The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-02-03


II were an art critic with vast
range Of experience, I might dip
my typewriter keys In acid now
and then. But I can't lay any
claim to professional criticism
status. I'm just a reviewer with
small smattering Of knowledge
about art and only q great liking
for the field. And the answer to
one Of the artists group who sug-
gested that spare not the spur
Is, I'm just along for the ride.
The current outdoor show, call
Cd q Street Fair, opened Sunday
with q crowd of at least $50 per-
sons coming by from / through
s .. N. to view the products. If
they were looking for the bizarre.
les fauvres influence, or much ex-
perimentation in creative effort,
they would have been disappointed.
But the point Is, Mr.. and Mrs.
Average, who are prospective buy
ers for originals, aren't searching
for the startling, or adventurous
type Of painting. They want some
thing which won't puzzle Aunt Es-
meralda when the painting Ii given
as Q Gift. They want something
decorative which fits in with a
home decor. Or il may be that
they simply want q souvenir of
visit to the nations, southernmost
town which bespeaks the pictures
Que charm Of II. At the present
street Fair, they'll find exactly
that except for few Of the holder
spirits Of which Karl Agricola is
topper.
/ stood around and listened to
comments made by viewers. Final
~ | decided on q test case and
chose q red.headed sailor for the
kindling report. He Ii DON Kerrick,
sonarman seaman, first class, of
PC $40. He halls from the "Mr.
Average" center Of the nation,
Indiana. He said he didn't know
1 thing about art but that he liked
10 look at pictures and had been
to at least three Of the art shows
here in town. He stood In front of
each collection for a long time,
Sometimes he asked questions Of
the individual artists and was en-
thusiastic 1t points. His own CON-
ments were intelligent and discern
ing with basic likes and dislikes.
He's interested In electronics,
wants to 90 back 10 college Of
which he had one year at Purdue
and was assistant salesmanager for
an airconditioning company in
Hammond, Indiana.
With the shrewd parrying Of q
person who has been In sales work,
he began answering questions as
to his preference of the exhibit
with 3 cautious, mind you, !
can't afford to buy any paintings,
and now that I'm In the Navy !
wouldn't have any place to put the
pictures anyway. But II I were in
the market. I'd pick out the one
called st. Pau's Cathedral It's
got something"
What is has Is nice color, good
composition and perspective. IT'S
q watercolor by Lephe Holden with
lush tropical shrubs, and palmet-
toes In rich green's In the fore
ground and one Of Key Vests most
beautiful examples Of church archi.
lecture IN the background. The
water-color In the dutch Auction"
section which means that as the
show continues. land Il does for
eight days), the original price Of
the painting goes down q dollar
less. Only . few local artists enter.
Cd this division.
Kerrick, who % 30 Ia IN In.
structor IN one phase Of electronics.
named Lephe Holden's Fish
Docks" as his second choice, ''be-
cause I ret q feel Of the tide in
the way she made the water" he
added. He pointed out q third
favorile. Lee Albert's "Squall."
which Il done In bright liquid
colors and has q turbulent mood
much In contrast 10 repetitions Of
various viaws az old Kew West
houses.
He liked al cf Peter Hayward's
palette knife oils but said. Those
belong In big mansion or In
some place BIG enough where you
can stand back and really look. !"
He was silent at first examining
Karl Agrieola's character sketches,
one Of Cuban numbers man.
say that's pretty, but Il gets
guess that artist must be
ndern." re took time TO
~ Of the stacked pic
Agrieola hadn't hung
Suddenly. Kerriek
amusement. ''Now
re il I had den
game rooms. This
sense Of humor.
~ West all right"
shows q scene On
erect Il Q ramsAaekle
and bar. with .
! ding by, IN . hurry,
.and the corner. there's
Of . girl In . rcd dress
against TIE frams wall