Evening star., 1922-04-16

.
work and the extreme significance
and rare quality Of his art. The late
Abbott Thayer was indeed to be reck-
oned among our American masters,
and his works will. 1t is believed, be
found to bear comparison with the
about them a simplicity, dignity and,
strength which lifts them far above
the average. 1t is fitting that due
honor should be given such q master.
but in honoring him the Metropolitan
Museum and the corcoran Gallery of
In a most tangible and effective way
to the maintenance OF high ideals and
standards.
The exhibition Of Abbott Thayers
paintings and drawings in this city Is
particularly fortunate, in as much as
the American Federation of Arts will
hold its thirteenth annual convention
in Washington May Is to 10. This
will bring here representatives Of art
museums and associations from all
parts of the United States.
The convention will open with a
special session in Continental Memo
rial Hall on the evening Of the 18th.
at which Art As National Asset"
will be considered. the speakers being
high officials Of the government and
Sessions will be held on the 18th
and 18th, morning and afternoon, in
the auditorium of the Corcoran CAL
lery of Art and on the 18th in the
auditorium of the National Museum.
Those on the 17th will be devoted to
the subject of "Organized Art" prob
lens of the art museum and associa-
tion. The entire day of the 18th will
be devoted to the subject of Indus
trial Art" and the 18th to Art Teach
tpO and Civic ri p"
A special session is announced for
the evening of the 18th in the Hall
Of the Americans. Pan-American Union,
at which the subject under discus
The convention will close. as usual.
with q dinner on the evening of the
18th. at which there will be notable
speakers, among whom mention may
be made of e. II. Blashfield. Homer
Saint-Gaudens, Royal Cortissoz and
Walter Damrosch.
The president Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Arts is Robert w. de For
est, who is president also of the
Metropolitan Museum Of Art and first
vice president of the American Red
Cross. The headquarters Of the Or
ganization are in the Octagon, this
city.
In the Corcoran Gallery of Art is
u
sculpture in glazed terra Gotta by
Lieut.. Wyant p. Johnston. U. S. A.,
a pupil Of Charles Crafty Of Philadel-
phia and Lanesville, Cape Ann. Mass.
This collection Is very charmingly In
stalled in the anteroom to the special
exhibition gallery. and Is of peculiar
interest to those concerned with art
on its technical side. In general rem
dition these little groups are sketchy.
impressionistic. and give evidence of
the influence OF Rodin. but they like
wise are genuinely plastic in express
sion, and show appreciation OF the
Importance of maintaining in sculp-
tural work the unity of mass. In
most instances the subjects are pur-
posely emotional, rather than objec-
lively lovely. but the modelling Is
sympathetically done. and manifests
on the part Of the sculptor. rather un-
usual artistic perception.
Not the least interesting feature OF
this little exhibit is the medium en-
ployed and its manner OF handing,
its color, its finish and. above all.
its glaze. And though the work has
while.
The Southern Art Association will
hold it's second annual exhibition of
works by southern artists in the
Brooks Memorial. Art Gallery. Mem
phis. Tenn. April 16 to May 30.
Quite a number Of the Washington
artists will be represented. among
them Richard G. Paine. who has CON
tributed two of his small bronzes-a
fight between a tiger and python,
and a lioness and gazelle book ends
Mr.. Paine has lately completed a
small group of two leopards. entitled
"A Jungle Caress,. an aomlraole con-
position and well modelled.
Through the instrumentality of the
Public School Art League,
an interesting demonstration was re-
Gently made in the Corcoran GaIesy
of. Art of methods now employed by
the leading art museums Of the coun-
try to interest and instruct public
school children in art. The Metro
politan Museum generously lent Ior
the purpose Miss Anna Curtis Chand-
structors, who specializes along these
lines and who throughout the win,
ter season entertains, instructs and
guides approximately 1000 New York
school children in the Metropolitan
Museum every week Tnroueh &C.
ton and the able assistance OF one
of the supervising principals, Miss
Handley. about 500 public school chill
dren in Washington were given the
privilege of hearing talks by MISS
Chandler and being shown exhibits
in the corcoran Gallery under her
guidance on single day. Arrange
ments were made for four groups-
the first, fourth and fifth grade chill
dren; second, sixth grade children;
third, eighth grade and junior high;
fourth. students Of the normal school.
In all four cases Miss Chandler met
the groups in the auditorium. q story
was told, stereopticon slides shown
and then a tour made in the gallery:
and attention sriveted in such way,
that the impression would be pleas.
urable and permanent.
Miss Chandler has an uncommon
pift for dealing with children. Sne.
fell, q story with inimitable charm
and she knows how to hold attention
nd to maintain discipline. Not only
Mara nr thc. children themselves de-:
lighted, but older persons who had
the privilege of attending one or more
of the talks (such as members OF the
Art League and of the subcommittee
nn schools Of the civic art committee
of the washington Society OF the
Eine Arts, were enthusiastic in fheir,
nraise. as were also the director OF
the Corcoran Gallery and members
of the board Of directors.
such instruction as this Is OF the
utmost value, not only in developing
taste. but in providing the children
~tth knowledge which opens new,
vistas and Is bound to enrich their
lives Having demonstrated the
worth of such instruction, 1t Is greatly
to be hoped that some means may Pc
found to provide It regniarly 1or the
washington school children.