The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-11

Mr.. L. A. Gillette has two exceed
ingly attractive oil landscape paintings
on exhibition at the Sullivan art store
on West Eighth avenue at present.
Both pictures are new to the public
One of them occupies the Topeka Art
Guild Space in the Sullivan store.
1t is view of one of the peaks of the
Rocky Mountains as seen from the
plains east of Colorado Springs. The
effect of brilliant sunlight on the jut-
ting crags and pinnacles of the peak
is very fine indeed The effect of
| distance is also good and the color is
pleasing.
The other painting is a view of the
new concrete bridge over Soldier creek
at Garfield park. The view is appar-
emily taken from the woods on the
graceful bridge with its surroundings
as seen from the spot that Mr.. Gill
lette has chosen makes an exceed
| ingly pleasing composition. The
painting has much rich color and
some fine strong contrasts of sun
light and shadow.
Mr.. Gillette is one of the most en-
| thusiastic and hard working members
| of the Topeka Art Guild and an ar
dent student of nature. He has pro-
/ duced many excellent landscape pic
lures during the last two or three
years.
George NJ. stones portrait of his
| brother, Robert, which he displayed
at a. recent exhibition at Washburn
college is also at the Sullivan store at
present. Altho it is not there pri-
| marily for exhibition purposes yet it
| is standing in a place where it can be
| readily seen and admired Mrs. Sulli-
van has recently acquired some an
cient Japanese block prints, some of
which are on display in her store win
dow.
By the way, remember members of
the Topeka Art Guild. Mrs. Sullivan
very kindly reserved a space on the
walls of her store and fitted the same
with special lights. and the guild
members agreed to have a picture all
ways on exhibition in this space Let
US not forget our promise, sometimes
| it is hard to get anything to exhibit.
| 1t doesn't have to be a piece of your
| own work. IF you have some good
picture done by somebody else. bring
that, also induce your friends to loan
good pictures for exhibition purposes.
The Christian Science Monitor for
February 2, 1922 contains among
MANY interesting articles in its Art
News and Comments" page, one en-
titled Beauty and Humor in Amman
Sculpture of Albert Laessle. rms ar
ticIe gives an account OF an eXhlolt
of Laessle's sculpture when formed
part of a. recent art exhibition given
by the Charcoal club at the Peabody
Institute at Baltimore, Maryland. Says
the article:
For the first time in his career, the
sculptor is exhibiting publicly his col
lection of animal bronzes, ranging
from the most diminutive study OF
locust or beetle to the ambitious scope
of the larger groups. Nothing IS TOO
small to escape his notice, nothing too
subtle for him to analyze. and under
his revealing touch, the erstwhile ugly
creature becomes an object OF sympa-
thetic beauty. The secret lies IN pa
thence and a keen sense OF observa-
ton, for Laessle is a student or ma
ture and models the life of the animal
rather than the animal itself.
His first adventure in fame came TO
him early in his career, when he was
accused of exhibiting as original what
was thought to be cast from life.
So serious was the young sculptor,
that he had followed slavishiy the
model before him and had produced
a copy which was striking in its ac-
curacy Today, thru long years OF
experience. details have paled IN I'M
portance, and he sees his subject as
an entity, in all the loneliness of its
mass construction. The decorative as
pect is a means to an end, not an end
in itself. and is used to supplement,
to complete, and to carry the Illusion
created thru mass values.
The most insignificant bump on the
back of a toad, tho 1nobtrusive, and
often missed by the observer, is placed
knowingly and purposely to create
some particular note of light or shade.
Beauty of detail does not lie in its
prominence, but in its subordination.
In all Laessle's bronzes we are con-
scbous of a pulsating and satisfying
fulIness of form, accompanied by
curious tactual sensation as of the
texture Of a living animal. The toad
is cold and clammy. the turtle a com
biriation of hard, shiny surface, and of
wrinkled and leathery skin
In every instance. the rotundity of