Evening star., 1925-12-05

The Society of Washington Artists
opened its annual exhibition at the
Corcoran Gallery of Art today and
makes excellent showing. ElshtN-fVe
paintings and four works III sculpture
are comprised in the catalogue. and the
ma ioritv are by local artists. These
are set forth in the Semi-cirCular gal
lery and the anteroom given over to
special exhibitions and the showing as
Il whole compares faNorahlY with
! other exhibitions which have previous
ly been displayed therein.
Within the past few wears marked
| change has come over the art of PANT
inG-a change. which is hard Ia define
and vet readily observed. Whatever
charge may he justly brought against
the modernists ii is quite certain that
they have III their wild way succeeded
in logging the art of painting out of
old ruts, TO. the benefit Of current pro
duction There is nothing stereotyped,
conventional or StodGy about the
paintings included in this local eNhibi-
ton. They are all fresh. vigorous and
assured whatever may be their short
comincs As some one remarked with
reference to an exhibition of cotem-
porary work recently held in a neigh
boring city. there is a note of cheer
fulncSS in painting today which il has
not always had. The chief crime Of
the moderniSt has been an inclination
To eXhort uGliness. the occasion for
which was undoubtedly the slough of
weak prettineSS into which painting
fell in the 70's and sos. But beauty
triumphs a ii always has and will,
and every picture in the current eNhi-
bition sets forth some phase of lowell
ness which the painter has found in
nature or in man. or in inanimate
objects.
Terseness Of Expression.
There are invariah many WAYS of
paintius the same thing. and the paint
ers represented in his exhibition all
have their own individuality of man
ner. but one quality they have in
common, and hits is tersenesS of eN-
pression. Whatever they have had 10
say they have said frankly. forcefullv
and sincerely.
There are several notable eXhibi-
tions opening Just at this time, but
among them all this exhibition of Co
temporary local work holds its own.
and needs no apology. II is an exceed
ingly credit;tb,e showing and at the
SAME time one which offers real de-
light to the art lover Immediately
upon entering the gallery one is inn
pressed by sense of pleasing color
and good composition and of variety
in subject matter. There are por-
traits figure paintings, landscapes.
and still lifes.
The place of honor on the fiat wall
is occupied by an interesting alleGo-
rcal composition by Cameron Burn
side. showing several figures out of
doors stepped in warm southern sun
light. Opposite. in quite a different
key. hangs fulllenGth painting by
Charles a. r. Dunn of young wom-
Al in a black gown. very simply rem
dered with the color held in broad
mass. 1t is in the spirit of Monet.
although perhaps a long way from
the master-an ambitious work set
forth with much reticence and com
media hle success.
Work Commended.
\ short distance to the right hangs
a. group painting by Edith Cathin
Phelps, The Mother TO which hon
orable mention was given recently at
an exhibition held by the Connecticut
Academy of Fine Arts. 1t is a charm
ing composition beautifully rendered;
a mother with a little baby in her lap
and a little girl leaning against her
shoulder. Each figure is admirably
disposed, the drawing is uncommonly
good and the brush work shows ex-
ceptional competence, A picture sub
jectively appealing and at the same
time technically fine.
In similar position to the left is to be