Evening star., 1934-10-21
Notes of Art and Artists

shows her proficiency but with more
reserve. Occasionally she does o
landscape, now and then . still life
study, but whatever 1t Is, there Is, in
herent In the composition, decorative
quality and colorful charm. There
fore one should not be surprised TO
find that she does block-printed tex
tiles. The blocks are cut sometimes
in wood, sometimes In linoleurn.
Various motifs are used, peacocks,
flowers, fruit, figures. The finished
fabric, silk or pongee, Is often a repe-
tition Of the same block printed in
different colors, the occasion for the
printing decorative need and econ
omy. They are very pleasing.
The Women's City Club, 1t is
understood, proposing to hold o num-
ber Of one-man exhibitions Of the
works Of local artists, offering the hos
pitality of their walls to those among
us of creative ability in this field.
Nothing could be better.
Hxx
A NUMBER of local artists were
\ represented in unique exhibition
held recently in an old Ordinary" ct
Gloucester, Va. Arrangements for this
exhibition were made by Miss Lucia
Hollerith, secretary Of the Society Of
Washington Artists, whose Summer
home Is at nearby Mathews. Eleven
artists were invited to cooperate and
did so most generously, contributing
from one to four works each. Also,
by special invitation, a group Of
charming flower paintings by Jean
MacLane (Mrs. John c. Johanson) was
shown. The local artists represented
we're Gertrude Brown, Robert Gates,
Mrs. Chase, Mrs. Milford, Edith Hoyt,
Emily Steuart, Marguerite Mum, Mrs.
Keplinger. Clara Saunders and Eugen
Weisz.- The paintings, all in water
color, were varied not only in subject
but in manner Of treatment and COL
lectively showed the f1exibility Of the
medium. The walls of the old "Ordi-
nary" had lately been whitened
and on the rough, oyster-colored plas-
ter these colorful paintings showed to
great advantage. An exhibition Of
paintings is an innovation in this
Gloucester and it was enthusiastically
received. The same collection was
later shown for a week at Mathews,
across the peninsula, and for a second
week in Richmond
A N UNUSUAL program to stimulate
n interest in art and induce support
on the part Of the general public was
launched last Monday by the Asso-
ciated American Artists of New York
in so cities throughout the country
In large department store in each of
these cities there was placed on view
and for sale at that time an introduc-
tory collection of prints by leading
American printmakers, purchasable at
an amazingly small amount. The
store chosen in this city is Woodward
& Lothrop's and there, in the pic
ture department" is now to be seen
very remarkable collection of etch-
ings and autographs of a kind and
character usually found in the lead
ing exhibitions. As an experiment
and to induce collecting, all Of these
prints are priced remarkably low.
This is only possible through the CO.
operation of the artists, who are heart
lily in sympathy with the plan. Here,
at this absurdly low price, are etchings
by artists of such distinction as
Chauncey Ryder, John Costigan, Cor
don Grant, JAG Young, Marjory Ryer-
son, Loren Barton, and Autographs by
Lewis C. Daniel, John Steuart Curry,
Don Freeman and others. There are
only few Of each, so those who wish
to take advantage Of the opportunity
for purchase should not postpone Sc
lection, but the whole group is upheld
to a surprisingly high standard. Fur
thermore, each etching or lithograph
In the exhibition has attached to 1t
neatly printed little folder giving bio
graphical data concerning the artist,
and an etching manual, explaining the
process, goes to each purchaser Of a
print. This is certainly very sure
and practical way Of increasing in
terest and appreciation of art, placing
works Of genuine merit within the
should succeed.
THE exhibition Of paintings and
prints by Olin Dows in the Public
Library is very engaging. The prints
wood blocks-are of Mexican sub
jectS and are strong and decorative.
Some of the paintings were also done
in Mexico, but two or more are Of
German origin and one or two pre-
sumably were done in this country.
Two Autographs and two water colors
are of imaginary subjects, mythical
ponies prancing over make-believe
landscapes, strange little beasts with
slender, toothpick legs, but full of
action and evident gayety of spirit.