Evening star., 1937-02-06
By Leila Mechiu.

DD ACttU IVx CCTttGHs
T NO time in the past has so
n large and interesting dis
~ play Of sculpture been in
4 a cluded in the Society of
Washington Artists annual exhibition
as in the current show which opened
In the Corcoran Gallery of Art week
ago. There are no less than 81 pieces
by 20 sculptors listed in the catalogue
and, of these, three won honors in
the prize competitions. In fact, the
highest prize of all-that for the most
outstanding work in the exhibition
regardless of medium-went to a
work in sculpture-a figure of dog,
q whippet, in bronze, by Ralph H.
Humes of Cocoanut Grove, Fla.
Mr. Humes is a Philadelphian by
birth and a pupil of Albert Laessle's,
one of the most accomplished of our
contemporary sculptors of animals
and an excellent teacher. In 1929
HurneS won the CreSSon European
travelling scholarship, which gave him
a year abroad. In 1882 he won the
6peyer Memorial prize for sculpture
in the National Academy of Designs
annual exhibition. Other prizes have
since come his way. In 1882 he re-
ceived honorable mention for a work
shown here in the S. w. AS forty
first annual, and two of his works have
been acquired by the Pennsylvania
Academy of the Fine Arts.
No wonder the merit of his whippet
declared itself and received recogni-
tion. While realistic, this representa-
ton of a dog is artistically conceived
and rendered. 1t is not only correctly
but sensitively modelled. The little
animal is very still, but full of life,
quiet, but intensely vital. One feels
the potential swiftness of motion, OF
which the whippet is capable, in the
slender legs and the slim body. The
eye of the observer fingers apprecia-
lively on the sleek muscular develop
ment so subtlely indicated under the
skin. and takes note of the angle at
which the ears are set, the way the
head Is held.
~ exacting than painting, or work
in other media, inasmuch as it must be
seen from all sides and is peculiarly
dependent for effect upon light and
shadow. Therefore it is all the more
remarkable to find so many young
artists working in the round and so
well as those represented in this ex-
hibition. And what Is more, they do
not either bind themselves by conven-
tion or invariably use the same ma
terial. Here one sees not merely works
In plaster and bronze, but in porcelain,
pottery, wood and stone. In some
instances the little sculptures are
quite moderistic in form and feeling,
but even so they have, without excep-
tion, plastic significance-in other
words, relation of form to mass.
Approximately half 'of the works
shown have come from out of town,
which may be taken as a tribute to
the exhibiting body-the Society of
Washington Artists-and to the
Washington public. But some excel
lent exhibits can be accredited to local
artists. Eleanor Mulliken, for in
stance, shows two nudes in plaster,
both of which have striking merit.
One Of these, figure of Atlanta, was
given honorable mention and Is espe-
cially lovely in line and in the express
sion of grateful rhythmical motion.
For a strongly modelled portrait of
Eleanor the jury awarded bronze
medal to Betty Thompson Clear, who
studied in Indiana and has but lately
established herself in Washington.
A very engaging head of woman
with Mona Lisa subtlety of smile and
expression was contributed by VIM
throp Allen, whose address is given as
Louisville, KY, the flood-stricken city
that has suffered so cruel fate. 1t Is
o work done with great simplicity, yet
deep discernment-a work, once seen,
quite certain to be remembered.
Walter Rotan of New York is rep
resented by fan-tail pigeon and also
o giraffe. the former better than the
latter Anita Weschler, also of New
York, has sent a strong head in stone
OF "Burle Marx" boldly rendered.
A whole group of delightful small
works, some in pottery or porcelain,
stand to the credit of Margot Broxton,
who, it will be remembered, exhibited
not many months ago in the Public
Library here. Her colleague, Kathleen
Wheeler, whose work in this medium
has brought her distinction, Is rep
resented at her best by two typical
race horses in colored clay. Franc
Epping, on the other hand, shows a
panel in high relief Of Goose Girl"
and her geese, which has q certain
primitive strength and vigor.
There are statuettes Of an Indian
Woman" and of q Madonna and
Child" by Helen T. Davisson of
Tucson, Ariz. There is Madonna
in Ebony" by Maud Clifton Carroll
of Southern California; there are cats
by Florence Foss and Rebecca r. Hol-
liday, and there are rabbits-tiny little
fellows, each doing something quite
Individual and different-the work Of
o no less well-known sculptor than
Brenda Putnam, whose charming fig
ure Of Puck has been given permanent
and delightful placement in the
grounds of the Folger Shakespeare Ii
brary.
The Miniature Society Makes
Attractive Display.
MISS PUTNAM'S rabbit trio and
~ two other works in little-a paper
kpifs with baby handle and the oH-