Evening star., 1948-12-19

entirely different, Is another rec
tangular composition In high-keyed
greens and light blue. John Chap
man Lewis Third Avenue FL" Is
typical of his sombre treatment Of
such subjects in fiat color areas.
Blanche Levie's quiet little Pas
torale," somewhat illustrative, has
a fairy-tale quality, and would be
an engaging picture for little girls
room. George Kress' Red Tree,
has the atmosphere of an approach
ing storm. characteristic of his land
scapes. More modern than any of
the aforementioned are Shirley
Lichtman's Road Gang" workers
expressed with action curves; Hen
riette Lauterman's Nets" strongly
simplified harbor scene: and Vassili
Nemerow's abstract Motion"
A large winter Bouquet" rich in
color, and miniature flower paint
ing, both by Josephine Black, Eliza
beth Goodwin's Fruit Bowl" and
Gustav Trois' arrangement of vege-
tables in warm color scheme are
good decorations.
In a small group of sculpture,
Katherine Hobbs black horse, with
name and tail braided with tur-
quoise ceramic rosettes. Sara Sill
berman's athletic little dancer
carved of wood, and Mary Covers
simplifed Interpretation Of "Leda"
stand out.
Indian Paintings g.,
Several tempera paintings of In
dian tribal dances by Jose Rey
Toledo have just been placed on
view at the Indian arts and crafts
shop in the Department of Com
merce Building. inside the main
(aquarium) entrance on Fourteenth
street. Meticulously painted. with
naturalistic accuracy Of detail, the
little figures are so colorfully and
picturesquely costumed, and so
symmetrically placed, that they are
decorations Of interest and appeal.
This little exhibition is due to the
interest of John D. Kay, assistant
to the director Of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey. whose work took
him to New Mexico. near Jemez, so
miles from Albuquerque. There he
met Jose Toledo, a chiefs son and
a gifted artist, vino attended the
University for two years. There his
awareness of culture was sharrened.
But the remoteness of Jerez. where
he will eventually be chief of his
tribe, has kept his paintings from
the recognition and appreciation
they deserve.
Several groups Of young Indian
artists have held exhibitions in
many parts of the United States.
Only last year. the Central Public
Library had show from one of
them. The Philbrook Art Center Of
Tulsa, Okla, inaugurated three
years ago an annual exhibition of
American Indian paintings. In last
summers annual. Jose Toledo ex-
hitited, and won a first honorable
mention.
Impressed with his work. Mr. Kay
told him to send some Of it here
for exhibition. A few paintings
were shown at Chequire House IN
September. In addition to their
exquisite craftsmanship and decora-
tive quality, they depict authentic
costumes and settings, and symbol
ism Transcribed by one thoroughly
schooled in it. For example, snake
with a forked tongue is just deco
rat on to the outsider; but to Jose,
and those au courant with such
matters, it represents a deceitful
person.
Besides the Indian arts shop In
the Commerce Department. there
Is larger one in the Department
of the Interior, near the south en-
trance, which was the subject of an
article in these columns several
years ago. Both shops handle au-
thentic Indian work of high quality
/ II u II
How to Do 1t
The reviews in The Stars annual
Christmas Book Supplement were
necessarily limited to books of wide
general reader appeal. But other
groups of art books are quite as
excellent within their categories.
Three books on technique impress
me as the best Of three times as
many books I have read during
194s on "how to do It,"
Composition and Pictures" by
noted Washington Artist Eleanor
Parke Gusts (American Photo
graphic Publishing Co., $6). primarily
intended for pictorial photographers,
would nevertheless be valuable to
students of picture-making in other
mediums, so clear is its exposition
of the principals of composition and
their practical application. Since
Miss Gusts had achieved a wide