Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

~ by Marjorie Phillips (Mrs. Dun
"A can Phillips) was opened on
4 4 April 6, to continue to May %,
in the Phillips Memorial Gal
lery, 1903 Twenty-first street.
Mrs. Phillips work is not by any
means unknown to Washington art
lovers, for she has been represented in
the Corcoran Gallery's biennial exhibit
tons and from time to time in the
changing exhibitions at the Phillips
Memorial Gallery, but this is the most
comprehensive showing Of her work
that has so far been made here, al
though she has twice held exhibitions
of equal size and importance in New
York. one of them at the Durand-Ruel
Gallery, by special invitation.
The present collection in the Little
Gallery comprises Landscapes, with and
without figures, and still life-flowers
and fruit. There are 10 or Is PAINTINGS
in oils, and of these only two or three
have been previously exhibited. In
cluded in this small minority is a
painting entitled ION the Ridge" show
ing broad sweep of open rolling coun-
try, broken here and there by patches
of woods "a simple, realistic theme,
treated in a broad, decorative manner.
The lines of the hills flow rhythmically
and resolve themselves, apparently I'M
consciously, into a pleasing pattern.
One feels the solidity Of the earth, its
moulding as by the hand of a great
sculptor, and Is moved and impressed by
the pure beauty of expansive effect.
Here is work of real distinction, done
without trace Of Self-conSciousness or
affectation.
Likewise charming and even more
naive. is painting entitled Tea at
the Sand Pile" an outdoor picture in
which children and an awning chair
are used as decorative factors, human
izing the composition, lending sympa-
thetic touch. The way in which the
awning chair is painted indicates to the
initiated an amazing amount of skill
on the part of the painter, skill which
permits a most difficult subject to be
rendered with apparent ease, ease which
takes on the air Of the matter of-fact.
There are other pictures in this COL
lection in which child life Is given in
teresting and adequate expression, such
as I'm the orchard" and "A Little
Playground"
The desire Of modernists today is to
become as little children, to be able to
give fortnight expression to not only
things seen but things felt. But few
are successful in such attainment. Mrs.
son for it is that while gaining maturity
in skill she has not lost her freshness
Of viewpoint, 1.-The sweet perfume of
Springtime years." which Lowell lauded
in his great poem on womanhood, and
which, once lost, can never be re-
gained.
Witnessing to this painters technical
skill and originality are her paintings
Of still life and flowers. pineapple
and Orange Tree" Is complicated COM
position rendered with great assurance
and worthy of comparison with the
works of some Of the leading French
masters. A small study entitled Fruit"
is no less good, but much less preten-
tious, as is also modest study Of Yin
MAS; whereas, on the other hand, there
is respondent beauty IN the gigantic,
colorful Peoples" which greet the eye
of the visitor Immediately upon en-
trance to this Little Gallery.
Referring to note in the catalogue
Of the Phillips Memorial Gallery en-
titled "a Collection in the Making" one
finds that Mrs. Phillips marjorie
Acker) studied at the Art Students
League under Kenneth Hayes Miller
and exhibited from the first sincerity
in her work and poise which enabled
her to resist the fashionable idols of
the hour-Renoir and Cezanne-sln de-
Tense Of her own individuality" Mrs.
Phillips still resists such temptations,
and though she has undoubtedly been
influenced by her exceptional opportun-
ity for acquaintance with and study Of
the works of Renoir, Andre, Bonnard
and others, she maintains a style ex-
clusively her own.
y X X =
&TlYTT TO- !,
L ington will be the annual meeting
of the American Institute of Architects,
the exhibition of architectural models
and designs of the development Of the
National Capital in the Corcoran Gal
lery of Art, incident thereto, and the
ceremony on Tuesday evening of the
presentation of the gold medal of the
Institute of Milton Bennett Medary of
Philadelphia, to be held, at the invi-
tation Of the trustees, in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art under the auspices of the
American Institute of Architects.
The American Institute of Architects
organization, national in extent, the
purpose of which is to advance the art
Of architecture and to uphold 1t to the
highest standards in this country. 1t
has been in the past a most influential
organization for the improvement of
taste and for the encouragement of bet
ter building. It was active in securing
the appointment of the original Nc
MILAN Park Commission for the re-
planning of Washington, and it has
stood firmly back of the plan drawn by
this commission ever since. That it
should now be concentrating upon its
further artistic development looking to
still greater Capital City to come au-
gurs well for the Washington of the
future.
The gold medal Of the institute is
only given for the most distinguished
achievement. Among the recipients have
been George B. Post, Charles F. Nc
Kim, Bertram G. Goodhue and Henry
Bacon. Mr.. Medary belongs in this
category. He is not only past president
of the American Institute of Architects,
but he has to his credit work both
fine and beautiful, work showing dis
tinct individuality In conception and
execution.
The American Institute Of Architects,
which owns and has its headquarters in
the historic Octagon House, meets in
convention on the 23d, oath and 25th,
adjourns then to New York to view the
great exhibition Of the allied arts set
forth in the Grand Central Palace by
the New York Architectural League and
affiliated organizations.
The development of Washington will
be doubly emphasized in connection
with this convention by a meeting to
be held on the 25th in the great hall
of the United States Chamber Of Com