Evening star., 1944-05-28
AT
Notes
Works of Canadian
Army Artists on
View at Corcoran
Bv Leila MechHn.

"
The exhibition of paintings and
drawings by young men and women
serving, in various capacities, in the
Canadian Army, which, through the
courtesy of the Canadian Ambassa-
dor, may now be seen here in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, is, indeed,
of exceptional interest and conse-
quence. Collectively, it is fresh and
strong and significant, while indi-
vidually the works give indication
of gift, insight and capability-as
well as artistic feeling. 1t is essen
tally throughout Anglo-Saxon.
AS stated in the foreward to the
we'll printed catalogue, the retention
of this exhibition was not to pro-
duce collection of professional war
records, but rather to set forth the
life of the Canadian soldier from
his own point of view. All were
done during rest and recreation
periods, and for the sheer pleasure
of the doing. 1t was to manifest the
potentialities of such creative activ-
ity that the exhibition was organized
by the Directorate of Auxiliary
Services of the Canadian Army, and,
after being shown in the National
Gallery at Ottawa, sent here for
more extended display.
Artists of Promise.
There are, it is said, in the Canad-
ian Army today. many young artists
of promise; and so it would seem.
What is more, they come not from
one locality but many. Fourteen of
the artists here represented come
from Toronto, ten from Montreal,
four from Ottawa, one each from
Quebec, Lansing, Victoria, Winnipeg,
and Vancouver, all displaying
marked individuality, and at the
same time sincerity and good train
ing. OF the thirty three, five are
women, the others men, of whom
only one holds a commission, the
others, all serving in the ranks, as
gunners, sappers, signalers, ordnance
men, nurses, Red Cross workers and
the like. They have had little time
for art, considering their arduous
training, but it is quite obvious that
they have turned to it with en-
thusiasrn, and made the best of un-
avoidable limitations.
They have drawn and painted one
another, irnpressing their comrades
as models; they have set down
things seen in the course of duty;
they have been humorous and poked
fun, pictorially, not only at others
but themselves,-in the finest OF
spirit and with genuine success
only occasionally has the tragic side
of war been presented. But these
young artists have not yet expert
enced combat. 1t was to relieve the
tedium of waiting, which is per-
haps one of the heaviest burdens
soldier has to bear, that these de-
lightful works of art were produced.
Sergt. Redtern, who is in charge
of the exhibition while here, and, it
is understood, largely accountable
for@its success, is represented by a
group of young service men, with
blythe but serious faces, stepping
forward, unafraid, which rendered
very freely in pastei,vstirs emotion
and carries conviction He also
shows sketch in ink again evidence
ing lightness of touch and versatility.
In Varied Media
Many different media have been
used--oils, water color, pastel, tenn
pera, charcoal, pen and ink, and in
some instances a combination of
two or more. This gives variety to
the showing and witnesses to adapt
ability on the part of the artists.
Life-size portraits III oil and pastel,
as well as water color, of comrades
in the armed forces are numerous
and outstanding. To one of these
the place of honor in the gallery
of special exhibitions has been given.
1t is of 1t. Guy Moule, by Sergt.
F. T. V. Savard, in oils and very
brilliantly executed. Sergt. Savard
shows also two other portraits but
in charcoal, which, likewise, are ar
resting because of vigor and merit.
In the same class is a portrait in
pastel of Nurse Campsall, a charm
ing subject, by Sergt. Tom Miller
who also shows two other capable
works, Slim" in pastel, and Mac"
in charcoal. The portraits in water
color are unusual for breadth of
treatment, which, while in only two
or three instances completely salts
factory, give indication of what may
prove an interesting new trend. One
of these and perhaps the best is by
Corp. G.. j. Munro of Officer
r. c. E"
When the exhibition was assem-
bled, and first shown in Ottawa,
three prizes and several Honorable
Mentions were given by jury con-
sisting of three distinguished Cana
dian artists, A. Y. Jackson of Tor
onto, Arthur Lismer of Montreal,
and Henry Mason, of Ottawa, with
H, D. McCurry, director of the Cana
dian National Gallery.
The first of these prizes was voted
to Gross Country Convoy"-a water
color by Bruno Bolak, sapper, of
tanks floundering over very hilly
and muddy road. lurching like
drunken sailors at sea. Never were
effort and action better portrayed
pictorially. Not only did this receive
first award but the honor of pur-
chase, by the University of Ottawa
for placement in Hart House; while
a second water color by this same
skillful artist-"Winter Scheme
Petawaw" (where for months the
temperature remains at 40 below
zero), was acquired by the wife OF
the Governor General of Canada.
Second and third prizes went, re-