Evening star., 1941-11-16
ttleGallery
Displays Oils
Second One-Man
Show Includes
20 Paintings
By Florence s. Berryman.


John Gernand, a Washington art
ist by birth and residence, is having
his second one-man exhibition here;
it comprises about 20 oil paintings,
and will be on view at the Little
Gallery in Georgetown until next
Sunday.
His work is in the contemporary
idiom. but, at the same time, is
strongly individual. 1t is quiet and
unobtrusive, poetic in mood, and
pleasant in subject matter. At first
glance, the group of paintings has
generally warm gray and light
earth-red tonality; but, on examina-
tion, the work reveals other colors.
carefully tied in with the predomi-
nant scheme by their values.
Mr. Gernand apparently does not
care for strong contrasts and harsh
tones of primary colors, as do so
many contemporary painters. Fur
thermore. his paintings are like sug-
gestions. or implications, rather than
fortnight statements. He is con-
cerned, he says, with the close rela-
tionShips of color, an aim which one
would surmise from study of his
work. He also strives for atmo-
spheric quality and some of the
universal as well, as the particular,
in each painting" In this last OBJ
jective, he has succeeded in Spring"
his largest work in the present
showing; spacious hilly landscape,
seen as though through a break in
drifting clouds, with the fresh sparse
green of new foliage, the delicate
tints Of Towering trees and the vivid
accent of early flowers.
ColOrs Are Fresh.
In addition to Spring" several
| flower and fruit arrangements i'm
press one as his best work. Plate of
Fruit" "Lilacs and a Red Glass" and
Grapes and Melon" have colors
which are fresh, though subdued,
and interesting compositions. par
ticularly the last-named, with its
interlocking triangles Mr.. Gernand
uses somewhat dry color. which gives
his paintings matt surface.
Nativity" small painting hardly
/ more than sketch. is a charming
conception of the subject. Kneeling
figures Of the Madonna. St. Joseph
and the shepherds are seen suffused
in the golden light emanating from
/ the Child fWho is not visible.
Other treatments of the human
+ figure, such as Grape Gatherers
In the Field" and several more
could be more specific. They are 50
vague. sketchy and evanesCent as to
/ fail to create any particula- reac-
/ ton in the observer. IN addition to
these, there are number of frank
ly experimental paintings
Mr.. Gernand studied at the Phil
lips Memorial Gallery School and
also at the School of Architecture
of the University of Illinois. He has
exhibited at Studio House and in
the Corcoran biennial 1880. and
had his first one-man show at the
Phillips Gallery the same year. He
IS assistant to the curator of the
Phillips Gallery and is represented
in its collections.
Public School Exhibit.
I The biennial exhibition of pupils
work, visual presentation of the
objectives of art teaching in the
public schools of Washington now
is on view in the foyer of the Ma
tional Museum.
The Exhibit Committee led by
Miss Ethel Bray. head of the D. C
public schools department OF art
and representing high schools, jun
ior high and elementary schools. will
hold open house at the museum from
2:30 to $50 pm. today.