Evening star., 1943-03-28

VI q 1OW1ldIdI 1llO1dll,
;e of corn as an early industry
background of these prize winning
designs was done at the Smithsonian
Institution, Library OF Congress and
the Widener library at Harvard Uni
versity.
AS all OF the panels are long and
narrow the sculptured figures in
them have had to be modelled in
crouching positions and long flowing
lines. This is challenge to the
skill Of even the most veteran
sculptor, a test which Mrs. Fowler
has met with superb simplicity and
a genuine sense of rhythm, accord
Ing to art critics.
In the panel which portrays Capt.
Newport she has managed to Undue
the meeting between him and the
Virginia Colonists, with the urgency
OF those needing help desperately
and Of England's sea captain Am
bassador extending it compass
sionately, when all but hope had
failed.
Indian Piece Praised.
Rated as a superb piece of model
ing is the Powhatan Indian with
his braided hair and three strings
OF beads already secured by barter
with the white men. He is shown
leaning forward from the prov of
his canoe in his deer-skin apron as
he extends an ear of seed corn in
one hand while he covers three
others in his primitive melon shaped
basket.
For the panel representing New
port News coal industry of today
Mrs. Fowler has modelled a Negro
artisan casting aside his obsolete
coal-loading basket as he surveys
with astonishment the miracle of
cranes and pulleys supplementing
his hand labor
The portrayal Of modern ship
building in Newport News, Mrs. Fow-
Ter admits, presented her greatest
problem and was the most diff1cult
to do. Finally United States naval
officer and member of the British
Admiralty jointly gave her the idea
for 1t with their Identical answers
to her question, What part does
man still have in the actual build
ing of a modern ship today"
Pounding the bolt in the anchor -
came back the reply. So for her
model she chose young shipworker
who is a descendant of pre-Revo-
lutionary Colonial stock. He is
shown driving the bolt in a modern
type OF anchor, as the last touch
before the ship is ready to slide
down the ways.
Artistic Background.
Mrs. Fowler's background is an
artistic one. Her grandfather F. B.
zay, was a landscape painter. Her
mother, Mrs. Mary Zay Blackford.
was talented musician. Her prac-
tical, Scotch-English lawyer father,
however, discouraged his daughters
instincts along the line of design.
Nevertheless, during her college DAYS
she was forever taking time of from
her major in languages to make
posters for campus events, changing
the gym into a flower garden, or
decorating the chapel for end of
the term weddings.
1t was not until after her mar
riage and departure for Greece with
her husband, who is classical
scholar. that she had an oppor-
tunity to steep herself in the glory
OF sculpture. While he was pro-
fessor at the American School of
Classical Studies there she collab-
Grated with him in the writing of
"A Picture Book of Sculpture for
Children"
Shortly after their return to
America, Mrs. Fowler attended an
exhibit OF sculpture in Newport,
r. l.. by Adrien Voisin. with Mrs.
Maude Howe Elliot, daughter of
Julia Ward Howe, author of THE
Battle Hymn of the Republic" AS
they were leaving Mrs. Fowler said
to the sculptor, IF had my life to
live over again, I would try to be
sculptor His reply was, why wait
for another life? Why not begin
now?
But am too old. my friends
would laugh at me-" she said. In
stead of answering her. he handed
her lump of modelling clay and a
Greek Tanagra figurine with ex-
quisite flowing lines.
Studied Under Notables.
Long grueling series of lessons
followed at the Newport (R. ~ Art
Center, and under George Deme trios,
the Greek sculptor who teaches in
the Charles Crafty School at Glou-
cester Mass, during the summer.
Winters, Mrs. Fowler studied here
at the Corcoran School of Art un-
der Hans Schuller, William Marks
Simpson and the late j. Maxwell
Miller. sculpture, she says, lis
more a part OF architecture than
painting, and much more goes into
it, in my opinion, than ever goes into
painting"
1t has been 10 years since Mrs
Fowler began her lessons in sculp-
ture. In the meantime, in addition
to her panels at Newport News, she
has executed numerous commissions.
One is bust of the late Speaker of
the House Frederick H. Gillett. This
Is in the Library at Springfield,
Mass. Another is a tablet at Find
lay, Ohio, commemorating the first
gas we'll there. The tablet was
was based on a painting by her
grandfather. THE Life of Bird,
in four separate panels on a bird
bath in the garden of the Washing
ton home OF Mrs. Chester c. Bolton,
Representative from Ohio, is an
other example of her handiwork.