New-York tribune., 1920-05-09
Random Impressions
I'm Current Exhibitions


Co''e1's<Ied from page seven
Married Dumb Wife," we witnessed
In the setting Mr.. Robert Edmond
Jones's debut as designer for the
stage. It was a happy moment. He
made his scene as charming as an H.
Illuminated page from some old French
manuscript. Since then playgoers In
New York have come to know his work
well and they will rejoice in the oppor-
tunity to see the souvenirs of it that
are on view at the Bourgeois gallery.
These drawings, models and photo
graphs form. as It were, little cosmos,
in which we are initiated into an
artists habit of mind. Fully to appre-
ciate what Mr.. Jones does one must
see his work under the actual condi-
tions Of the theater. especially the con-
ditions which depend upon the manipu-
lation Of light. But on the other hand
there is an intimacy established by
this exhibition which by itself has
value.
For one thing, the documents, il we
may SO describe them, which are hero
gathered together, bring US very close
to what seems to US the essential quail
ity in this artists whole gospel Of
design. This Is a sane, distinguished
taste acting always as a check upon
imaginative inventiveness. There are
no arbitrary, freakish movements in
his world of theatrical illusions. He
does not, like that brilliant but too
dogmatic designer, Gordon Craig, carry
originality to point where 1t threat
ems the poise Of the play. On the con-
trary, the play, with Mr.: Jones, re-
mains the thing. The investiture he
gives 1t is true to its spirit, it's move
ment, its broad, imponderable appeal.
His simplicity--an invaluable factor in
these days which are characterized by
40 much that Is merely fantastic in
the theater-is Of the wholesome, nat
ural kind; it is never stilted. There
are some very nearly precious" in
stances Of it, to be sure, in "The Low
srs" and "The Seven Princesses," yet
We must confess that the inherent po-
etry Of these models triumph over
their preciosity. When he is simple
not In terms Of poetry but in those
Of realism, as in tho scene from
"George Washington" with its tall tree
trunks, his effect Is consummately
good. The show discloses his variety.
He knows how to be gayly elegent, as
in "The Birthday Of the Infanta," and
the latticed windows Of his scene for
Much ADO" and then, as in Richard
ILL.," he can make stone walls truly
monumental. In the new setting pro-
vided for Mahler's revival of "Fidelio"
at the Metropolitan we saw how ef-
fective a prodigious screen of masonry
could be made, but Mr.. Jones has
achieved finer thing with it in his
Richard Ill" He has already done
much for the "new" decoration of the
theater. Musing on this exhibition one
sees him doing almost anything in the
future, for his art obviously has in 1t
the secret of progress, which Is to
say, fresh, original inspiration.
The Neighborhood Art School, which
was started at Greenwich House In De-
cember, 1917, by Mrs. Harry Payne
Whitney, is an organization aiming at
the discovery and development of such
talent as may be latent in the children
of the lower West Side. 1t draws with
IN its scope youngsters only six or
seven, and their elders up to eighteen
and twenty. They are taught drawing,
painting In oils and water colors, wood
carving and modelling in clay, the max
ing Of pottery and jewelry Some of
the results are shown in an exhibition
lasting for the next three weeks at the
Whitney Studio Club. They shed in
teresting. light on a highly beneficial
scheme.
There is no catalogue, ard, indeed,
the signalling OF this or that imma-
ture personality Is wisely avoided. The
important point made is that by the
rational encouragement Of artistic im-
pulses the color sense and the manual
dexterity Of many children are profit
ably fostered. Some Of the drawings,
some Of the water colors, are uncom-
monty promising. The pottery, more
perhaps than anything else, denotes
positive achievement It may not be at
all striking as to form, but 1t is often
surprisingly successful In color. We
have IN mind q little bowl, we'll glazed.
The traveller who "picked 1t up" by the
wayside in Europe would brag about
his And. It has the artless charm Of
sterling peasant ware. The curious lit
tie painted figures contributed by the
wood caxvers have something Of the
same racy quality. AS an exhibition Of
art this makes no pretense. AS evil
dcnce Of what can be done to nourish
the seeds of taste in children the show
possesses living interest.
Under tho auspices Of the American
Scandinavian Foundation an exhibition
Is to be opened at the Fine Arts Build
ing on Sunday. May 1e, to continue
until May 25. It will present about a
hundred paintings by American artists
Of Swedish descent. This enterprise
waa suppeated and iu fioorcad NV NJ