Evening star., 1922-05-21
Notes Of Art and Artists

&~0 -.
At the. Art Center on Connecticut ave-
nue. has been shown for the past FORT
night comprehensive exhibition OF han
dicrafts, both American and foreign. IN
the Art Center galleries were displayed
the works Of American craftsmen gath-
cred by the Washington Handicraft
Guild from different art centers through
the cooperation OF various arts ana
crafts societies. The New York society
was perhaps the largest contributor ana
the president Of that society. Charles T.
Pellew, lent valuable assistance IN ar
ranging the exhibition.
On Wednesday evening, May II, at the
invitation of the Washington Handicraft
! Club. Mr.. Pellew gave a talk in these
Processes Of Dyeing." The invited guests
| were the delegates to the convention OF
the American Federation of Arts.
! Great strides have been made during
the last ten years in craftsmanship in
! this country. until now our American
craftwork ranks not only with the best
| in the world. but with the best that has
been produced. We have today in this.
country jewelers. whose designs and
products compare favorably In merit
with the great jewelers. and silversmiths
Of the Italian renaissance. We have
lacemakers whose production may well
be compared with the lacemakers OF
| early centuries in Europe. We have
! weavers and carvers and modelers who
are turning out production Of high
/ order Of artistic merit. Furthermore. We
are awakening to a realization OF the
value Of sucn work, not merely IN dol
lars and cents. but in satisfaction and
pleasure. The individual who creates
beautiful object takes unto himself or
herself certain dignity and self-assur-
ancs which carries with 1t both satisfac-
tion and enjoyment.
Furthermore, 1t has been proved by
scientists and those Of the medical pro-
fession that fullest development is OBJ
tanned by combining activities OF the
hand with those Of the brain. Moreover.
| the Introduction Of handicrafts in the
rural districts. offering possibilities for
|
times, has proved tremendous boon
to the women of these sections OF OUR
country. and 1t is remarkable what
| measure Of efficiency has been attained
by them.
This is undou tedly the age of the
take the place of that produced by
trained craftsmen.
Last autumn a business building on
the corner Of L street and Connecti-
remodeled to afford exhibition gall
| leries and studios under the direct
supervision of Mrs Hitz, who named
it the Art Center. Therein, during
the past winter, a series of inter-
esting and unusual exhibitions has
been held, including not only paint
ings, but also etchings, prints. sculp-
ture, fabrics and handicrafts. 4
AT Mrs. Charles NJ. Ffoulke's resi-
dence a meeting was recently held
I by a few Of those interested in art,
with the purpose of organizing the
Art Center activities and devising
further utilized for the promotion
! of art. Mrs. Hitz has for some years
been particularly interested in the de-
velopment Of handicrafts, having noted
| when in Sweden the excellent way In
which such work there was organized.
I At the meeting at Mrs. Ffoulke's
| she outlined the Swedish method and
proposed a similar organization In
| this country, suggesting the estab-
| lishment in cities throughout the
| as markets. and later. perhaps. an ex-f
| tension of the system to cities
| throughout the world. Thus. as she
| aptly put it, through the work of
| the patient hands of the worker.
; there would be a haadclasp around
be formed the true league Of nations"
| Her plea was that in this circling
of the world by art Washington
| should take the lead. establishing in
| of the arts Of all nations, with the
purpose of creating a mutual under
standing of the nations ideals and
! of teaching visually the results
through art of the pursuit of hap
piness" and peace.
! Announcement has been made that
Sir Joshua Reynolds famous painting.
/ ..1rs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse"
| sold at the same time that the ''Blue
| Boy" was-sold in London, has like
wise been purchased by Henry e.
Huntington and is now with the BLUE
Boy" in Mr.. Huntington's library in
California.
| The sale Of thesetwo paintings, it
will be remembered. by the Duke Of
Westminster to the Duveens for the
sum of approximately $1,000, 900
created a sensation last winter. 1t
| was thought then that the Reynolds
portrait would go to a French coiiec-
tor. but it, too, has found its way to
California.
Mr.. Huntington has lately declared
his intention of giving to the public
his entire art collection. which IN
| cludes not only these, but several
noted Gainsboroughs and Romneys,
as well as his library. the finest in
the world, which contains some of
the most precious manuscripts and
first editions in existence. Enough
money. will go with the treasures,
which are valued at several millions
Of dollars. to support them and keep
the collections intact for all time.
Mr.. Huntington's gift Of his estate.
San Marino, near Pasadena, with all
the treasures within its gates, is
made on the terms that the transfer
shall take effect after the death of
| himself and Mrs. Huntington, al!
though the library will probably be
thrown open to the public within a
few months. 1t is intended to create
a self-perpetuating trust. to be called
the Henry E. Huntington Library and
Art Gallery.
The mansion on the estate at San
Marino Is a magnificent structure in
the Italian style Of architecture, de-
signed by Myron Hunt, the well
known California architect. 1t has q
frontage OF about 219 feet and is
q a,s.h.S gp ubftn afucco In drawin1