Evening star., 1938-02-20

Of the faculty Of the department of
fine arts of Howard University, and
have had excellent training.
Porter was born in Baltimore in
1906, studied first at Howard Univer-
sity, then at Teachers College, Colum-
bia University, and at the Art Stu
dents League, New York. His first
one-man show was held in the How
ard University Gallery seven years
ago. In 1888 he was awarded one Of
the Harmon prizes for portrait paint
ing.
Wells was born in Atlanta. Ga, In
1902. He studied first at Teachers
College. Columbia University: then at
the National Academy Of Design, New
York City. He joined the faculty of
Howard University as instructor in
graphic art in 1929. and, greatly to his
credit. used his sabbatical year, 1867,
studying nthography, etching and
aquating In New York City. He, too,
is the recipient Of one Of the Harmon
awards. and has the honor Of having
had works acquired by Hampton In
stitute,. University Of Kansas. Phillips
Memorial Gallery and the Valentine
Galleries of Richmond, Va.
Both men are serious professionals
Porters work Is perhaps more studied
and q little more profound than Wells,
but the latter would seem to have a
better color sense and fresher method
of transcription. Especially commend
able for technical and spiritual quail
ties are James A. Porter's studies in
pastel entitled Day" and Might" On
the other hand. there is much to be
said in praise of James L. Wells litho-
graph of "Cluny Garden" and of his
block prints of Country Landscape"
and Barn Yard"
Alonzo ]. Alden Of the Howard Uni
versity Gallery, In a foreword to the
catalogue Of this exhibition, wisely re-
marks that these painters do not de-
rive from any one particular source,
but have gone back for inspiration to
that universal source from which has
come not only the ancient African
art. but the art of China, Greece and,
later on, italy. The birth of genius Is
not an everyday affair, but the poten-
tialities of such incident are greatly
increased when the common level is
appraised. The art department of How
ard University and the exhibitions it
sponsors. especially such as this, are
doing much to achieve this end.
American Folk Art to Be Sho,Un
in Phillips Gallery Studio House.
TOMORROW. February II. the Phil
lips Gallery Studio House will
open an exhibition of American folk
art which will last until March H.
Mr.. Holger Cahill will lecture on
American folk art at the Phillips Me-
mortal gallery on Thursday, February
"a, at $50 pm. He has long been an
authority on American art. In 1918
he began q series of articles on Amer
ican artists, and was one of a COM
mittee Of three which organized the
Atlantic City Municipal Exhibition Of
Contemporary American Art, one Of
the first of such exhibitions held in
this country. Later he assembled an
exhibition Of American primitives"
for the Newark Museum, which was
one Of the first folk art exhibitions to
be shown In the United States. In
1891 he secured. for the same museum,
the first exhibition Of American
Folk Sculpture" Mr.. Cahill was for q
time director of exhibitions for the
Museum Of Modern Art in New York,
and started its important retrospective
exhibition Of American Paintings and
Sculpture, 1S65-1s3s," !" American Folk
Art of 1750-1900" and american
Sources Of Modern Art"
Philip Bells Paintings to Be -.
Sho,0n In the Arts Club.
THE Arts Club of Washington an
nounces the opening this after
noon Of exhibitions of paintings by
Philip Bell Of this city and Of con-.
temporary water colors, lent through
the courtesy Of the Treasury Depart
ment Art Projects. Mr.. Bell was a
pupil Of the Corcoran School Of Art,
George Washington University, and
the Yale School of Fine Arts. It was
he who painted the extremely hand
some and decorative mural in the
library Of the Mckinley High School;
the Don Quixote room at the Madril-
lon Restaurant In this city Is also his
work. Summer before last he as
sisted Harold Weston on his series Of
murak for the foyer Of the 0overn-
ment warehouse in this city, where
the Procurement Division of the
Treasury has headquarters. He Is now
In charge Of the Childrens Art
Museum. The contemporary water
colors come <f1pm ali parts Of the