Evening star., 1935-04-21
IN EXHIBITION Of paintings in
tempera by Richard A Flesch

AN EXHIBITION Of paintings in
tempera by Richard A Flesch
may be seen in the How Ward University
Gallery Of Art until May 6 Mr.. Flesch
is an distractions" and although he
gives his paintings titles. they are not
representative. He says that he is
building on tradition. keeping in mind
the contributions of the great masters
in the realm of form and of color, that
he is seeking new paths and striving
to manifest beauty in neT ways. He
agrees that unless an artists express
sion is ineligible it is not significant,
and his aim is not only to discover
truth. but make it manifest. To so
serious a thinker and one so deerly
imbued with an almost ravishing oe-
sire for artistic expression, the right
of experimentation should not be de-
MED nor its products lightly esteemed.
Whether or not the path he has cho-
sen will eventually lead to something
fine or prove a blind alley. only time
will tell. He has certainly an appre-
citation of color and a sense of form,
but to the average person abstraction
in art is difficult of comprehension, as
all graphic expression is related to
things tangible, mental pictures OF
things seen. To change this mode OF
thought is to alter long established
habits Of mind and human concep-
tio1s. But the honest expefmenter
should have his opportunity. Richard
A. Flesch was born in Thuringia and
studied at the Dresden Academy. His
original intention was to be sculptor.
but he was unable to accept classical
standard and submit himself to tradl-
tional discipline. and therefore he took
up painting. He has been in this coun-
try for 10 or more years. He paints
slowly and labors long over his can
vases. For the past 18 months he has
been living in Washington, doing stone
cutting on some of the Government
buildings, painting in all the time he
could spare and with sincere purpose
and enthusiasm.
IN THE Howard University Gallery
of Art is also to be seen at this
time very interesting collection of
paintings in oil and water color. wood
block prints, sculpture of Negro sub
jects, for the most part by Negroes.
Some of these are works procured un-
der the P. w. A. p and thereby allo-
Gated to this gallery; others are in
cluded in a collection 1.-The Art of the
Negro" sponsored by the Harmon
Foundation. assembled and circulated
by the College Art Association. To
those who have followed the develop
ment of the Negro in the. field Of art
during the past 10 or Is years, this
showing is very reassuring and signifi-
cant. In this comparatively short
space of time great progress has been
made. Some of the works In this ex-
hibition compare favorably with the
best set forth in current exhibitions
and they are beginning to have ra-
cial flavor. just as American art is
assuming distinctive characteristics.
Especially notable In this collection Is
painting by William E. Scott, Con-
firmation Day-Haiti." which is excel
lent in composition. good in color and
especially we'll rendered. But it should
not be thought that these Negro
painters have come up, as 1t were,
from the soil. Those that have really
succeeded have given years of hard
study to art. William E. Scott studied
in Chicago at the Art Institute and in
Paris under Tanner. Others have
studied in schools in New York. Phil
adelphia and other cities, as well as
abroad, and have served long and
faithful apprenticeship. Their sue
cess Is earned and deserved. Great
credit should be given to the art de-
partment Of Howard University ana
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