Evening star., 1945-01-28
Bv Leila MechHn

The Washington Water Color
Clubs 49th annual exhibition,
which opens this afternoon in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, will be
found both thought provoking and
confusing. On the one hand it re-
fleets the effort of contemporary
artists to find new roads TO express
sion, and, on the other, witnesses
to lack of unity in the matter of
ideal. Obviously in most instances
the interest displayed is in tech
nique rather than Interpretation
the tendency of the day is, it would
seem, toward self-consciousness
whereas, in the past, it has been
those who forgot themselves in their
undertaking who produced works of
lasting significance and merit.
1t must be remembered, however,
that this is a time of problems
problems and change. Little is as
1t once was, or as we hope it may
be again, and, as art reflects life
so the changing currents, cannot
fail to affect artistic expression.
First A zCard
For once there seems to be no
reason to quarrel with the findings
of the jury of award, which, in
cidentally, was composed of the
officers of the club and the Board
of Managers. "St. Patrick's in the
Rain" by De Wolfe Hotchkiss,
which received highest honor, is an
excellent conservative work-a por-
trait of place-well seen and ad-
mirably rendered Curiously enough,
it reminds one of wash drawings of
"Thackery's London" made by F.
Hopkinson Smith, when the WASH
ington Water Color Club was in it's
early days. In other words it is
illustrative, factural, but spirited in
the best sense of the word.
The second prize, Rocky Neck,
Winter" by Henry Gasser, is also
iactual-a new view of a place near
or in the heart of Gloucester, the
summer haunt of many artists, seen
from a height, and admirably de-
picted.
First honorable mention went to
Luella Buros for Skating in john
son Park" a complicated compost
ton recalling in measure the now
famous and much sought Currier
and Ives enthusiastically Amer
ican in spirit, as we'll as subject
matter. There is motion, rhythm
and life in this admirable painting,
which cannot fail to attract and
hold attention. The second honor
able mention was carried off by In
the Ninth Round" a picture of a
prize fight, by Andrea Pietro Zerega,
obviously inspired by Bellows
paintings and Autographs of similar
themes, and, in matters of render
ing, close in resemblance.
Skilltuf Interior
In interesting contrast to all OF
these is a water color of an interior
the hall of the Lee Mansion at
Marblehead, Mass, by Ruth Perkins
Stafford of this city, a difficult
theme, skillfully rendered in such
wise as to preserve the spirit OF
place, its architectural charm, and
above all, the quality of the cool
northern sunshine which pourS
through the stair window
There are other old friends and
outstanding members of the club
represented here. For example
Benson Moore, the vice president
who has lately exhibited at the Arts
Club color etchings of birds and
beasts in sthe Zoo, but shows here
winter landscape, group OF
leaf1ess trees silhouetted against
snow-covered ground and wintery
sky-in his best vein. More broadly
handled is picture of fishing boats
in rough but very blue sea by S
Peter Wagner, who has in late years
spent his winters in Florida.
Omar R. Darlington, president OF
the Club, again exhibits strong
painting of a grim-looking house
certainly vacant save, perhaps, for q
ghost or two. Such paintings ano
others of the same ilk undoubt-
edly are akin to the popular mys-
terry stories so widely read and SIM
ilarly providing excitement induc-
ing forgetfulness. Ozark Delivery
by Vernon Nye, has some of this
feeling and will be found dramatic
colorful and impressive.
In Abstract
Making appeal to the Imagination
and employing language which
few understand is purely abstract
painting by 1t. Samuel Bookatz
entitled Modern Charles" to which
one Of the places of special honor
has been given. 1t seems a strange