Evening star., 1945-12-09
Portrait of Elizabeth Ridgely by Sully
Is Given to National Gallery of Art

'allery of Art
Gallery two years ago., the present
exhibition is much stronger from
the standpoint Of human interest
than from that of esthetics. The
paintings, water colors and draw
ings, nearly 10 in all, tell of life at
sea in the dangerous war years, and
also give an insight into the inter-
ests and diversions and dreams of
men in the merchant marine. Ap-
proximately two-thirds of the artists
represented are unframed in art
or have had only elementary study,
but they have put their impressions
on canvas and paper with consider
able gusto and ingenuity. Indeed,
when one sees how much natural
talent many people have for draw
ing and painting one wonders why
a few primitive painters today
should be hailed as sensations.
There must be hundreds of living
Americans who could equal them
if given similar encouragement.
1t does not seem possible that
any one today regards art as an
anemic pastime for young girls at
finishing schools or for elderly
spinsters on summer vacations, as
was the case half a century ago.
Any such outdated ideas would GER
tainly be dispelled by the merchant
seamen's show: Art appears to be
one Of several favorite hobbies for
these men who have the physical
strength and hardihood to choose
work of such strain, difficulty and
danger, as a career in the merchant
marine. Reasons why many of
them adopt art as recreation are
well expressed in the present show
by Joseph Cielinski, a quartermas-
ter of 16 years experience:
"Monotony and long hours OF
spare time at sea, as well as a
childhood interest in art brought
me to express my emotions on can
vas"
Still another seaman artist, War
rem d'Azevedo, who is represented
with one of the most abstract works
on view, said, 1T was not the wal
which awakened me to creativity
nor do I expect the armistice to
put me to sleep again."
Assuredly they must derive sat-
isfaction from the practice of art
as a recreation, otherwise so large
a number of them would not keel
at it. 1t is interesting to note, too
that the majority of these seamen
artists hope to devote more time
to art when opportunity offers, and
not few of them plan to study it
From the standpoint of general edu-
cation the artists are superior
group. Ninety per cent of then
are high school graduates, accord
ing to the Lookout, published BY
the Seamen's Church Institute.
Character Of the Shoe
4 Although monotony must be /,
large ingredient in a seaman's life
1t is not reflected in the presen
show. The exhibits represent sub
jects of such variety as ships IL
calm and stormy weather, seamer
at their tasks and at leisure, harbo
and beach scenes, shipwrecked mel
adrift in terrifying seas, stree
scenes in far-f1ung ports, characte
studies; also peaceful landscape
and farm scenes, as we'll as tn
southwestern desert and subjects o
fantasy and imagination.
In most instances, the painting
and drawings are as realistic as tn
men were able to make them. Som
Of them show sensitive appreciation
Of natural beauty, such as .Herber
Friswold's Mediterranean Port,
with its vivid blue water and salmo
pink buildings at the harbor's edge
: and Mirage" by Carol Pertal
which contrasts the wretched me
on a raft with the shimmering col
ors Of sea and sky.
"Sea Dust" by Tom Dwyer, Is
very creditable little oil Of q shi
I going around the Horn carrying
+ load of bombs" In an explanator
note framed with the painting, tn
!, artist says that 1t was done with
brush made of hair pulled from h
own head, attached to handle {
toothpicks. In modest postscriT
presumably to the United Seamen
: Service exhibition committee) h
I says, IF you sell this art at an
= price, you can sell iceboxes at tx
-lNorth Pole" As a matter of fac
. this little oil has more appeal tha
some Of the more sophisticate
Il Works.
| Monsoon Weather in the Persia
4 Gulf" by Clifford Davis has the e,
4 otto flavor Of distant places. L.
a Westhoff, purser with the Ho
i land America Line, shows = vel
4 done charcoal drawing, "Meditel
j lranean Convoy" Incidentally the