Evening star., 1935-02-17

WAlER W HE'LL MILL. A r.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, Ola E
be purchase prizes, the works ac-
quired in all probability later find
ing placement in public or semi
public buildings under municipal con-
troll Following closely on the heels
of the Corcoran Gallery's great BIZ
ennial, this exhibition should not
only extend activity in the local art
field beyond the usual limit this sea-
son, but also emphasize fertility. Full
details will be given in the formal
announcement to be issued approx
mately a month before the exhibition
is assembled. Representatives Of the
local art institutions and organiza-
tions are cooperating in the forma-
ton and carrying out of these am
bilious plans.
TWENTY-FIVE water colors by
Iona Miller Keplinger are now
on view in the Women's City Club,
on Jackson place, and a more de-
lightful showing could not be imag-
ined. Mrs. Keplinger paints. and ad-
mirably, landscapes and boat pic
lures, but she excels in her paint
ingS of flowers. Of these a large
part of her current exhibition is con-
stituted. There are zinnias In all
their crispness of form and brilliance
of color; petunias, rich and dusky,
with velvety texture and fragile light
ness of petal; Chinese and tiger
lilies in all their splendor; larkspur
and delphinium in their varied and
heavenly blues, to say nothing of iris,
the Japanese variety, and dogwood,
both pink and white. These are all
pictured, as lately plucked from the
garden or countryside, full Of vigor
and freshness, and in conjunction
with still life, such as an old-fashioned
white basket, fruit bowl, a pottery
vase, etc. In short, each is an ar
rangement naturalistic but decorative
which delights the eye at the same
time that it satisfies the senses. Mrs.
Keplinger has in this painting de-
veloped a remarkable technique, free
yet very assured. She paints broadly
with, it would seem. a full brush
and great certainty of stroke, and
she renders not only the appearance,
but the spirit of the flowers. Tex
ture was mentioned in connection
with her painting of petunias. This
quality is equally obvious in her
painting of pink dogwood. So subtle
are Mrs. Keplinger's interpretations
of flowers that some insist that they
indicate the presence or absence of
fragrance. Be that as 1t may, they
do indeed bring to mind the thought
Of fieeting perishability-of things of
short-lived beauty.
Adding to the interest of these
paintings Of flowers are 10 or more
landscapes and boat pictures-roads
crossed with tree shadows, groups of
birches, glimpses Of little towns, COL
orful boats lying at anchor by old
wharves weather stained These 25
paintings are on the walls of the
reception rooms on the first floor
of the City Club to which they lend
very decorative note. Such an ex-
hibition in which the pictures are by
no means ION parade" should prove
without question the appropriateness
Of paintings in the home and to how
great an extent they are covetable
possessions.
~ A&*
WHEN few weeks ago an exhibit
ton Of small paintings by Henry
B. Smell was held in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art number of Mr.. SHELLS
former pupils banded together and
purchased one, Coast at Polperro," :"
to be presented to and hung in the
Arts Club 'in appreciation"-a gra-
ciouS recognition and appropriate
tribute. The painting chosen, which
at the present time is being reframed,
shows chalk cliffs towering between
sea and sky, very simply but finely
painted with that SensitiveneSs of per-
ception and sureness of touch that
invariably characterize Mr.. SHELLS
work. After being shown here this
collection was exhibited at Lynch
burg, Va.
TWO exhibitions open this after
noon with a tea, at which Miss
Elizabeth Sawtelle and Miss Mary
Riley will be hostesSes, in the Arts
Club, 20l7 street northwest. They
will consist Of paintings in oil and
water color by Mary Butler of Phila-
delphia and of cartoons and carica-
lures in clay by Barksdale Rogers of
Greenwich, Conn. Miss Butler is sec
retary Of the fellowship of the Penn
sylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
an organization made up Of those who
have studied in the famous academy
school, one Of the Oldest in the coun-
try and from which have come some
of our greatest American artists. She
1t not only a strong, virile painter, but
very capable executive, and for
many years an active participant in
every movement looking for the ad-
vancement of art that has found in
ception In her native city. There are
few painters that have given as gen.
erously Of themselves and their time
to the general cause Of art as she.
Miss Butler Is perhaps best known
for her paintings of mountainous
country. She has fine sense of
form, a clear understanding of tonal
values, and whatever she does has the
ring of truth and sincerity which
carry conviction. It is hoped that
Miss Butler will be in attendance at
the opening.
Barksdale Rogers is a member of
the Society of Illustrators, New York,
and is associated in the minds Of
readers with humorous reproductions
nllhlished I'm Life Judge and other