Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-11
ART NEWS
Biennial
Ceramics
Display
Arr NEWS
BY FLORENCE BERGMAN

Az bklC NdtlU1ldl HduoCukkig
Constitution avenue at 10th
street. to remain only through
September %. is the most
colorful and varied ! can re-
call Of this series. George
Beishlag. chairman. and his
committee think the show is
better than the last one in
1883" he says. There are
more handsome big pottery
pieces. some unusual enamel
panels in bright colors that
tighten up the place, and some
experimental stained and gold
Illuminated glass"
Nearly 200 items Git cata.
logued and a number of works
entered later represent three
groups: Washington area GER
amists: invited work from
leading American ceramists
throughout the country, and
an international display Of
pieces from abroad. selected by
embassies and legations as
representative Of the work of
their national ceramists. Elev-
en- countries participated. The
Kiln Club is TO be coneratu-
lated for inviting this stiff
competition for public inter-
est. which adds greatly to the
shows appeal.
Only the section Of work by
resident ceramists Of the Dis
trict. Maryland and Virginia
was competitive. Judges were
Eugenia Nowlin, crafts adviser,
Adjutant Generals ONCE, De-
partment Of the Army: Jenny
Lynn Franklin, instructor In
ceramics. Virginia Museum,
Richmond, and Robert Wirth,
curator Of education, Balti-
more Museum. Their brief
comments In the exhibition
catalogue should be kept In
mind when comparing some
Of the prize winning local
works with more dramatic and
impressive items from else
where. 1--WE have tried to
choose the honest pieces,
they said in part. those in
which the clay and glaze dec
orations are appropriate to
the shapes"
Prize Winners
Fourteen awards and men,
tons are open only to Wash
ington area artists. The Frank
r. Jelleff award Of $50 Is open
to all local or national entries.
The Kiln Club awarded 1t to
the large sgrafiito bowl by
Roger D. Corsaw Of Norman.
Okla. which viii be presented
to the National Collection Of
Fine Arts.
Cynthia Wilder Motifs me-
dunn bowl with speckled green
glaze, which fetched the Pop
ular Ceramics Magazine award
ESQ United States Savings
Bond), Mary Tilton Bran
mell's earthenware bowl with
dull green spckled glaze Carts
and Crafts Supply Co. award |,
Florence Mulherh's blue por-
celain bottle George E. Muth
Co. awarO and her blue bowl
honorable mention) John
Simms' blue majolica bottle
and Vally Possony's tea set
honorable mention) will
doubtless seem to some visitors
small, simple or otherwise I'M
impressive in comparison with
dramatic tours de force from
elsewhere, not in the COMPETE
ton. But these winning items
have virtues mentioned by the
jury, and successful solutions
of technical problems appreci-
ated by other ceramists II not
by laymen.
Outstanding Piece
Merits Of other prize
winners may seem more APP
parent to many visitors. The
white crystalline porcelain
bottle by Gordon C. Lawson.
which fetched both the Har-
per Electric Furnace award
for high-fired ceramics, and
the Kiln Clubs second award,
is one Of the most beautiful
items in the exhibition: its
surface suggests sunlight on
snow crystals.
Carl F. Tesmer's ceramic
chessmen (Pemco Corporation
award are streamlined and
modern. yet their subtleties Of
shape make them easily dis
tinguished. Dorothy L. Nc
Connell's whimsical ceramic
cat and Takako Morris little
seated terra Gotta figure (sim-
plifled and modern but recall
ing Tanagra figurines--Ameri-
can Art Clay Co. award ar
rest the attention.
Constance Lawson's enamel
plaque honorable mention) its
decoration abstract and bril-
liant in color, and Florence
Everhart's mosaic enamel PAN
Ell Flight tthird Kiln Club
award). comparatively natural
istic representation Of sea gulls.
are other items which should
prove to have popular appeal.
The Kiln Clubs first award
went to Lisle Pursel for his
brown matt bowl; he has been