Evening star., 1940-05-19
SocietyShow
At Arts Club
Is Pleasing
Washington Artists
Diplay Paintings
And Sculpture
D., II NELIs
By Leila Mechlin.

exhibition in the Arts Club at this
time. Thirty-seven paintings oc-
cupy the walls of the gallery and
reception room, while in the former
five works in sculpture also are on
view. For the most part, further
Z. more, these exhibits have not been
shown previously in Washington,
and therefore have a complete
freshness Of interest.
still-life subjects in this exhibition
are in the majority, but a still-life
study can be very captivating as
work Of art, and many Of those that
have found their way into this exhi-
bition possess this quality and power.
And why not when the objects paint
ed not only have beauty Of form and
charm of color, but are combined
and transcribed beautifully? The
Joy which comes through work of
art Is more often than not the way
it is done-the fact that, in some
mysterious way, some one has pro-
duced a thing SO lovely that it
makes one catch ones breath. OBJ
viously, this applies primarily to
the masterpiece, but secondarily to
more modest works which, in pro-
portionate ratio, produce the same
reaction.
These contentious were well ex-
emplified in still-life painting
OF vegetables on table which
Lucia Hollerith showed in the So
ciety of Washington Artists annual
exhibition in the Corcoran Gallery
Of Art. They are again upheld by
a painting entitled "The Little
- Brown Jug" which she exhibits now
at the Arts Club. Her color is ex-
cellent; light in her composition
is beautifully Transcribed, and the
whole composition is admirably uni
fled.
Utterly different in manner of
handling, but likewise thoroughly
engaging and effective, is the small
canvas entitled Virgin of Guada-
1upe" by Hattie E. Burdette. This
is simple arrangement OF por-
celain figure of the virgin in color,
with two red candles in appropriate
holders to the right and the left
an almost two-dimensional design,
but with atmosphere and depth as
well as richness, a work to which
the eye might often turn for con-
ISOLATION as well as pleasure.
Gayly colorful, fresh and charm
ing, also in high key. is THE
Old Fruit Bowl" by Iona Miller
Keplinger, which hangs at the far
end Of the gallery's east wall. Mrs.
Keplinger is, perhaps, better known
, for her water colors than her paint
ings in oil, but this is an outstand-
ing achievement.
Nicolai Cikovsky's "Crab Apples"
on table beside vase holding
marigolds and basket containing
more fruit is essentially in the mode
of the French modern school, but
this school at its best and in ac-
cordance with his own personal
Interpretation. If this school gives
more heed to form and color rela-
tions than to textures, we should
not quarrel with its exponents for
doing likewise; and in this instance,
the merit of the transcription well
outweighs this single shortcoming.
Oke Nordgren is apt to be rather
dreary, as well as somewhat clumsy
in his painting, but here he shows a
dignified and rather distinguished
little canvas, Still Life With Hawk"
which manifests plainly latent ability
Elizabeth Muhlhofer's "Roses and
Still Life is handled in traditional
manner, but is richly toneful and
very we'll composed. Diversity in
handling when, as in this exhibition,
50 high standard of artistic and
technical excellence is upheld, lends
very considerable interest There
are other instances of this still to
be mentioned-such as a study of
vegetables" by Clara R. Saunders.
broadly rendered; decorative
painting of "Gladioi" by Beulah
B. Weaver; small canvas, Vase
and Bowl" by John w. Loveland,
Intimately painted. and The Gin
ger Jar" by Marguerite Mum, a
treated with reticence and direct
ness.
There are three exceptionally in
teresting portraits, or portrait stud
les, in this assemblage; one of an
Indian, Light Lightning" by Cath
crime c. Critcher; Head" of
young woman as seen against
decorative background, by Catharine
P. Melton, and portrait of man
In military uniform, by Rowland
Lyon. all of which are artistically
notable. Miss Critcher, who is, 1t
will be remembered, represented in
the permanent collection of the Cor
coran Gallery, was at one time a
member of the Corcoran School of
Arts faculty and now has school
of her own-a sound painter and a
very genuine artist in whatever she
may do. The portrait which she
shows now fully manifests her out
st%fu' ng>skill and experience. Cath
><Arine ,. Melton was at one time a
pupil OF Miss Critcher's, but for
some years she has worked inde-
pendently and exhibited quite fire.
quently. Mr.. Lyon is president Of
the Society of Washington Artists
and best known for his fortnight
paintings of commonplace outdoor
, themes-but he is, by all means,
at his best in this portrait, so good
In color and so frankly rendered.
Landscapes are distinctly in the
minority, the reason for which may
be the comprehensive exhibition OF
landscape paintings lately held in
the National Museum by the Land
scape Club, to which many of the
members Of the Society of Wash
lngton Artists made contribution.
In Rock Greek in Winter" Ben
son B. Moore achieves a remarkable
effect of light across snow field.
September Shadows" by Clara D.
Kimberly, the society's secretary,
also pleasingly transcribes a similar
effect under very different condi-