Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-04
BY KATHLEEN MCKEE.


A collection of paintings by stephen
Haweis of the modern school of art,
which depicts figures in motion will be
on exhibition during September at the
John Heron Art institute beginning
next Sunday.
Although number of artists have ex-
perimented in placing action upon the
canvass, Haweis is probably the most
successful
All his pieces, with only a few excep-
tions, portray scenes in the South Sea
islands and the West Indies, with
which he has been familiar since child,
when he played with relics brought from
Tahite by his great grandfather.
Most of the pieces are done In water
color, although a few oil paintings are
included in the collection.
These pictures might be classified into
two distinct types-the rational and the
irrational.
The majority of the paintings CLASH
fed as Irrational" are scenes Of under
the sea, in which the artist endeavors
to give the seer a glimpse Of fish swim
ming.
He is extremely successful in creating
this impression, inasmuch az feeling
of seasickness is almost aroused.
In other pictures the effect Of looking
through broken glass is produced.
COLORS AXE
BEAUTIFUL.
In every instance the colors are very
beautiful, although the objects are glar-
ingly inharmonious and seem to be
without sense.
The flashing by Of hundreds of fish,
with a resulting effect Of blaze Of color
and falling lights is very cievcrly de-
picted in one picture.
Another shows fishermen in boats IN
the act of catching fish, which are
struggling TO free themselves.
There are numbers of similar scenes
where the action is less pronounced and
can be comprehended with more intelli'
gence.
The group of pictures showing action
OF the South Sea natives is perhaps
the most interesting feature in the col
lection.
Here Haweis, to produce the atmos-
phere of action, introduces an additional
arm or leg.
THE rhythm of concerted movement is
the keynote of the Fijian character,
music, poetry and history" he has writ
ten in discussing his paintings.
Although the sense OF consistency re-
volts against the addition Of an arm,
il is undeniable that the sensation OF
motion is created.
The spectator may look at one OF the
pictures of a row of natives possessing
three arms, which are being waved TO
and fro and enter into the spirit of the
weird rhythmic incarnation they are
chanting.
4 large number Of paintings in the
rational classification, showing Haweis
to be a master Of the brush, afford an
interesting study of the natives of the
Bahamas and South sea islands.
Three oil paintings OF scenes of native
hutS are very interesting to the visitor.
The brilliant colors used make a strik-
ing feature in ali his paintings.
OCCUPATIONS
or NATIVES.
The lnereHt occupations of the natives
..re depicted in numerous pictures. and
bits of scenery and native huts for
backgrounds make interesting studios.
One shows a half dozen natives in
their brightly colored garb. another
shows them loading a mule and still an
other their mode Of fishing.
y picture showing tropical night is of
q still different tyne
Here, the dark blue atmosphere OF
i.cht rests over everything and deep
hiae trees stand out against still dark
blue sky and lone animal pauses on
oae foot gazing toward the junsles.
: group Of well-done pencil portraits
also offer evidence of the artists ability.
These pictures, which Haweis terms the
wc-k Of an interpretive exponent" are
In his opinion the expression of what
remains in the memory after continued
observation
The originality Of the subjects chosen
ard the angle of vision which he chooses
laake an interesting study.
Undoubtedly his best work is done in
lis use of arbitrary curves and intersect-
tor lines. where he maintains that he
has escaped from the influence Of Whist
ier, Carriere. Boudin and other artists of
he old schools.
How successful the innovation of re-
reductions Of motion viii be is impos-
sble to tell at the present time, as the
mnvannent is vel In its infancy