Evening star., 1937-01-30
IMPRESSIVE AND NOTABLE WORK SHOWN IN ART EXHIBIT
Artists Society Here
Gives Vigorous Survey
Sculpture Takes Stronger Position and
Shares in Recognition to Cover
Wide Art Range Club Members Elect.

the Museum Of Modern Art In New
York last october when the entire
building was given up to the showing.
The works to be set forth at Studio
House were, for the most part. in
cluded in the larger exhibition.
John Marin Is no stranger to those
in Washington who follow the current
exhibitions or present trends In art.
For a good many years now, Marin
has been represented, and at his best,
in the permanent collection Of the
Phillips Memorial Gallery. In fact.
Mr.. Phillips was among the first to
acclaim the greatness Of this painter
and acquire his works, and he has
never deviated from his loyalty. One
room In the Phillips Memorial Gallery
Is at present entirely given over to
John Marin's works.
1t is truly said in the Studio House
announcement thst, always the CEN
ter Of controversy, the paintings Of
John Marin have aroused bitter argyll
ment and opposition, as well as the
unqualified praise Of critics." and there
Is every reason to believe that opinions
will vary concerning the forthcoming
display. Mr.. Marin has developed a
mode Of expression all his own-a
kind Of hieroglyphics-an artistic
shorthand-which to some is utterly
illegibile and to others full Of mean
ing. Alfred Stieglitz. the distinguished
photo-pictorialist. who has for more
than a quarter Of century been the
leading exponent of post-impression-
ism in this country, has exploited and
backed Mr.. Marin as agent and friend
ever since he cast aside tradition and
developed his own unique and distinc-
tive style-and 1t Is through the gen.
erous cooperation of Mr.. Stieglitz
that the exhibition at Studio House
has been made possible.
The work Of John Marin has, what
Is more. q peculiarly personal interest
for Washingtonians. inasmuch as the
painter Is q stepbrother of Charles
Bittinger, president Of the Society Of
Washington Artists and past president
Of the Arts Club, whom Washington
claims as q native son and in whose
scientific work In color as well as
paintings 1t takes pride. When
Charles Bittinger and John Marin
were lads Mrs. Bittinger Of this city,
long widowed. married Mr.. Marin of
New York, whose first wife had died
when his son John was q very small
child-henceforth the boys were as
brothers growing up under the same
roof and influence. Both determined
to follow art as q career and were
sent abroad to study-both returned
with a good grounding in fundamen-
tails and an equal regard for tradition.
more bound by tradition than Bit
finger, who always had an inventive
and inquiring mind. But how wide
has since been the divergence! While
Bittinger has interpreted things seen
with great accuracy and sense Of
beauty, Marin has forsaken old paths
and gone on flights to the unexplored
in the realm of art. There could not
be a greater contrast than in the works
Of these two men. Be that as 1t may,
one strong cord binds these brothers"
together-devotion to the memory Of
she who was mother" to both. with.
out distinction, and who was beloved
and admired by all who were privi-
legged to know her-a musician and in
the truest sense an art lover.
The exhibition Of paintings by
Marin at Studio House cannot fail to
attract exceptional attention.
Drawings by American Artists
From the Hatch Collection.
THE exhibition Of etchings. litho-
= graphs and drawings by Clifford
Beal, in the print rooms Of the Phil
lips Memorial Gallery, may be ex-
tended q few days into the coming
week, but will then be replaced by a
collection Of drawings by American
artists. past and present, assembled
and lent by John D. Hatch. jr., former
ly of Seattle. now Of New York, a
special assistant of the Carnegie
Corp. in the art field. Interest IN
drawings Is undoubtedly increasing,
as evidenced not only by the recurrence
of exhibitions but by the prices brought
in public sales. After all, good draw
ing is an essential part Of good art.
Weiss to Glue Course OF Lectures
On the History OF Art.
THE Corcoran School Of Art an
nounces a series of - illustrated
lectures by Eugen Weisz. to be given
in the school on successive Thursday
evenings at $3.50 O'Clock, beginning
February 1 and continuing through
April %. The entire history Of art,
from the days of antiquity to the
present time, will be covered. One
lecture, toward the end, will be given
to consideration Of technics and ira
ditions in painting and sculpture.
after which will follow lectures on
Modern Art and Art in America"
This course Is very similar to II not