Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-15
Art
Notes
First Exhibition
OfLocal Artists
Members Here


The first members exhibition of
the Artists Guild Of Washington,
now on view at the Corcoran Gallery
of Art, is a spirited and varied dis
play. Thirty-f1ve artists, composing
the guild, have contributed about 80
works in oil, water color, sculpture
and graphic media. Each artist was
permitted to enter four works, from
which two paintings or sculpture
were chosen by the jury. Prints,
drawings and small water colors are
extra. Oil paintings constitute the
major part of the show, which
ranges from conservative through
various progressive expressions,
which ought to be an advantage,
providing works to appeal to many
different tastes. There is as much
variety in subject matter as in tech
niques and viewpoints.
The idea of guild of artists is
inextricably bound up with the his
tory of art Guilds of merchants
for mutual protection and benefits
date from ancient history, and arts
and crafts guilds flourished in
Europe from the 18th to the 10th
centuries. 1t was the artists them
selves who determined who was and
who was not master. The Artists
Guild of Washington, however, I'M
dertook membership association for
the double purpose of meeting the
ror cit,1ofioy, orI Nffor;v,r
ton to governmental and private
agencies. The organization started
10 days after Pearl Harbor with an
informal meeting of Is artists at the
studio OF William Calfee, who is
president of the guild. A statement
of the guilds objectives, contribu-
lions to the war effort and its
present membership was published
in The Star on October 30.
There are admirable paintings in
all the subject categories, as well as
works which appear to be expert
mental in character, sketchy in
technique or dedicated to esthetic
objectives completely obscure to the
observer. Such work suffers when
placed beside paintings that en-
body good craftsmanship and clean
color.
An excellent group of portraits
includes c. Law Watkins reticent
presentation of DR.. Stair, president
OF Hood College, Frederick, Md,
which was unveiled there last June;
Sheffield Kagy's Virginia." in green
and red, which carries conviction as
q likeness; Eugen Weisz's truthful
Interpretation of young Washing
tonian, Mary Page Browning; Bet
ty," lively, colorful portrait of a
little girl by Carl Nyquist, and Lois
Mailou Jones Barbara" involving
a subtle harmony of greens. Among
the figure paintings, Robert Gates
Nude Bathing" delicate and re-
served in handling and color scheme,
is in striking contrast to his other
contribution to the show, dark.
forbidding scene entitled Coal
Mine; they offer convincing proof
OF Mr.. Gates versatility. Mitchell
Jamieson's Log Sawyers" Gin egg
tempera is a fortnight statement
OF solid forms and muscular action.
Euanescenf Gybsies
"Gypsies at the Farm" by Richard
Lahey, one of the larger landscapes.
provides contrast between the solid,
permanent appearance of the farm
buildings and their environment.
and the evanescent character of the
gypsies, who have the casual ap-
pearance of being here today and
gone tomorrow. Oke Nordgren's
Summer Storm" another large
landscape with figures, is painted in
his characteristic astringent green's
and blues, and Is vibrant with wind
and movement. Mr.. Nordgren also
shows Easter Parade" of soldiers,
sailors and their girls strolling under
the cherry blossoms; it has marked
sense Of volume as we'll as rich
warmth of atmosphere. Alice Ache
sons cool little sketch entitled TN
thu Park" has a single romantic
couple, quite oblivious to their
surroundings.
A surrealistic quality pervades
Kenneth Stubs Nostalgia" an
imaginative scene, sunny but cheer
less, with melancholy figures. A
satirical conception of figures in a
landscape is embodied in William
Calfee's Limbo" the figures" being
classic architectural sculpture re-
moved from demolished building.
DIN Dows shows one of his styled
little paintings made in Mexico some
years ago; native women Washing
clothes make an attractive pattern.
Margaret Gates serene Arroyo" and
Andrea Zeregas study in browns and
grays, First Snow" are landscapes
without figures. Prentice Taylor's
animated May Day in Zocalo" is
the only large watercolor, hung with
the oil and tempera paintings.
Paintings of interiors include a
few subjects of unusual character.
Carl Nyquist's "Burlesque" for exam
pie. Is concerned with garish tier
of boxes, the occupants of which are
intent but well behaved, they do not
seem to be whistling or shouting.
There is much pictorial charm in
the still life paintings, among them
Nan Watson's Compete and Asters"
and Midsummer a colorful garden
bouquet; Basket of Blue Grapes" by
Marjorie Phillips, set of with a
peach against gray and warm tan
background; William Thompson's
Laurel and Alexander Clayton's
Still Life With Rubber Plant" both
beautifully executed; Sarah Bakers
gay yellow and red flowers in a
rocco vase, and John Demands
poetic little Bouquet" Henrietta
Hopes, in one of her still life ar
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