The Washington times., 1923-04-08
new D. c. CLUB
ACCELERATES
ART IMP ULSE
Mrs. Esther P. Hitz Heads Or:
ganization to Foster Local
and International Exhibits
MUSIC ALSO TO BE FEATURE
Handicraft Guild Affiliates
With Center-Easter Carnl-
val to Continue for a Week
Bv yIKToR FLAMBEAU.


Few of the hundreds present,
last Sunday afternoon, at the Art
Center reception in honor OF MISS
Florence Haywood, a visiting art
critic from the Louvre, reallzed'
perhaps, the significance OF the
opening of the Art Center Club,
n new and democratic organlZa-
ton for the people Of Washington.
GIVE PUBLIC WELCOME.
Led by Mrs. Esther P. Hitz. the
wife of Justice William Hitz, OF
the Supreme Court OF the DlsIrlct,
q group Of art lovers announced an
invitation to the public TO make Iree
usa of the club privileges and to
assist In all social activities. Their
purpose they outlined as intended
sto further: the interests OF art in
Washington and to promote CO.
operative international art exhibit
ton" The new Art Center Club
was proclaimed "a non-commercial,
progressive art association with club
room facilities"
The advisory board members are
Mrs. John Mock, well known for
her rare Oriental collection; Mrs.
Logan Waller Page. Miss Catharine
Carter Critcher, highly successful
local painter; G. Hamilton Martin,
jr., connoisseur and collector OF
Japanese prints: Rudolf Won HUM,
illustrator and caricaturist, who ex-
hibited earlier at the Art Center,
and Viktor Flambeau, besides the
president and director, Mrs. Hitz,
and Miss L. Grace Bechtol, secre-
tary and treasurer.
PRESENT NEW TENOR.
introducing Charles Stratton, a
new tenor from Boston, next Thurs
day evening, viii be one Of the first
events scheduled by the Art Center
Club, with Mr.. Martin as impress
sario. Charles Fonteyn Manney will
be Mr. STATIONS accompanist and
the program will include a group
OF French songs. Persian lyrics,
negro spirituals and English and
American themes. Following the
concert an informal reception viii
be held in honor of Mr.. Stratton.
who is favorably known in the
south, having been born In Tennes.
see.
This afternoon the Art Center
Club announces an Easter recital of
sacred music. to which the public
is invited, and which forms one of
the events in the Eastern carnival
of the art and archaeology league.
The carnival will continue during
the week, open daily to the public,
and with several special evening
features.
MRS. HITZ LEADER.
Mrs. HitZ. the leader Of this new
movement, is known for her inter.
est in art and new artists, several
or whom she has presented this
season at the Art Center. Although
o busy wife and mother. she has
yet found time to devote to art
matters, and has at length realized
ner dream to promote in Washing
ton international exhibitions, in
which work the Art and ArchaeoI-
ogy League have cooperated.
The Polish and Latvian displays
already shown have proved success
ful, and the next one scheduled is
Cxecholovak arts, opening ApriI q
for two weeks. During May japan
csc art will be featured, and mem
bers Of the japanese embassy staff
VIII assist in the plans. Early next
season the Passion Players from
Ooerammergau are to exhibit here
their arts and crafts.
G. Hamilton Martin, IT., another
leader of the Art Center Club. Is an
enthusiast in Japanese art, q taste
shared by his mother. Mrs. George
= Fl. Martin. In their residence at
1858 California street northwest
may be found one of the most in
teresting collections in Washington.
acquired IN Seattle, New York, San
Francisco. Los Angeles, San Diego,
Boston. Over 500 prints were as.
sembled by them, many Of which
could not now be duplicated in
Japan.
MIR. MARTIN TO SPEAK.
Mr.. Martin, who came to Wash
tngton from Harvard University,
In also an authority on flower ar
rangement and has directed the
hanging Of several exhibitions at
the Art Center. He is a writer and
lecturer, and is scheduled to speak
on April IL at the Arts Club, 2017
] Street northwest, where he will
chow his Japanese prints.
affiliated with the Art Center
is also the Washington Handicraft
Guild, of which Olaf Saugstad is
president, with a membership of
about one hundred, including work.
ers in textiles, weaving, wood carv-
ing, china decoration, batik metal
work, hand wrought jeweIry, and
other crafts recently revived in
America. Several Of the members
have studios at the Art Center, in
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