Evening star., 1935-02-03
BY LEILA MECHLIN

tinue for the usual fortnight.
AN EXHIBITION Of paintings by
"A contemporary American artists
Is being held in the lobby Of the
Shoreham Hotel under the auspices
of the National Society Of American.
Art and local sponsors. The object
Of this comparatively new organi-
Zation Is to promote sales for the
works of American artists, and those
who know the need and stimulation
Of such could not fail to applaud. The
Grand Central Art Galleries, New
York, with the slogan Education
Through Ownership" was formed
some years ago on a cooperative
basis, each artist member contributing
one painting year and each lay
member q fixed sum which entitled
to a choice, by lot, Of one picture.
The upper floor Of the Grand Cen
trail station was made over into art
galleries and exhibitions Of art by
artist members were beautifully
shown therein. During the first
years of its existence the Grand Gen.
tral Art Galleries did make sales
over q million dollars worth q year.
Then came the depression, and the
wonder is that this organization is
able not only to continue, but expand
as it has into building on Fifth ave-
nue., once a famous club. The Ma
tional Society of American Art is
differently organized. The member
ship is composed Of professional and
lay members, but there is no cooper
ative element in their scheme. A
definite fee to cover the overhead Is
charged against sales, and lay mem
bership dues are applicable on pur-
chases. The organizations headquar-
ters are in the Hotel Delmonico, New
York, where permanent exhibition
and sales rooms are maintained. The
opening of the exhibition here under
distinguished patronage is by way Of
experiment, which If successful will
induce further expansion until the
goal Of centers In Is Of the Leading
cities Of this country is accomplished.
The exhibition here Is scheduled for
two months, which Is sufficiently long
for fair trial. It is the hope of the
organizers during that time to eStab-
liSh local chapter with from 500 to
1000 subscribing members pledged to
the advancement Of American art.
About one hundred artists of high
standing, chiefly national academi-
clans, are said to stand back Of the
movement. Among those represented
in the current show are Harry w.
Watroatc y,aSt preSidopt of tho oco do
my; Alpheus Cole. son Of the late
Timothy Cole; Ettore Caser, Jane
Peterson and others. AS q whole,
those contributing are of the con-
servative group, which after all, is
much more in need Of exploitation
these days than those in the progress
sive left wing" who have right boldly
carried of the majority of the plums
Of publicity If nothing more. The
officers Of National Society of Ameri-
can Art are John D. Webster, presi-
dent; A. A. Syme, secretary, and w.
G. Conant, treasurer and director.
Mr.. Conant Is in charge OF the exht-
bition here.
An EXHIBITION of sculpture by
Elizabeth Randolph Gardner and
portrait drawings In color by Blanche
Greer, the latter Of this city, opened
in the Studio Guild, 80 Rockefeller
plaza, New York. yesterday to con-
tinue to February 16. Among Miss
Greer's portrait drawings are like
nesses of Mr.. and Mrs. William A.
Greer of Washington Eight others
are of children of residents of Sum-
NIT, N. J.
X X X X
CAROLINE BEAN (Mrs. A. H. Bin
~ yon), who also specializes in por-
traits In color crayons and charcoal
of children and others, has, after an
absence Of three years. returned to
Washington and re-eStabliShed her
studio in an old house that she has
remodeled at 28l1 o street, in George
town.
THE Society Of Washington Artists,
which concludes today its annual
exhibition In the Corcoran Gallery
of Art, held its regular monthly
meeting Friday evening, February /.
at the Art League, the director Of
which, Val Clear, served as host. The
special guest of the evening was Err
nest Lawson, who Is here conducting a
class for the league and incidentally
showing some of his paintings. Mr..
Lawson gave brief talk. The Society
of Washington Artists is arranging an
exhibition of members works to be
shown at an early date in the Y. W.
C. A. International House, Ola E street
northwest.
X X
MRS. ELSIE LOWER POMEROY
A'A will give a preview of some of
her recent water colors at tea. from
to z o'clock this afternoon, in her
hoyna of 1910 Ciytaenth Strnef t0