Evening star., 1945-11-18
Marine Corps Artists Exhibition
AT the National Gallery of Art

f1ected in his large oil paintings of
the current exhibition, which have
the character of mural sketches.
Twenfy-f,po Artists York
Twenty-Five artists are RESPONSE
BILE for approximately 1870 works
which occupy the large and small
temporary exhibition rooms in the
National Gallery. They represent
all sections Of the country, includ-
ing the Washington area through
T/Sergt. Paul Arlt, whose home is
in Arlington. He has more than
II water colors and wash drawings,
which appear to have been done in
every instance on the spot as rap
idly as possible. He is we'll known
in Washington, having exhibited
here in one man shows and group
exhibitions and having worked here
for some years prior to joining the
service.
Some Of the best works in the
show are those by 1t. Col. Donald
L. Dickson, a well-known illustrator
who served as a regimental adju-
tant on Guadalcanal, where his reg
iment was the first to land. In most
of his wash drawings the interest
is concentrated on single figures
The spectator will not soon forget
his Marine Caught in Flare"-a
greenish-blue nightmare; or Here
It Comes. in which a boy with
the expression of hunted animal
hugs the ground during a bonn
bardment. Dickson's work is beau
tifully finished, his figures very
much alive.
Emphasis on Individuals
Emphasis on individual men is
found, too, in the work of Corpl.
Paul r. Ellsworth, one of whose
little portraits is an arresting tram
scription of the gnawing fatigue in
Marine after nine days front line
action. The artist served as a tank
driver, map draughtsman and cam
outage expert and was twice
wounded in action. 1t. Kenneth
Bald's portrait of a japanese pris-
oner done in colored crayons is an
other memorable piece of work,
while Pfc. James w. Seese's water
color, Calming a Crack-Up," illus
trates one of the myriad problems
which had to be solved.
S/Sergt. Sherman C. Loudermilk
has also contributed admirable work
in water color, "Emerau Beach De-
fense," LISTS Unload" and others,
painted against tropical back
grounds of rich soft color, done on
wet paper. His works give a vivid
idea of the gorgeous settings in
which many of the Pacific CAM
paign battles were fought.
Mail Call on a Carrier" by Capt.
Alexander c. Raymond, one of the
few peaceful scenes in the show, is
well done, with careful attention to
detail Nicely finished work in wa
ter color also bears the name of
T/Sergt. Elmer Wexler.
a cfion Dra,Oings
MT /Sergt. Victor P. Donahue is
responsible for wash drawings full
of action and not a little humor,
as in his deep-toned jam Ses-
sion," which has the character of
cartoon. This light touch must
have been considerable achieve
ment for Marine exposed to bomb
ing, shelling and incessant rain.
The last mentioned in the Cape
Gloucester campaign ruined vir-
tually all of the artists drawing
paper and he did subsequent work
on unexposed Photographic printing
paper.
Action is strong, too, in the black
and white pen and wash drawings
Of Sergt. John r. McDermott-such
drawings as the vivid one of Ma
rines leaping out of the way of a
grenade at Okinawa. The artist
also went through the heavy fight
ing on Guam, which forced him to
make many of his sketches while
lying on his stomach.
A large number of ink and wash
drawings represent Staff Sergt. John
Fabion, who transcribed scenes Of
great variety. There is q touching
one of the dedication of the ceme-
terry Mt Sainarl