Evening star., 1960-01-17

she has lent a generous part
Of 1t, 125 works, to the Cor
coran Gallery of Art. The ex-
hibition opened to the public
yesterday, and will remain
through February.
Born in Russia, Edith
Gregor was brought to the
United States at the age of 6.
She studied art extensively as
part of her education. She
married Samuel Halpert, a
gifted painter, when she was
18, at which impressionable
age she became a participant
in New York City's artistic
life, quickened by the Armory
Show a few years earlier.
simultaneously for about 8
years she held responsible ad-
ministrative positions with
several New York department
stores. These varied expert
ences undoubtedly contrib
uted to her success in direct
ing the Downtown Gallery.
Hermann Warner Williams,
jr., director of the Corcoran
Gallery, in his introduction to
the exhibition catalogue, tells
Of some Of Mrs. Halpert's
outstanding achievements in
the art field during the past
three decades; and of her in
tuitive recognition Of quality
in contemporary art, and en-
couragement of it.
A major virtue of the ex-
hibition is the showing of 2
to 5 works each, by many Of
the as artists represented.
The pairs or groups illustrate
different periods in the re-
spective artists careers. Be-
ing hung together, they en-
able the visitor to study their
development in microcosm.
Modern Cross Section
The Halpert exhibition is
essentially a small croSs-sec-
ton of major modern move
ments in American art, which
began early in the century,
and gained momentum after
the Armory show.
Earliest Artist
Incidentally, the earliest
artist in the exhibition proper
is William Harnett, 18th
century trompe l'oeil still life
painter whom Mrs. Halpert
re-introduced about 20 years
ago. Karnett is claimed by
the surrealists as a fore-run-
ner. however unjustified this
may seem to persons familiar
with his intensely realistic
paintings. And in nconjunction
with the Halpert exhibition,
is collection of primitive art
also belonging to her, illus
trating another field in which
she has been active.
The next earliest artist in
the main show is Maurice
Prendergast (born 1861 who
was influenced by Cezanne,
before the French CubistS.
Artists born in the l870s in
clude John Marin, Lyonel
Feininger and Marsden Hart
ley. Four paintings by Marin
comprehend nearly 40 years,
illustrating his adaptations
Of cubiSm, semi-abstract ex-
pressionism and the COM
pletely abstract, sparkling
"Ramapo River" of the year
before he died.
CubiSm, Fauvism, Etc.
Feininger and Charles De-
muth experimental with
cubiSm and fauVism. Hartley
was an expressionist. but rang
various changes as illustrated
in his three paintings. Arthur
Dove. too, adopted cubism,
as did Georgia O'Keeffe in
her earlier works ttwo in the
show. Joseph Stella followed
the italian futurists, and
painted symbols Of the ma
chine age.
Industrial subjects were
turned into plane-geometric
patterns by Niles Spencer,
Charles Sheeler, RalSton
Crawford and also Demuth.
Sheeler has been both real
iStic and abstract; his group
superbly illustrates his diff
ferent approaches.
George L. K. Morris is an
abstract painter of auStere
invented forms, whereas Stu
art Davis paints very orig
inal abstract compositions
inspired by objects, sounds,
words and music, and vouch-
sales representational de-
tails.
| Max Weber, O pioneer