Evening star., 1930-06-08
COLORED ARTISTS
IN EXHIBITION HERE
Paintings and Sculpture
Shown in Connection With
Harmon Awards.
BY LEILA MECHLIN.

An exhibition Of Paintings by Ameri-
can colored artists Is now on view in
the United States National Museum,
Tenth and B streets. This exhibition
was arranged in connection with the
William Z. Harmon awards. AS an out
growth OF the award In fine arts, and Is
the third of the sort which has been
sent out. It Is shown here under the
auspices of the committee on race rela-
tions of the Washington Federation of
Churches, and Is eminently worthy of
attention. Its purpose Is TO acquaint
and interest the public more generally
in the creative accomplishments of the
Negro race In the fine arts, and 1t is
hoped by those who are responsible for
1t that 1t will not only achieve this
end but also encourage creative express
sion Of q high order. The exhibition
was frst shown In International House,
New York, in January and has since
been exhibited In other leading cities.
1t consists OF paintings In oil, draw
ings. prints, water colors, and two or
more works in sculpture, and includes
the works to which awards we're made
at the opening showing. An exhibition
OF similar sort, under the same aus
pices, was shown In the National GAL
lery Of Art last year at about this same
time. That exhibition contained more
works in black and white and sculpture
and fewer paintings in oil. On the one
hand, the present exhibition Is more i'm
pressive for this fact. but on the other
hand there were included in the previous
showing certain illustrative drawings
absent this time, which attained to a
very high standard.
The award Of gold medal this year
was made to William II! johnson of
New York City, who shows two land
ScapeS and two portraits In oils, painted
In modernistic manner, strong and ex-
tremely ugly.
Bronze medals were awarded to
Albert Alexander Smith of New York
CITY, who exhibits figure compositions
rendered In q manner essentially orig
1nal; and to Sargent johnson of Berk-
eley, Calf, who exhibits works in sew
eral mediums, among them two notably
nne works IN sculpture, done with al
most primitive simplicity, yet with re-
finement Of feeling.
Notwithstanding the decision of the
committee Of awards there is none
among all the exhibiting artists who
displays such artistic feeling and real
comprehension Of artistic values as
Laura Wheeler Waring, whose portrait
studies IN otls are f1ne in color and
ana skill, as well as with certain
charm. Laura Wheeler Waring some
years ago achieved success as an illus
traitor working in black and white, and
the portrait studies shown in this ex-
hibition evidence the development of
an unusual talent.
There is strength and virility In the
paintings Of Hale A. Woodruff wash
erwomen,p THE Banjo Player" "Old
Woman Peel1ng Apples" and Bridge
Near Avalon, France"
Henry B. Jones In THE Voodoo
Tree" presents an interesting compost
ton which has subjective Significance
and pictorial worth. Not only Is this
painting well composed, but rendered
with evident deep feeling.
Allan r. Freelon, who Is q teacher
In the public schools Of Philadelphia
and who makes good use of his Sum
mer vacations and opportunities gen.
orally, Is well represented by painting
entitled icing the Boats" and by a
number Of admirable works in black
and white, among which mention
should be made of The Market
Night"
King Daniel Ganaway Is repre-
sented by two very beautiful pictorial
photographs, rightly included in q fine
arts exhibition because Of their excep-
tional quAlity-"The Gardeners Cart
and "The Spirit Of Transportation, +"
the last Q study Of q locomotive.
John W. Hardrick's portrait study
entitled THE Civil War Veterans" Is
academically good. and much can be
said In praise Of Horace Y; Anderson's
of Dixie" which are not only well
painted, but have atmosphere, inward
significance.
Included In the exhibition is one
study of a nude from life-"Ande," by
Louis M. Jones, beautifully drawn.