Evening star., 1940-04-28

did, however, make it plain that art
is something which feeds the spirit
and, to be understood. must be loved
not only with devotion, but with
constancy. All this is, it appears
as true today as when Adams wrote
it-or, for that matter, when Mont
Saint Michel and Chartres were
built. In fact, the field of art seems
to have broadened with years, and
certainly there were never so many
corners of preference" in it as there
are today.
Two such, and of very charming
character, are to be found in the
Arts Club, which is showing until
May 10 an exhibition of water colors
by Hazel Purcell Rodman of Ali
ance, Ohio, and an exhibition of
original illustrations by Robert Law
son of Westport, Conn, both very
individual and utterly different.
Miss Rodman is the second Ohio
artist whose works have been shown
In the Arts Club this season, the
other being her close friend and
colleague, the late Gertrude Kay.
Both Miss Rodman and Miss Kay
studied at Syracuse University, and
their manner of painting is much
the same, especially in the matter
of technical deXterity-Which, how
ever, did not preclude variance in
expression as reflective of person.
atty and viewpoint.
Impress and Charm.
No one could see these water colors
by Miss Rodman without being i'm
pressed and charmed. They are
fresh in color, broad in treatment,
strong and vital, as we'll as very
picturesque. Quite a number were
done in the West, in New Mexico,
and to the North, in Wyoming and
Utah. Each is characteristic Of the
place not only in aspect, but in at
mosphere, and in every instance the
subjects are well chosen. Probably
because of decorative quality, two
still-life subjects occupy the places
Of honor midway of the two long
walls of the gallery. One is of white
flowers, Nikotiana; the other, quite
brilliantly colorful, has as chief
motif group of Navajo dolls.
In some instances, Miss Rodman
has presented dramatic transcript
tlons OF nature: as, for example, a
rainstorm passing over high noun
tains, dark In It's shadow, and
again in Teton Afterglow," in which
the purple, sharp-peaked mountains
are silhouetted against luminous,
golden sky. Those who do not know
our Western country will be en-
chanted by the revelation of its
beauty and grandeur, which these
paintings by Miss Rodman make
revelations particularly pungent be-
cause seen through an artists eyes
Especially noteworthy for compost
ton, as well as skill in transcription
are "Penitentes Chapel" Mormon
Road Ranch" and Pueblo Wash
Day" Very different in style, but
also exceedingly engaging, is a
winter woodland scene enlivened by
wild fowl, "Huddled Mallards,' .
which hangs over the second mantel
while over the first is to be seen a
handsome still-life study, flowers in
great number and variety on the
seat OF a straight-backed Mexican
chair. Less unusual, but nonethe-
less pleasing, are "Amish House
Wineburg, Ohio" and "Village
Street." both commonplace themes
SO handled that they exert charm
all their own. With these the cata-
logue opens and closes, as though
embracing the 19 other exhibits
within the compass of broad circle
OF vision: pictorial adventures in
seeing, brought safely back, as pre-
cious cargo, to the home port.
Touches Fairy Lore.
Mr.. Lawsons original illustrations,
which occupy the walls of the Arts
Club reception room and hallway,
are adventurous also, but in a diff
ferent way. BY them the observer
is taken into the home of the fairies,
giants, gnomes and other inhabitants
OF Never, Never Land" to be cured
instantly OF skepticism and converted
into true believers. Here we meet
the "Wee Men of Ballywooden," and
mako the acquaintance, in new
gulSe, Of. some of our four-footed
friends. Ofttimes an illustration
becomes meaningless without ac-
companying text, but not so in this
case, for Mr.. Lawson's drawings tell
their own story-but, also, they make
us hungry for more. And what a
delightful mind this illustrator must
have, to enter so whole -heartedly
and faithfully into fairy lore that
he takes us with him, not wonder
ing or fearful, but delighted
prompted. no doubt, by the authors
Of the tales he illustrates, but max
ing his own discoveries Illuminating
enticing.
Mr.. Lawson is an etcher as well
rs an illustrator, and when, in 1882
the Society of American Etchers
looked about for plate to publish
for its associate members, his etch-
Ing, "We Fix Flats" was chosen
At that time. he had been etching
only for about three years, but he
was declared one of the most &C.
complished technicians in that par
ticular field. He has retained this
distinction while. by no means, for.
saking the field of illustration
work in pen-and-ink and wash.
Born in New York in 1892 ano
brought up in Montclair, N. j., he
had but two years study in one
Of the art schools of the great
metropolis. He already had made
something Of a name for himself
as an illustrator when the Worlc
War began, and in 1917 he Joined
the American camoufage section o1
the American Expeditionary Force
in France. On his return to Amer.
lea In 1919, he again turned hi.
attention to illustration and foune
ready employment with magazine
and book publishers. Among thu
books that he has illustrated ART
"The Wee Men of Ballywooden,
"The Rowing Lobster" and From
the Horn Of the Moon," by Arthur