Evening star., 1934-12-16
MISS FRANCES BENJAMIN


make an impressive showing in the
Arts Club gallery. Her work is well
known to Washingtonians through
previous exhibitions 1t has received
recognition for excellence in the form
OF awards at international expositions
IN this country and in Paris. Her
pictorial survey of Fredericksburg. Va.
mas been on exhibition in the Division
OF Flne Arts, Library of Congress. for
several years. During the past two
years, she has been making a survey
OF early Virginia architecture under
a grant from the Carnegie Corp. of
new York, these Photographic records
numbering around 1900 films and
Prints to be deposited in the archives
OF the Library of Congress and the
school OF Fine Arts at the University
OF Virginia. The collection as a whole
Is an invaluable contribution to the
STUDY OF early American architecture
Inc current exhibition of so photo
grapns Miss Johnston aptlv calls
The Primitives," illustrating as thew
do domestic architecture of the earl,
est settlements in Virginia, seven
teentn and eighteenth century build
lngs still standing.
MISS Johnston is an exponent NJ di-
rect photography, which recognizes
tne limitations of the camera and
gains strength therefrom. There is
no tampering with the exposed plate
a1ter the miracle of light has taken
place. There is no effort to make
these photographs look like "litho-
graphs" or "etchings" or "silverpoints''
or anything else but what they are.
Their beauty is Photographic beauty
ana 1t was created by a complete
knowledge of the technical side of the
medium and by an unerring flair for
pictorial effect. Her works are mar
vels OF subtle values, revealing all the
minute differentiation of textures,
faded old brick work, ancient wood
warped and knotty or well preserved,
as the case may be. Nicks, cracks,
flaws are exposed with unfailing
honesty, but the artists vision has
fused them into ensembles of beauty.
There Is appeal, then, to lovers of
photography and there is romance for
the historically minded and incalcula-
BILE riches for students of architecture
to be found in these photographs of
old Virginia buildings, exteriors and
interiors. The sad condition of the
majority of them, forlorn and desolate,
in need of intelligent restoration and
care, will sadden those who love old
things and regret the decay of such
tangible links with our historic past.
1t is to be hoped that this record Miss
Johnston has made will inaugurate
some really far-reaching efforts to
save these ancient structures. From
every standpoint, her work is to be
enthusiastically commended.
THE Corcoran Gallery Of Art has
= just acquired superb canvas
by Rockwell Kent, entitled "Adiron-
dacks." 1t is fairly large, about so
by SO inches in dimensions, and typi-
cal of his work at its best. To it was
awarded the Jennie Sesnan gold
medal at the 127th annual exhibition
at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine
Arts in 1882. "Adirondacks" repre-
sents a majestic landscape, with a
deserted farm house and barn in the
middle distance beyond which the
land drops to valley and mountains
in three planes. 1t represents day
of intermittent storms; heavy clouds
hang over the valley and nearest
mountains, but the sun breaks
through at intervals, casting eerie
light and shadows on the buildings.
Vast space and cold crisp air are sug-
gested In the clGan-cut forms, linear