Kenneth Stubbs
(American artist, 1907-1967)

Bader Opens A New Gallery

Franz Bader this week opened his new gallery at 1705 G St. nw. The opening exhibition does credit not only to the gallery, but to the artists themselves, most of whom are represented by unusually good works.

Among these, two paintings by Margaret Appich and Margaret Gates are outstanding, and, in fact, both pictures were purchased even before the show opened. Other unusually interesting works are Mitchell Jamieson's grey and misty "Moon and Wave," with the delicate tonality of a Chinese painting; Robert Gates' "Flora," a standing figure treated semi-abstractly in flickering tones of red and yellow; and Pietro Lazzari's new gouache, "Street Scene," expressively distorted in the manner of Soutine.

Joe Summerford shows a cold blue abstraction, "Lines and Circles," with active stylized patterns. Jacob Kainen is represented by an excellent abstraction, "The Search," while John Chapman Lewis shows a strong "Dark Decoy," more defined in pattern and color than is usual for this artist.

Herman Maril shows a tranquil little canvas, "Evening," with his customary feel for understatement; Leonard Maurer, one of his red frieze paintings from last year, handsomely composed. Hellen Rennie shows a Siamese cat, sophisticated and urbane.

Richard Dempsey's abstraction, "Growing Things," seems rather strident in color, as does Andrea Zerega's "Campus No. 2," while James McLaughlin's "Hearth" seems to go to the opposite extreme, despite its charming use of over-all pattern. Alfred McAdams' "Sicilian Street" is much looser and more vital in texture than heretofore, as is Kenneth Stubbs' "Houses by the Sea," which departs from its customary over-insistence on two-dimensional pattern.

Lucile Evans shows an "Easter Parade" which is a gem of texture and color, subtle and flowerlike. Edward Rosenfeld employs clear, singing color and loose brushwork in his competent "Cape." Robert Arner shows a beautiful little "Fireplace," and Bernice Cross exhibits a luminous head of an angel.

Other artists represented include Alice Acheson, Prentiss Taylor, John Gernand, Harold Giese, Jeanne Taylor and Sarah Baker, all of whom show good representative works.

Leslie Judd Portner, Washington Post, April 4, 1954, page ST26