Kenneth Stubbs
(American artist, 1907-1967)

News of Artists and Exhibitions

Artist-Instructors of the Corcoran School of Art Currently Display New Paintings and Sculpture

The Corcoran Gallery of Art early this past week opened an exhibition of new paintings and sculpture by its school faculty. Each of these nationally-known artists was invited to show two works completed within the past year and not previously exhibited in Washington.

The diverse talents of the faculty and in some instances, of individual members, are well illustrated by the current show. In every artist's pair of works, I liked one much better than the other. The tastes of some visitors may be quite the opposite of mine.

Of paintings by Richard Lahey, principal of the school, I liked the semi-abstract "Bouquet," with its admirable balance of forms and colors. (Sports lovers will doubtlessly prefer his jockeys "Weighing In.") By Eugen Weisz, the school's vice-principal, I preferred the "Waterfront," with its happy memories of the summer just departed.

Omar Carrington's "Regatta" (at night), with a ghostly still life in the foreground, is akin to many of his spacious nocturnes seen through an open window. Jessalee Sickman's robust and colorful "Trees" is superior to her raffish figure in a smock, I think.

Edmund Archer's portrait of Helen Downham in a peridot satin gown, is full of quiet vitality, as is also his little study of three figures. Kenneth Stubbs ' two paintings display the greatest contrast by one instructor. I favor his beautiful conservative "Carcassonne Rooftops."

Figures in Wood

Heinz Warneke, the only sculptor, shows two figures of wood. The handsome "Kneeling Woman" is an essay in curves with a feeling of the solid form beneath.

It is well for prospective students to get a glimpse of these artist-instructors' own works, even though the latter have no intention of turning their pupils into imitation Laheys, Warnekes and so on. This exhibition will remain for another week or longer.

Next Sunday the Corcoran Gallery will open a large retrospective exhibition of paintings by Andrea Zerega.

Florence S. Berryman, Washington Star, September 28, 1952, page E-7