Evening star., 1922-12-10

OCLD you like to visit Taos,
AA/ that interesting. picturesque
little town in New Mexico
on the border of the desert.
in the shelter of the foothills. where
| distinguished group OF American
painters is now congregated? If so.
go directly to the CoTcoran Gallery
Of Art and see the exhibition Of paint
ings by Walter Ufer. a member OF
the Taos colony. which opened on De-
| cember Z, and will be on view until
January 1.
Mr.. Ufer is a KentucHian by birth.
He first saw the light of day in
Louisville In 1876. but he is good
deal of a cosmopolitan. having studied
painting in the Art Institute of Chi
caso. in Dresden. in Munich and in
home in Taos. and his pleasure has
! been. as will be seen by the present
exhibition. to paint what he saw
there. He is a picture maker as were
the great masters OF the old world.
and he makes his pictures of the ma
terial which he finds around him.
The forty-one pictures by this
painter now to be seen at the Cor
coran Gallery of Art include por-
traits. figures. landscapes; many va
IlctIcS VI lHeTleS-UuC 10
last they are Taos-Taos in sunshine
and in rain, threatened by thunder
storms OF fierce intensity, parched by
the southern sun. swept by winds. in
spring and autumn dress. at close and
at long range and always as seen by
the eye OF an admirer, a robust per-
sonality.
Taos is inhabited not only by artists.
but by Indians. MeXicans and New
Mexicans. They are its life. and they
| understanding and fidelity. He is a
realist of the realists. He is not salts
fled to give an impression, he sets
forth all that may be seen. For ex-
ample, the painting entitled Her
Daughter" two native women carry
Ing Indian decorated water jars on
their shawl-covered heads. They are
seen life size as through a window,
at arms length. so that every figure
on the decorated jars is visible and
the texture Of the shawls invites ones
touch. But they are painted against a
vast landscape background. a stretch
OF desert country. covered with sage
brush. that rolls on and on and on for
countless miles. presented with the
same accuracy as are the women. but
never In conflict with them. A strange
painting. daring and. in daring. mag
nificent.
Where Desert and Mountain Meet"
is another large canvas unfolding a
vast panorama OF natures handiwork.
the "illimitable" desert limited by the
everlasting hills. rooted by storm
clouds from which curtains of rain
are being let down. To give due
proportion to the landscape the paint
er has introduced. little to the right
center of his canvas. a prairie schoon
er traversing a sandy trail and thus
brought into his compositions the
drama of human life. This. IL judg-
ment does not fail, is a great paint
ing. both from the standpoint Of exc
cution and Significance.
Mr.. Ufer is a bold brushman. but
that he can be subtle when he de-
sires and very finished in his manner
is evidenced by number Of paint
inEs In this exhibition, most notable
perhaps among which is blue and
gold sunset very like those seen on
Perfect Day" And also by Two Rid
ers Against the Sky" the former serv-
ing merely as accessory to the latter
to enhance effect.
The Peddler" with his wagon:
all excellent outdoor subjects in
which figures take prominent place.
The houses of Taos, the plaza and
even the artists own back yard all
are pictured with great veracity and
give familiarity to the place as
His Portrait" and Fantasies" are
interiors with figures. the latter a
picture Of the artist himself at work
with. presumably. his wife sitting by
and. barely perceptible, the spirit Of
an Indian standing beside the easel.
the place of honor and because Of its
artistic merit and those qualities
which commonly are associated with
works Of art. It undoubtedly deserves
special distinction. 1t shows a blan-
keted Indian standing against a plas-
distance to the right. hangs what is
presumably an Indian portrait in a
dark wooden frame. Instantly to
ones mind is recalled with accom-
panying appreciation Of its absurdity
err" But how great is the difference!
Yet in each one there is the splendid
handling of fiat background. grayish
in tint, the single figure posed with
gravity, a little framed picture used
Ufer and Whistler! The two ara as
remote as the poles, but art is the
same.
There are some who may object that
TIERS art Is chiefly illustrative and in
this contention they are to be upheld
detrimental. I'VE need today illus
traitors of high order. men who see
correctly and who interpret truly.
with the utmost skill, cotemporary
life.
Furthermore. Ufer Is painting sub
jects which are completely American
and in q way which Is typically Amer
lean, and though this does not add to
the worth of his work artistically 1t
does lend interest and show independ-
ence. Quite obviously Walter Ufer
is not one to follow other mems lead.
but has his own convictions and the
courage to put them into effect.
This exhibition is without doubt one
Of the most interesting one-man shows
that has come here for a long time.
\ + X 4
TN the gallery of the Art Center. 1106
L Connecticut avenue, IL now being
exhibited a collection Of paintings by
Philip Adams, a member of the con-
sular bureau and since last spring on
duty abroad. Mr.. Adams came to
washington to take part In the war
work here. and was made chief clerk