Evening star., 1923-05-13

y intensely interesting exhibit
~ tion of pupils work in the
n grade schools has been on
view since the first of the
month at the Arts club of Washing
ton. Because of the limited space.
only work under the divisions of ma
ture study and pose was shown.
Art is taught in the public schools
OF Washington entirely with the pur
pose of increasing appreciation
opening the eyes of the children TO
beauty, extending their vision. and,
secondarily. in the hope OF helping
the rare child of talent to develop his
gift. If one can belieYe the testimony
of this exhibition. talent would seem
to be inherent in all, for the work
done by pupils in the first grade,
little tots of six or seven years of age,
was marvelously artistic. This was
particularly noticeable in the "af"r"
study exhibits which were in almost
every instance SO amazingly rIs,.r
and true, 80 simple and direct, so full
of spirit and individuality. that they
would have filled any modernist
struggling to capture just these
qualities with bitter envy: but these
works were sincere. There is much
talk of the ability of the Japanese for
simplification. but nothing could be
more simple. more so-called Japan
esque in spirit. than the flower
studies of these little American public
school children. There were studies
of wild azalea. delightful in color.
done with a few strokes. emphasizing
the real characteristics Of the flower.
There were studies Of iris, of mari
Colds, of fruit blossoms. evidently
done almost in an instant. with
should one say?-the courage of
ignorance.
Unfortunately. as the student ad-
ranced in grade the work seemed to
lose in value and here is the perpleX-
ity and the problem of it. Possibly as
the child ages. he or she becomes
more self-conscious and loses the
precious gift Is there something
wrong with the teaching. or is this an
inevitable penalty Of wisdom? The
highest grade nature work did not
compare in interest or merit with
that done in the first and second
grades So also, in the work in pose
quick studies made in water color
of figures. mostly in action-clever,
full of spirit. essentially modern.
One might question whether or not
the children whose exhibits were
displayed had been helped by their
teachers. but excellent testimony to
the integrity of the showing was
given in a group of work represent
ing every pupil in one class. thirty
six studies in all. done evidently un-
der the same inspirati tion. but by
thirty-siX individuals Obviously no
teacher could simultaneously assist
SO many save by word and example.
The enormous value of such teaching
can hardly be comprehended. for,
after all. nothing opens the way to
appreciation of art so much as some
knowledge of methods, some expert
ence in creative production. The
public schools are doing a great serv-
ice In thus giving the children of
Washington (and the same is true
OF other cities) a first hand knowl-
edge of art.
X x j: X
IN the lower room at the Arts Club
there is now on exhibition a collec-
ton of small oil paintings by Miss
Mary G. Riley of Washington The
majority of these are street and city
pictures. painted in the little towns
Of France. Rather gray in tone and
little monotonous in effect. they
show good drawing and sincere ar
tistic feeling, and eminently deserve
serious consideration. In their grave
veracity they recall not a little the
early work of the late Bertha E. Per-
ric. which alone should give them
. high rank. Art. after all. is serious
business and if one wants to excel one
hluSS travel tHe TOdQ tHat MISS Riley.
is traveling: but not many have the
patience and persistence which, added
10 gift. is bound in the end to bring
large reward.
From May 16 to May 81 there will
be shown at the Arts Club a collection
of Oil and water color paintings by
Miss Riley's confreres, Miss Elizabeth
H. Evans and Miss Marguerite C.
Mum of this city. =
x 4
uERE also this week and at the
Corcoran Gallery of Art as well
will be seen architectural exhibitions
especially arranged through the CO.
operation of the American Institute
Of Architects, which on Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday will hold its
annual convention in this city. The
exhibition at the Arts Club will be
the work of American architects; that
at the Corcoran Gallery will be of
the architects and allied artists of
Sweden.
A NOTABLE feature of the archi-
tectst convention this year will
he the presentation the evening of
May '1S Of the gold medal Of the
institute to Henry Bacon. architect
bf the Lincoln Memorial. This medal
Is the highest honor in the gift of
the institute. and. in fact. the highest
honor to which an American architect
can attain. 1t Is only given for ex-
ceptional merit. and in the past has
only been twice bestowed on an
American. the first time to Charles
+. McKin1, the second time to George
b. Post. The presentation will be
made by the President of the United
States just within the portals Of the
memorial. 1t will be preceded by a
ceremonial pageant, in which the va
rious chapters of the institute and
representatives of allied organixa-
tions, such as the American Fedora.
ton Of Arts, the School of Fine Arts
of the University of Pennsylvania,