Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19
BY LEILA MECHLIN.
VERY creditablc showing is made
by American Negro artists In

National Museum, Tenth and B streets
under auspices of the Harmon Founda-
ton Of New York and the committee
on race relationships of the Washing
ton Federation of Churches.
The collection. which will be on view
until May 81 is the outcome OF the
william E. Harmon awards for distin-
guished achievement among Negroes
and an outgr0wth of the Harmon
awards in fine arts. These awards take
the form of gold and bronze medals
and have been made for three success
sive seasons This is only the second
collection, however, of works OF art by
Negro men and women that has been
shown under these auspices. and 1t Is
the first time that such an exhibition
has been sat forth in Washington.
Sixty-four paintings and drawings
and 10 or more works in sculpture are
included in the catalogue. The sub
jects include portraits. figures. still life,
marines, boats, genre. The mediums
employed are oil. water color. charcoal,
cravon and wash. and the general aver
age is about what one would expect
from any group of carefully selected
works by advanced students or young
professionals.
It il extremely interesting to note
painted portraits or produced figure
studies and group subjects have por-
trsved Negroes and Negro life. but that,
on the other hand there is compare
lively little evidence in the works
shown of what might be called racial
characteristics or tendency. That Negro
subjects have been chosen shows ten
dency on the part of these artists to
advance their race. healthy and hope
R,,f Id t1,,N 10 ia fHy
the most part they still reflect the art
Of race not their own gives indica-
ton Of inherent weakness. The ques-
ton is, Will this weakness be over
come? There is reason to believe that
1t may be-reason found in some of
the work shown in this very collection.
For instance, three large and we'll
rendered group pictures in black and
white by E. S. Campbell-one entitled
Deep River" another The Wake" and
q third "Levee Luncheon" These are
well composed. strong and markedly in
dividual. The first is scene on the
deck of a boat. a man seated with a
guitar on his lap singing. the workmen
around him apparently joining in.
The Wake" is a typical Negro subject,
rendered with consummate art. "Levee
Luncheon" is less elaborate. but like
wise significant and strong. E. s.
Campbell shows in these works mas
terry of mes.um. an ability to employ
art. to A significant end. Some of the
strength that one finds in Bellows lith-
ographs Is found here-and this Is high
praise.
The Harmon gold medal award was
made this last year to Archibald j.
Motley, jr., Of Chicago for a painting
entitled "Octoroon Girl" a painting
essentially in the old tradition, aca-
derflic, we'll rendered. More interesting
but perhaps little less well painted is
a picture by the same artist of an old
Negro woman seated by a table mend
ing socks, a theme which has universal
APPEAL, a theme essayed by the great
masters Of the past, Rembrant, Whis-
tier, therefore ambitious. To say that
1t has been treated in this instance with
real dignity means much.
Picnic at the Grove" and Sunday
Outing" the former again by Archibald
Motley. the latter by Albert A. Smith
are modernistic in style and echo quite
9 little the manner of Guy Pene du
Bots, making use-but excellent use
of his well known formula.
John Wesley Hardrick's portrait of
Judge *" Charles c. DawsOns QUAD
room Madonna" and Henry B. Jones
self portrait are all we'll painted, well
constructed, strong, and give indica-
ton OF good teaching, sound instruction
In fundamentals.
Hale Woodruff Of indianapolis, who
received the bronze award in 1926,
shows number of French scenes
'Old Farmhouse in the Beauce valley
Road From Chateau Neuf" and odd
Housetops, Paris" Albert A. Smith
shows in somewhat the same manner
paintings of houses, foreign subjects
found in Spain and in italy, likewise
simple and direct In treatment, evidenc-
ing trained eye and hand, but no per
sonal message, no indication of either
emotion or discovery. Perhaps it was
the presence of these qualities which
honor to Malvin g. Johnsons Swing
Low, Sweet Chariot" painting which
possesses, despite technical weakness
some OF the spirit found in the works
OF H. 0. Tanner, up to the present
ttn1e the outstanding American Negro
artist.
Tanner, it will be remembered, has
painted almost entirely religious sub
iects Perhaps it is his influence. or
perhaps 1t is the religious tendency of
the race. which has inclined some OF
the artists exhibiting here At this time
to choose for Interpretation religious
subjects, such, for instance, as Jesus
of Nazareth" by John Wesley Hard
rick: Christ Blessing Little Children, ~
a design for a stained glass window. by
Frank j. Dillon: Genesis and Exc
dus," symbolic compositions. by F. C.
Aston, and by the same artist This
Good Book Says
There are Gloucester subjects by s
Ellis Blount, Palmer C. HAYDEN and
Allen freedom which are good OF their
kind; the best of all. perhaps a pic
ture OF Rocky Neck Road" by the
last-named
Allen Freedoms landscape, entitled
Autumn, is an excellent piece of colo,
tapestry. but for the most part the
landscapes in this exhibition are less
good than the figures or the architec-
tural themes
There are two we'll rendered still-life
subjects both by Frank J. Dillon. one
Of which, showing fruit. 4 chocolate
pot and a plate, is particularly COM
r1endable
The sculpture is all by a local artist
May Howard Jackson, and includes her
excellent portrait of Paul Laurence
Dunbar in bronze, owned by the Dunba,
High School; her portraits in plaster
OF Kelly Miller and w. r S. jackson
well known educationalists. and ideal.
tstic subjects. such AS Suffer Little
Children to Come Unto Me" and The
Mulatto Mother and Child" Mrs
jackson received for her sculpture the
Harmon bronze award this year.
No one can doubt the inherent arts.
tic tendencies OF the Negro race. Ii
recent years certain members of thi
race have attained through their owl
efforts largely and inherent talent Il
real distinction in the field OF tn,
fine arts-Tanner in painting, Dunba
in poetry, half a dozen or more II
music. few in general literature. 81
far no great genius has arisen. bu
Reniuses among all races are few, anC