Evening star., 1952-08-24
ArtNews
Cubon Exhibition
At Pan American
BY Harriet Griffiths

The Pan American Union has
opened an exhibition of quite
modern and colorful works by
seven Cuban painters. It first
was shown during May in Bos-
ton, and when the present
showing concludes September
20, it will continue to circulate
throughout the country until
1854.
The artists-Cundo Bermu-
dez, Mario Carreno, Roberto
Diago. Luis Martinez-Pedro,
Felipe Orlando, Amelia Pelaez
and Rene Portocarrero-have
been known in the United
States since 1914, when their
works were included in a Cuban
exhibition at the Museum Of
Modern Art in New York. That
exhibition later was seen at a
number Of other American mu-
SeumS. :.
Two trends recognized in
Cuba today are seen in their
work-use of elements of Span
ish colonial art and interest in
the Interpretation of African
forms employed by Afro Chris
tian Sects in Cuba. The display
at the Pan American is marked,
however, by a striking individ-
uality on the part of each of
the seven artists.
Now in Germony
The Museum of Modern Art
owns works by all of them, and
some also are represented in
other public collections In this
country. They have been in
cluded in group shows in WASH
mgton and other cities, and
have held one-man shows at
various institutions throughout
the United States. At present
they are represented IN a Latin
American show touring nine
cities in Western Germany.
Their works appear with those
OF other Cuban artists at the
current Biennale at Venice.
Bold block forms with a
strong contrast of dark and
vivid colors mark the work of
Cundo Bermudez of Havana,
self-taught except for a brief
period at the National Academy
OF Fine Arts in Cuba and three
months study in Mexico. In
his huge oil, Red Bird" he sets
the little bright bird against a
large dark figure in bright yell
low against green. He provides
an interesting interplay of black
background and dusky figure in
Woman With an Instrument"
along with more bright colors.
There are exceptionally clear.
beautiful hues in three paint
ings of Felipe Orlando, 1.-The
Lamp" an oil, and "Still
Life" and Woman Reading"
gouaches. A native of Quemados
de Guines. Cuba, and self
taught. this artist now lives in
Mexico City.
Only Womon in Group
Eldest of the seven and the
only. woman among them is
Amelia Pelaez. A graduate of
the National Academy of Fine
Arts who studied in Paris un-
der Alexandra Exter, she now
teaches drawing in a night
school in Havana.
Two of her four gouaches are
still lifes done in 1945. Bril-
liant colors in stained glass ef-
fectS overlaid with designs of
old tapestries, embroidery and
weaving distinguish this work.
Subdued in color, with restful
pottery-like tones are three alb
StractS in oil by Mario Carreno
OF Havana. Shadows on the
Wall" seems the most express
sive of his series of geometric
forms. He achieves a marvellous
two-tone texture background
for "The Sailor"
This artist, who studied a
year at the National Academy
of Fine Arts, has worked as an
illustrator for publications and
from 1914 to 1851 taught at the
New School for Social Research,
New York.
Havana born Rene Porto
carrero contributes a series of
four Figures in Space" imag-
inative play in gouache with
fine ink lines. He is self-taught
and has done book illustration
and stage designing.
The Afro Christian theme
marks four fine ink drawings