Evening star., 1949-08-21
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Potomac Craftsmen
And Kiln Club
Present Show
BY Florence S. Berrymon

Present Show
By Florence 5. Berymon
That the oldest arts of the
human race-pottery making and
textile weaving-are hourishing in
this area, is convincingly demon
strated in the foyer Of the Natural
History building. National Mu-
scum, this month. It is filled to
capacity with the joint exhibition
of the Potomac Craftsmen and the
Kiln Club. The catalogue lists 1873
different craftsmen and potters.
most of whom are showing several
items each. The exhibition will re-
main on view through August 81.
These hundreds of exhibits are
effectively displayed in alcoves,
some of which are arranged like
real interiors, others having glass
cases to hold the objects. To the
right, as one enters, there Is a
modern room with hand made
furniture, hand-woven draperies,
dishes and pottery. To the left is
an early American room Qate 18th
century, featuring six large hand
woven coverlets, one of them con-
temporary. a blue overshot lovers
knot made by DR.. Donnell B.
Young of Bethesda, and five an
tique, among them a historic
jacquard washington" design Of
1848.
Farther along are a gift shop. an
outdoor living room with appro-
pirate ceramics, a weaving studio
with looms, yarns. drafts, and
other equipment, also a potter's
shop. In the last two. demonstra-
tions Of actual work are given
daily.
The technical high standard Of
most the work shown makes 1t
difficult to single out few items
for mention. The artistry in
napkin of subtle design seems just
as high for it's few inches of size
as does In a coverlet measured in
feet. Naturally, in a show of this
sort, the latter is the more Strik-
ing. Most visitors will probably be
arrested by the large. elaborate,
brightly colored cotton coverlet in
Peruvian technique by Mrs. w. A..
Stebbins and the pine tree linen
table cloth and old Colonial
Williamsburg drapes in tan, blue
and gray by Mrs. Charles Homan
(Baltimore).
Other items I find checked
in my catalogue include a sturdy
wooden stool with a wool cover,
and a Norwegian table runner,
both woven in many soft colors, by
Bertha L. Knudtsen (Parkton,
Md; a Swedish tapestry in pen
guin design by Doris M. Cochran
(Hyattsville); a peasant type fig
ure hanging in gay colors by Mrs.
w. Gardner Lynn president of
Potomac Craftsmen. A light
green luncheon mat by Mrs. Philip
Moorhead has a white dogwood
design that looks like lace, but is
woven into the green. The exhibit
ton includes lace too: a nice dis
play of bobbin lace by Mrs. John
Powers.
Visitors looking for attractive
and warm clothing for autumn
should study the large display OF
wearing apparel in one alcove-
dresses, jackets Zone by Mrs. j. W.
Waterhouse Of Arlington). and
yard goods by Leslie E. Nelson,
Frances Andrews and Pauline
Dutterer CBaltimore)
Other types Of work are dis
played in cases down the center
aisle. Among them are two hand
some book bindings by Mrs. Don
nell B. Young (Bethesda), a
iewel-like Illumination with Its
historiated initial and flower bor-
der by Marian U. M. Lane, several
silver costume pins set with lapis
and other semiprecious stones by
A. l.. Loucks (Baltimore). three
beautiful woven bags with intrl-
cate metal tops by Mrs. Harry F.
jackson and sleek ceramic
leopard on copper base by Jean
Foster Jenkins (Baltimore).
X X X 4
Washington Potters
The Kiln Club was inaugurated
three years ago. It's members are
studio potters who meet once a