Evening star., 1942-11-29
Art
Washington Artists
Open Christmas
Sales Exhibition
By Florence S. Berrvman.

By Florence S. Bergman.
The Christmas Sales Exhibition, of
work by artists Of Washington, Bal
timore and vicinity, which opens
this afternoon at the Phillips Mem
orial Gallery, offers as simple a basis
for Judgment as is possible-appeal
to the public. Small oils, water col
ors. prints and drawings are all Of
a size suitable for the average home,
and majority of the prices are
modest; the gallery gives its print
rooms to the show and takes no
commissions on sales and the exhi-
bition period, approximately four
weeks before Christmas, makes a
definite bid for the attention of
gift-minded Christmas shoppers.
Consequently, one is surprised
that so many of the artists appear
to have so vague an idea of the sort
OF work likely to appeal to the gen.
eral public. 1t may be that they
are depending upon the small
minority of collectors with pro
gressive" tastes, but, if so, they are
overlooking the opportunity afforded
them Of showing works to a much
larger audience, under distinguished
auspices. Not a few thoughtful
people, in fact, are convinced that
arts future vitality depends upon
closer understanding between artist
and public.
OF approximately 100 works on
view go framed paintings occupying
the walls and 40 or more unframed
prints and drawings in racks, not
over Is per cent impressed the
writer. after careful, leisurely and
solitary scrutiny, as suitable decora-
tions for the average home. There
is no intention Of implying that all
the others are lacking in merit
some Of them are skillfully done
but their subject matter Is unin-
spring or their color schemes are
unpleasant or their handling is so
"advanced' that they would appear
out of place in most interiors.
Another surprising aspect OF the
show is the modesty Of the artists;
many of them have not signed their
works. an omission which became
acute, since the catalogue was not
ready when the exhibition was Wis
1ted for this review.
Among the oils, two colorful flow
er paintings could not be identified
at the time-one of a flip glass filled
with yellow and orange zinnias, the
other of nasturtiums and dolphin
ium in vase against a gray back
ground. Marguerite Burgess snowy
landscape under moonlight is more
ingratiating than any of the works
IN her recent solo show at the Init
mate Gallery; it has romantic at
mosphere.
Jane Philbrick's moody little CITY,
scape with church spire sill
houetted against a cloudy sky is
restful and appealing. Jacob Kainen
also shows Church Spire," against
vivid blue sky. Ethel Gath's mar
ket scene and Boats and Bait" by
Amalie Rothschild of Baltimore, are
vivid transcriptions of subjects not
beautiful in themselves, but cheer
ful in what they represent. Eliza
beth Clarke's SEMI abstract still life
OF fruit is fresh and decorative.
Two attractive small oils are by
members of the Phillips Gallery
staff: C. Law Watkins Horses in
sunny, mountainous landscape,
and John Gernands Happy Gar
dener." done in soft grayed colors
as though it were memory of the
subject. Lois M. Jones little oil of
Paris cafe is also a memory now.
but has the directness of a painting
done on the spot. Florence Smell
Bishops Deserted House In
Storm" is melancholy in It's impi-
cations. but somehow does not seem
so, because of its handling.
Wnfer Colors on View
OF water colors on view, Robert F,
Gates West Virginia Farm" viva
ciously presented in a toneful wash,
is delightful. Suzanne Mullett's
Spring also depicts a farm in
iilSLl hCS. IllLdDCIl IUV iOIlely
Shores" has more warmth than is
usual in her work, and presents an
imaginary scene which will remind
some travellers of the Saguenay
River in Quebec. Mary Elizabeth
Partridge's Leaves" is a pleasant
decoration, and Henrietta Hopes
little gouache. "Toreros," is pic
turesque, with bright splashes of
crimson.
There are two little paintings,
Rowland Lyons gouache "Whoopee"
"a clown and Sarah Bakers "Ze-
bras" which would seem to be ex-
cellent pictures for children's rooms;
but, of course. any one who claims to
speak for children is being pre-
sumptous. Raymond Bishops black
and white Blacksmith Shop" en-
bodies a happy memory for some OBJ
servers. Two Autographs by Ken
meth Ozier of Arlington are nicely
composed, clean-cut and pleasant in
subject matter: Swans in Snow"
and THE Ponds Frozen" This ex-
hibition will remain through De-
cember ~.
ChogaH Exhibition at
Phillips Gallery
The Phillips Gallery, which has
given Washinptonians many or,ror