Evening star., 1942-10-18
Art
Notes
Washington Water
Color Exhibition
Opens at Corcoran
By Florence S. Bergman.

By Florence S. Bergman.
The Washington Water Color
Clubs 47th annual exhibition, which
opened yesterday afternoon at the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, gives tht
visitor an initial impression that il
Is composed of strong, competent
work in deep-toned color, and thai
most Of the paintings are of large
dimensions. There also appears to
be q slight increase in the proper
ton Of work in the modern idiom
over that of the 46th annual which
was held last April. incidentally, il
should be explained that, although
only six months have elapsed since
the last exhibition, the Washington
Water Color Club annual is held only
once each season; but the date is
not necessarily the same each year
The 45th annual was opened the end
of 1910, Is months earlier than the
46th. Since last spring, there has
been change of officers and an en-
tirely new board.
The present exhibition of 1872
works was winnowed from more
than 300 submissions. There are 81
paintings in water color, pastel and
egg tempera, in gallery ST (habitual-
ly used for transient exhibitionS)
and Al prints and drawings in the
atrium cases. Although the subject
matter has wide range, there is a
strong preponderance> >of landscapes
Approximately half the show
Buildings are prominent in many of
these. Ten or II paintings are di-
vided between industrial subjects
and cityscapes. Three other subject
groups, still life and flowers, por-
traits and figures, and harbor and
sea, claim about 10 paintings each.
1t is perhaps significant that the
first prize in both the present and
the last annual, was bestowed upon
an industrial subject; in the current
show, to j. Jay McVickers Rock
Crusher." The simple, clean-cut
handling of these trim structures
emphasizes the unpretentious dignity
of industry, upon which victory in
the present war depends. But in
dustrial subjects are not beautiful
per Sc (at least not to the average
person., nor do they gather around
them that aura of happy association
that makes other types of subject
touch the heart. 1t is difficult to
imagine any one regarding a paint
ing of an oil tank or water tower
with sentimental tears in his eyes.
However, the skillful rendering of
the prize winning Rock Crusher"
will be obvious to the public.
Dusty Road" by Dorothea Squire,
which won second prize, will prob
ably cause more bewilderment to
laymen. The subject "a country
house under spreading trees, with
a sharply curving road in the fore
ground-has been transcribed in
broad modern technique and with
color scheme chosen to express the
artists reaction to a specific place,
or perhaps the atmosphere it had
for her, rather than the enchant-
ments one ascribes to country homes
in general.
Landscabes Are Varied
Although some of the landscapes
depict scenes and buildings tinclud-
ing tumble down shacks) with little
or no intrinsic charm. the artists
have painted most of them In
cheerful manner, presenting them In
a sunny. fresh atmosphere. Such are
"McGinty's Barn." by Alexander W.
Lee, Henry Gasser's Fish Market"
and Monday Wash" and Pitts
hureh River Bank" by Earl Gross.
pleasant Point" by Pvt. Herbert Lee
of Fort Belvoir, depicting row OF
little houses silhouetted against
cloudy sky has the salty atmosphere
of waterfront places.
Other landscapes are appealing
both in subject and presentation.
Eleanor Parke Custis (the clubs
treasurer) shows large, handsome,
gouache ''Topsfleld Green" typical
New England village scene in WIN
ter, with the 18th century church
and houses white against clear,
blue sky. Near Burlington, Ver-
mont" by Brian Truelove, charm
ing little landscape in the tradi-
tional manner. and his picturesque
"Old Town, Gloucester" are two OF
the most conservative works in the
exhibition. Benson B. Moore's arrest
ing winter Morning, Rock Greek"
is typical of the work of an artist
who is content to portray the out
ward beauty to be found in WASH
ington at all seasons. There is
simple. fresh landscape, Near Ork-
ney Springs, Va" by Marguerite
Mum, vice president of the club.
Lottie Fahrenbruch's "ChurchtoWn,
Pa" is nostalgia glimpse OF an
ancient house in tree-shaded gar
den, approached by horse and
buggy carrying two sunbonneted
women; but since ancient vehicles
have been returned to use by oil
rstioning, this may be contempo-
rary scene.
In somber mood are Frances
wheeler's Return an imaginative
painting implying wars destruction,
and Andrea Zerega's "First Snow
Near Frederick" landscape study
In dark browns, slate gray and white,
in strong contrast to his colorful
prize winning flower painting at the
Society Of Washington Artists last
winter Miss Wheeler Is the Water