Evening star., 1955-02-06
News of Artists and Exhibitions
By Florence S. Berrymon

Kenneth StubbS' first one
man show in three years has
just opened at Franz Bader's
Gallery, 1705 G street NV, to
remain through February. The
Corcoran' School painting in
structor's last solo was at
George Washington Univer-
sity library the end of 1851.
The present collection Of more
than 20 tempera (casein) and
water color paintings covers
the interval between.
Mr.. Stubbs is a painter of
solid ability whose works run
a parallel course. Some are
naturalistic, others modern to
abstract. In answer to this re-
viewers inquiry as to his OBJ
jectives. he said:
Il prefer to think I have a
position and a direction. rath-
er than an objective. The for
mer is based on a belief in the
tradition of good painting as
practiced by the masters; the
latter, on the development and
change that occur in my ideas
about nature and life.
Trodition and Ideos
'"To be more specific, I feel
that the structure of my paint
ing is based on tradition,
while the content is based on
ideas. First of all, the forms
are real to me. Where they
also say something, so much
the better. If a modern state
ment is the result, it is mod
ern simply because my inter-
ests are modern.
"The fact that many Of my
paintings are concerned with
flat or semiflat patterns that
depart more or less from the
appearance of nature is simply
a matter of style, which comes
from the need to have the en-
tire painting, rather than the
separate object, express the
idea. The fact that my water
colors and drawings are more
nearly a reflection of nature is
a matter of relaxed observa-
tion."
Mr.. Stubbs' traditional ap-
proach is we'll eXemplified in
his beautiful Italian landscape
seen from a height, surrounded
by mountains, and, in his
"Positano." The colors are
soft and grayed as in natural
appearance.
The large Basketball" is an
excellent example of his work
in fiat pattern. The scale of
bright colorS and angular fac
eted forms combine to give the
work a feeling of fast action.
incidentally, the Kaethe
Kollwitz exhibition, just closed
at the Bader Gallery, was ap-
preciated by collectors to the
extent of 10 works sold.
Washington artists. whose
work is shown regularly by Mr..
Bader are tosbe honored with
a group show at the Norton
Gallery, West Palm Beach,
Fla, from February is through
March 8.
Lundseopist
John Bryans, well known in
Washington art circles al
though he has lived and paint
ed here only four years, has
an engaging one-man show at
the Colony (1727 De Sales
street, through February. More
than 20 watercolors and a few
oils cover approximately the
past three years, and include
washington area scenes and
other places beautiful in them
selves. and number of COM
monplace themes made inter-
eSting because of his treat
ment.
Outstanding for pictorial
beauty is "Ravensworth Farm"
Illuminated with sunlight be-
hind low-hanging clouds
Another is Bay in January"
Moonlight" depicts pine trees
silhouetted against a night sky.
This Old House" is a Vic
torian back number; "In Re-
t1rement" an ancient buggy.
A native of Ohio, Mr.. Bryans
studied art at several schools
in Florida and North Carolina.
He is employed here by the
Navy Department Bureau of
Medicine and Surgery. From
his arrival, he has participated
In group shows: he has an ex-
cellent oil still life in the cur
rent area annual at the Cor
coran. He was awarded The
Evening Star prize in the 1853
Metropolitan State Art Con-
test and received secopd
painting prize at the Society
OF Washington Artists annual
last year. His first one-man
show in Washington was at the
New Georgetown Gallery; last !,
spring he had one in New
York City's Public Library.
At Wilson Teachers
Melvin D. Buckner, native
WaShingtonian and art di-