Evening star., 1926-11-14


been awarded the Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
@. Logan medal and 81 500 by the Art
institute of Chicago. This most re
cent award. made in connection with
the thirty.ninth annual exhibition OF
paintings and sculpture by American
artists, was for a figure painting en-
titled 1.-THE Player" a man in white
shirt and dark trousers, playing ar
accordion and singing. It is loosely
and broadly rendered. but essentially
in Mr.. Luks' individualistic manner
The exhibition at the Phillips Gal
lery consists of six works, including
his war picture. 'The Blue Devils on
Fifth Avenue" which created so ia
vorable an impression at the time II
was painted and has been quite beau
tifully reproduced in color: his Otis
Skinner as Col. Bridau in 1.-THE Honor
OF the Family" a very remarkable
Characterization" "A Sulking Boy" and
the picture of an old woman, Telling
Fortunes" besides THE Dominican. u
which speaks for himself, and a pic.
ture entitled Ducks Morris Canal
which one knowing Mr.. Luks' works
might hazard guess in regard to
subject and character.
Not the least valuable aspect of
these little exhibitions, held from time
to time in the Phillips Memorial Gal.
lery. are the estimates of the artists
works prepared by Mr.. Phillips and
printed as foreword to the catalogues.
We have no one today who writes
more Sensitively about art than Mr..
Phillips. He has q gift of words and
an ability to beautifully embroider
whatever theme he chooses, ard art
is the subject to which for years now
he has completely devoted himself.
What he writes he believes, and his
judgments are not formed offhand.
Furthermore, he writes because he
has something to say and is moved to
give expression to genuine enthusf-
asn. All this goes to make his writ
ing and his judgment of real signif1-
canoe. Of George Luks he says as
follows:
"A painter with as strong yet mel.
low flavor in his work as this new
age Of conventionalizing schools and
movements has produced. He is an
individualist, with a buoyant belief in
his own genius and a gusto in his
copious enjoyments Of his chosen sub.
jects. The genius Is unmistakable,
but the gusto and self-satisfaction are
not restrained by serious discipline,
and consequently LukS is an eXasper-
ating technician who produces two
slovenly canvases for every one that
is in any way worthy of his prodi-
gious skill. We are reminded now of
Halls, then Of Goya and again of Cour-
bet. But these painters of the past,
who also welded their brushes with
exhilarating ease and racy personal
expression, lacked the mischievous
irony which is the very autograph
Of Luks. Although descendant of old
masters in direct line, yet he is abso-
lutely himself. In his superbly plas-
tic The Dominican" we think per-
haps just a shade too much Of his
esthetic forefathers. This monk Is
as most Of Luks' best subjects. This
artist Is on safer ground in his tran
scripts Of Houston Street Market on
q hot day.
''Of Dutch stock, Luks was born L.
q coal town Of Pennsylvania, where he
himself worked as a breaker boy In
recent years he has returned to this
section to portray the stark desola-
ton of mining towns, yielding him
grim humor, dramatic suggestion. He
studied first at the Pennsylvania Aca-
deny and later at Dusseldorf, Paris
and London. Even in his student
when In the right mood. One is
tempted to call him a swashbuckler
Of the brush for there is a swagger
in his technical stride and a boastful-
ness In his stroke which Is not al
ways sure to construct for all its fine
gesture. But LukS can laugh at him.
self. The portrait of Otis Skinner as
q Bonapartist is not only a striking
silhouette but satire on all his
trionics. For little children he has
genuine affection and a humorous un-
n %ry. Il l.- e.
and witches, adventurers and derelicks,
with the stylish caricature of a Charles
Dickens. the same smiling artifice and
imagination. When in full swing he
can paint as well as Courbet, surpass-
ing him In space-composition and his
rival in rich impasto. ponderable form,
acceptance of life for it's own sake,
and bold commentary from the self
centered painters point Of view"
The Luks exhibition will remain on
view in the Phillips Memorial Gallery
through the 2sth Of this month and
may be seen on Tuesday, Saturday
The gallery Is located at 1908 Twenty
first street.
AT the Arts Club. 2o17 1 street,
\ two special exhibitions open to-
day in the lower room, one Of
sketches made in old Providencetown
by Anne Akers. an artist member Of
the club who resides here in Wash
ington and during the past Summer
had the benefit of criticisms from
George Elmer Browne; in the upper
room paintings by Herbert w. Faulk.
ner of Washington, Conn.,, who is per-
haps better known in Europe than in
this country, having resided abroad
many years.
Mr.. Faulkner is best known for his
Venetian paintings. He has exhibited
many times in the Paris Salon. His
works have been shown in New York
Chicago and other cities, but this Is
the first time that he has held an ex-
hibition here. Not only is Mr.. Faulk-
ner a painter but a lecturer, wood
carver and a writer. He has made a
special study of Italian villa gardens
and will lecture on this subject at the
Arts Club on November %, in St.
Thomas Parish Hall on the evening
of November % and at the Washing
ton Club on the evening Of November
80.
IN her studio at the Tabard Inn,
Il 1899 N street Miss Blondelle Ma
lone, who has lately come to Wash
tngton for the Winter. will hold an
exhibition of her paintings Of South
ern gardens for two weeks. opening
with a tea and private view on the
afternoon Of November 16. Miss Ma
lone is a Southerner by birth. native
Of Georgia. She has, however, trav-
eled extensively and has lived and
worked in France, Italy and Japan.
But the gardens of her own South
etiil hold for her chief attraction. and
Il is through her paintings that their
beauty has been manifested to many.
It was she who first called attention
TO the exquisite beauty of the crepe
Slyrtle tree. When she was exhibit
ing in Nev York last year an art
writer Of the New York Times had
the following to say of her work: