Evening star., 1936-10-31
By Leila MechHn.
THE Women's City Club, Jackst

"HE Women's City Club, jackson
place, opens the season with
an exhibition of paintings in
oil and water color by 18 local
artists, who contribute collectively 20
works in all. These are hung on the
walls of the reception room, drawing
room and dining room, opening one
out of the other, and as usual accord
with the furnishings rather than ap-
pearing as it were ION parade"
The introduction to this showing is
especially pleasing. AS one enters
the reception room from the front
hall the eye is caught by the freshness
of color of the paintings on the walls
and held by their charm. Here hangs
a figure painting in oils by Catharine
c. Critcher, to be reckoned with her
best-a powerful presentation of an
Indian woman with one child on her
back, peeping over her shoulder, and
another by her side. The woman's
dark eyes peer at the observer from
under her straight black hair, banged
across her forehead. The child she
carries on her shoulders has also an
intent, wondering gaze. The dark
shawl of the woman makes interesting
contrast with the warm reddish color
of the dresses of both mother and
child. 1t Is an excellent composition
and attractive color scheme; the fig
ures are well modelled, and the manner
of rendering is both assured and
direct. Here is a painting in the
modern style, which takes its place
In the great tradition.
Quite opposite in style, but no less
notable as a work of art, is Spring
landscape by Minor Jameson, which
has been given placement on an ad-
joining wall. This, too, is directly
painted but with utmost subtlety. The
color scheme is high keyed, the
illusions of light and air are well
interpreted. Not only does this paint
ing stir one as would the scene Itself
but more, much more-becauSe it con-
veys the artists own impression-and
this is art. Drawing and paintings
are means to an end, very important
means, to be sure, but if the artist
has neither vision nor message they
are as dry and useless as dust. Mr..
Jameson has had something to say in
this instance and has said it beauti-
fully.
So also has Robert E. Motley in his
landscape, utterly different in type,
which hangs to the right. This paint
ing shows bit of hill country, plowed
fields covering the rolling middle
ground like patchwork quilt spread
down to keep it warm. Dark hills be-
yond mark the high horizon and in
close the composition. Here again we
have simplification of design, strength
in color and directness in rendering.
In the drawing room are to be espe-
cially noted for fine quality portrait
study by Mathilde M. Leisenring, a
still life "Calla Lilies" by Catherine
P. Melton, and a picture of a boat
on sandy beach, by A. H. o. Role,
all oils, besides several well-painted
and impressive water colors by
Magaretta Lent and Gertrude Brown.
Variety is given this showing by an
interior and two little outdoor studies
of people in Summer dress lunching
on sunny terraces, by Cara D. Kim
berly, an interior by Meta Craig
Turkenton and a couple of figure
studies by John Butler.
This exhibition was selected from
q still larger show, set forth recently
at the Mary Baldwin College in Staun-
ton, Va. 1t will probably continue
through the month of November.
RittaSe and DdDieS
At the Arts Club.
THE Rittase and Davies exhibitions
at the Arts Club have attracted
Unusual attention and, happily, have
still another week to run. Mr.. Rit-
taSe's paintings fill the little gallery
with color and life and give striking
indication not only on gift but alert
mindedness on the part of the painter.
They are very entertaining and re-