might not have been sent to
the Academy. Among these may be cited
the new screens by Robert w. Charles,
the paintings by Samuel Halpert and
Henry McFee, the sculptures of CASTOR
Lachaise and Hunt Diedrich. and the
drawings by Boardman Robinson and
Rockwell Kent Hayley Lever end Ran
DAN Davey have freer sketches than
they would have dared submit to the
usual jury. but all the other works of
art could Just as well have been shown
! in the usual place.
The second point of interest Is to
know who of all these well known art
lists have improved upon their own past
performances, and such. after a first
glance at their works may be listed as
follows: Clifford Beal Robert w
Chambers, Randall Davey, Paul Dough-
| erty, Guy Pene Du Bots, James Il. Fra
ser. Walter Griffin. Leon Knoll, CASTOR
Lachaise, Hayley Lever, George Luks
Henry McFee and Boardman Robinson
This little list makes no pretence to
| being ranged in the order of merit. II
| is strictly Alphabetical.
Mrs. Chambers's new screens will be
| looked at first by the casual visitor II
| the large gallery, for they are so com
polling in line and color that it is i'm
| possible not to see them. The motifs
have come from the deep sea apparently
| with swirling lines of sea grasses anC
extraordinary fishes. The artists titl'
| for the work Is 1.-THE Bolsheviks," and
! that Is rather apt, since something In thu
| seething bewilderment of the design
! does suggest the confusion of the times
we live in. 1t is excellent in color.
Luks's Pleasing Work.
Mr.. Luks has one of his old tim,
| successes with his portrait of "Meilatz,
| and that will please everybody. Thi
| artist has often of late struggled witt
the paint until It got so heavy. on tn
canvas that he could struggle no more
but in the present instance his ever,
| touch has been a success. II Is a sketcl
only, but one that artists will accept a
sufficiently complete
One Of Paul Dougherty's small pas
tells, study OF rolling dunes, is quit
perfect. 1t has touch, pleasant colol
distinction--it would not have disgrace
Degas, whose morotypes 1t somewha
resembles. Wlter Grihin's big land
scape is the most complete and success
full work he has exhibited since his fins
acceptance of America as a place c
residence. 1t Is STEPPED in color. 1t
almost all color It Is like the ancier
glass called millefleurs that Is said {
have been compounded of Jewels. A
the Academy 1t would certainly hav
been "prized," so It was particular
DISTINGUISHED upon the artists part
have Seeded" with It,
Mr.. Frazer's head Of Mrs, p. Ford
clever as sculpture and spirited as char
aoter Interpretation. Mr.. Lachaise's fe
| male neduS seem TtduN u buISl HOi
the solid stone in which they have bee
carved so charged are they with intens
expression. Mr.. Lachaise's style re
mains as Gallo as possible. Mr.. Henri
large canvas of Roshanasa the dance
Is certainly ambitious, but somehow
does not, as they say, come off. II
color is rather obvious, with ploddin
rather than an inspired quality, an
many of the flesh tones are debatabl
I IN value.
Mr.. Du Bois's pictures are laden wit
, curious and hardly understandable satin
az usual, but this year have gained dis
, tinctly in draughtsmanship and In cal
, rying power. One of them has the it'll
intellect and Intuition" In 1t tw
, young women are seated wearing, as M
, lnfrequently happens shoes that are to
tight. The one that impersonates III
tellect' wonders vaguely what Is ii
matter with her, but her companion
Intuition" dives directly to the seat (
trouble and removes the offending Sill
, per. 1t is an odd picture
}