Evening star., 1941-05-04
Abstract Paintings by Tack
Are Displayed at Phillips

Beginning today and continuing
for week, an exhibition of paint
ings by Augustus Vincent Tack will
be held in the Phillips Memorial
Gallery. 1t will consist, for the
most part, of abstract, decorative
paintings made for and owned by
the Phillips Gallery; not new, nor
now seen for the first time. but
priced possessions, made originally
as decorations for the library, but
used again and again to lend their
beauty to other walls, singly and in
company. Who that has had the
privilege of seeing the panel entitled
Voice of Many Waters" hanging
behind and above the sculptured
Egyptian head in this gallery, will
ever forget the impression of last
ing beauty, ageless and universal,
that it gave, or the delight likewise
| occaSioned by first seeing of the
panel entitled Storm" with its in
timation of beauty in movement and
power.
! Mr.. Tack is one of the few who
know, or ever have known, how to
so paint the abstract that it has a
message for all This is not chance.
These panels are we'll thought out
compositions and are rendered with
utmost care and clever craftsman
| ship, as any one may see who eX-
amines them closely. In them there
are definite but intangible forms,
no distortion, no eXaggeration. The
observer is not puzzled or confused,
but memories are awakened, imagi-
nation Stirred-there is, as reaction.
mingling of things experienced
and things dreamed For instance,
what may seem to be sea may. on a
second inspection, appear as noun
tains: it does not matter, for here
is universal beauty-beauty as allied
to creation.
Obviously, these impressions are
largely derived from the color COM
positions-synphonic with musical
implication. What they seem to
one may not be what they seem to
another, but through them the OBJ
server enters into a wordless UNDER
standing with nature and its in
! terpreter-With that which is essen
TALLY of the spiritual world.
Special Significance.
An exhibition of Mr.. Tack's paint
mgs would always be an event of i'm
portance, but in the present in
stance such has special significance,
as the artist has lately taken a
studio in Washington. This studio
is in the La Sale Apartment pent-
house, with high ceiling, good light
ing and charming view from roof
terrace to the south. On the walls
he has placed, effectively. some of
his recent abstract, decorative paint
ingS-one suggested by compost
ton of Debussy's, very subtlely rem
dered, an evening sky f1ecked with
clouds suggesting movement, rhythm
the poetry of sound and motion.
Another is of dusk or dawn in the
city, the robes of night trailed across
the grayness descending or ascend
ing-Who knows or cares?-lovely
| and suggestive.
Mr.. Tack is, however, no less skill
full as a painter of the abstract than
he is successful as painter OF por-
traits. The Phillips Gallery has his
admirable portrait of the late Eliuh
Root. Mr.. Tack's reason for being in
Washington is portrait commissions
to be executed here. In his studio
now are not only portraits in prog
ress,, but three rather intimate
works which he has brought with
him. One of these is of his son-in-
law, Elstner Hilton, who recently
returned with his wife from China
and is now living in this city: an
other is of Washingtonian who is
an ardent Orientalist; third is OF
a well-known naval man of Britain.
The Orientalist is painted in Chinese
coat of yellow against dark red
background, with textures highly