Evening star., 1941-06-01
Events the World of Art and Music of Interest Washngtonans
Members of S. ". A. Exhibit Works at Arts Club
Display Includes
Over 50 Paintings
And Sculptures
By Leila MechLin.

The Society of Washington Artists
Members Exhibition fills not only
the gallery at the Arts Club, but the
reception room, dining room and
hall, including over so paintings and
a number of small works in sculp-
ture. AS current exhibitions go, it
Is rather better than usual, although
works of outstanding merit are dis
tinctly in the minority. Painting to-
day has become so slipShod and
casual that. when one comes across
a work rendered with both know
ledge and loving care, it is sur
prise and delight. even If it does
not attain the highest standard. To
this category belong quite a number
of the paintings now on view in the
Arts Club-landscapes, figures and
still-life.
Whatever Minor S. Jameson
paints has charm, for in the first
place he goes directly to nature for
his inspiration, and in the tram
scription of chosen themes-themes
which have moved him to admira-
ton, awakening pleasurable emo
tion-he has employed both know
ledge and gift with sincerity and
conviction. In the current exhibit
ton, he is represented by two land
Scapes. one of a Vermont Road"
in summer, the other of open, rolling
farm country on Morning After
Snow" The former is very direct
in handling. rich in color and good
In compositions positive work, Wig
orously rendered whereas the latter
Is more subtle and sensitive, the
white of the snow blanket, still un-
marred or ruffled, seeming to have
wrapped the earth in stiffness as
well as purity.
Seasonal Paintings.
Garnet Jex also is well repre-
sented by landscape, Winter in
Virginia" a broad view embracing
a glimpse of river in the distance,
and with some of summers warmth
of color lingering IN both fields and
sky.
Likewise seasonal is an October
Still Life by Iona Miller Keplinger
squash and other colorful autumn
vegetables on kitchen table COW
cred with blue -and-white checked
cloth, sturdy piece of painting
which attracts the eye and holds
the attention because of the ex-
perienced, workmanlike way in
which it is done
An engaging piece of still life
a group of porcelain figurines,
1.-TWO Are Chinese" comes from
Clara R. Saunders. 1t is heavily
painted but in such wise as to
create a surface which literally
temPtS the visitors f1ngertiPs, as
does all texture of fine quality.
High in key. the color scheme is
nicely modulated, relative values
being we'll sustained throughout.
Catherine C. Crichter is repre-
sented by the portrait she painted a
couple of years ago. during several
weeks sojourn on the Gaspe Pen
tnsula, of Monsieur x of Trois Pts
toles," very important parsonage.
whose dignity and personality she
well interpreted. There are other
portraits-"Sara by Francis C.
Todd; Myself" by Diana Craw-
ford; Nancy Lou Hollerith," by
Gladys Nelson Smith, and "a
Feather in Her Cap" by Lucia B.
Hollerith. A semi-nude, by Mar
garet M. Yard, to which is given
the title High Priestess," is aca-
demically well rendered.
Ambitious Theme.
Among the larger canvases is
one of the interior of a studio,
showing many students at work, an
ambitious theme, rendered by An
drea Zerega, which would tax the
mettle of a much more expert
enced master and in the present
instance signifies courage rather
than attainment. "The Bus Stop"
by Oke Nordgren, is another pic
ture of a rather sordid aspect of
contemporary life in which, ap-
parently, the artist has himself
discovered no beauty and yet by
which he has been allured-a puzzl-
ing phenomena in contemporary art,
but by no means rare.
The water colorS are less good
than the oils, for some inexplicable
reason. To a great extent, those
shown are of the kind that use a
vague nomenclature, a sort of in
dividual shorthand which, If sig
nificant to the painter, leaves the
observer mystified. An especially
good example is landscape by G.
Law Watkins, rendered in the man
ner of Marin, vignetted to an oval,
In which vital elements are collec-
lively symbolized-a very clever
achievement along these lines and
one which apparently has found
favor, being marked with the magic
star signifying sold"
The exhibition will continue to
the end of the present week.