Evening star., 1943-05-31
Army Daughter Deuelops
Photo Camol!tlqge System
BY Gretchen Smith

How Photographic hobby led to
the evolution of an unusual medium
for interior decoration, then, follow
ing Pearl Harbor, was developed into
an effective method for use in mill
tary camouflage, is revealed in the
story Of Mrs. Leize Weaver Stewart
OF New York, who is now visiting her
sister, Mrs. Benjamin Sewall of
Alexandria and Washington.
Daughter of the late Mai. Gen.
Erasmus Weaver, chief of Coast Ar
tillery Corps during the World War,
and sister Of Maj. Gen. Walter R.
Weaver of the Army Air Force, it
was only natural that as an Army
daughter" Mrs. Stewart should have
turned her talents to military uses
at the outbreak of war.
AS much of Mrs. Stewards story
regarding the military camouflage
is Of a confidential nature, full de-
tails may not be given, but her ac-
complishments during by-gone days
of peace are interesting evidence to
what length photography may be
carried in the art of illusion.
AS girl, Mrs. Stewart early dis
played unusual talent as a portrait
painter while studying at the Art
Students League of New York and
later with leading masters in Paris,
France. After her marriage, while
accompanying her husband in his
world travels, including the Philip
pines, China, Japan, France. Spain
and countries of South America, she
painted the portraits of many prom
inent persons of those countries.
From portraiture, she branched into
the field of miniature and today,
her collection of miniatures is of
outstanding interest, and her name
is we'll known in New York among
the foremost miniature artists of
that city.
Il made quite a success and had
important commissions to paint
several prominent persons when the
depression came" she said. L then
turned to hobby with quicker
turnover - photography. Photo
graphic design was a new field and
in spite of the depression there were
many demands by clubs, restaurants
and cocktail bars for murals and
decorative work, and it occurred to
me photography might be used ef-
fectivelv for this purpose"
Mrs. Stewart told how after ex-
perimenting, she developed new
process for the enlargement of
photographs on textiles for use as
draperies and Photographic tapes
tries, with delightful and original
effects.
One of my most interesting
pieces of work was decorating the
officers Club at the Air Depot at
Middletown, Pa" she said. Il en-
larged photographs of planes with
beautiful cloud effects which were
used as murals. These were on paper
but the design created exclusively
for the Air Forces was printed also
on the curtains and draperies."
In the tap room at the Officers
Club at Governors Island, Mrs.
Stewart used old engravings depict
ing the history of the U. S. Army
which were copied photographically
and enlarged for use as murals.
Among other places decorated by
Mrs. Stewart were the Flamingo Bar
in Sherry's restaurant, New York
and the WNYC broadcasting studio
in the Municipal Building, New
York City.
LAS this process developes, the
possibilities for use of photography
on fabrics appears to be unlimited .
Mrs. Stewart declared.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor, an
Army officer heard of the process
and questioned Mrs. Stewart. She
explained her Photographic work
and showed chiffon handkerchief
on which the decorative motif was
cluster Of realistic flowers.
The officer took the handker-
chief and studied the effect she
continued. do You think this
could be reproduced in life size and
of an extensive scale?" he asked. I