The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, July 27, 1961, page 5 (of 24)

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TIMES IN ART

By Robert S. Hurwitz You're Wanted Robert S. Hurwitz, writer of the Art Times column, is making a last call for people interested in an art discussion group. A dozen or so are already lined up. If you'd like to join, you can write Hurwitz at 1775 SW 3rd Ave. or at this newspaper, Box 580, Coral Gables 34. Walking into an exhibition by famous name artist, whose paintings, were loaned by famous name patrons, is much like playing in a fixed poker game. The deck is stacked against writing unfavorably about artists like Chazall, Modigliani, Soutine, Roualt, de Kooning etc. The loan exhibition is at the Lowe Gallery with the paintings loaned by Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Levin and some by Mrs. Fredrich Weissman. The Weissman collection, represented by well known artists, has big names, little quality and offers little to learn from. A ballerina drawing by Degas . . . must be great! This one is not, never will be and is hung for hero worship only. A Modigliani drawing . . . well it must be great! This one has charm, but is not a masterpiece, simply because of the artist's name. Vlaminck's landscape is in every sense a masterpiece. Its vivid colors cut across your complacency and rivet your attention. All of the artists represented in the Weissman collection deserve praise; it's some of their works that we see fault with, and especially because opinion dictates that we should like them for the sake of the artist's name alone. Although the Levin collection asks you to insult yourself with most of the non objective work, the paintings offered show mature taste, pride of selection and willingness to understand. "The Ice Cream Vendor" by Bruno Caruso will excite any collector. Pure uncluttered design, expertly applied color contrast and accent and a final statement of an everyday scene, seen by Caruso with the eyes of an artist. The best contribution of the show is "Study of Boy in Light" painted to perfection by Enrique Montenegro. A study of colour contrast that casts luminous shadows around the apparent form of a boy thinking. You stand before this oil and you're aware of life and color before you. Best test of the Levin taste is the six Roualt etchings. Never has line been used so forcefully to present significant form. A good example of a master to learn from. Fred Conway's "Head of a Woman" flashes excitement and love. Alexe von Jawlensky portrays faces you'll like to see. Bernard Lorjou's flowers in modern mood is a happy addition. The incomparable technique of Joan Miro is displayed faithfully in "Femme daus la Nuit." There are more works that deserve credit; there are some that deserve nothing. Now, don't try to hand me the Franz Kline name and make me believe this is a contribution. Here's a big name with little to say. His speed with a brush and black paint . . . Ain't-ain't nothing! Public, you don't have to like this, nobody who really knows shall ask you, and stand for your right to reject inferiority at any cost, regardless of the famous name. This is a good show to see. There is variety, inferiority, value, major contribution, ugliness, beauty, perfection and humor. I admire the love-to-collect ability sown by Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Levin and Mrs. Weissman. Their desire to share art with us is royal and grand. And for the poker game, well, there's no way to win unless you see this exhibition for yourself.

OFF BEAT

By MAURICE LABELLE Ever go to the scene of an accident to find that your own parked car had been involved? That's about the way I felt last Thursday when I went to cover A. H. Sakolsky's suit against the city to force it to issue him a permit to build a 12-story apartment building and found myself on the witness stand. City Attorney Ted Semple and his assistant, William Burton, introduced some copies of The Times over the strong objections of Sakolsky's attorney, Robert C. Ward. This reporter was asked to verify the validity of the copies relating to the high rise controversy. An argument resulted over the admissibility of the evidence, through which I sat passively, collecting my thoughts in the event I was cross-examined. Ward, Semple and Judge Irving Cypen sparred back and forth over the validity of introducing a newspaper as evidence. Finally Judge Cypen ruled them admissible only as evidence that Sakolsky had received notice that there was public opposition to his "skyscraper" apartment proposal. Ward did not question me and I left the witness stand, somewhat dejected that I had not turned the tide in the case, or offered conclusive testimony, or been a star witness. Fame had once more escaped me. C'est la vie! —ML— One person who got plenty of questions from Ward was Commissioner Joe Murphy. You'd never know that Ward and Murphy were buddies from way back the way they talked to one another. The two attorneys both were graduated from high school together, entered the Army together, and were graduated from the University of Florida Law School on the same day. —ML— Dade Circuit Court must be just like home to Judge Cypen. The judge's dad, Max Cypen, is bailiff in his court. Former Gableite, Vincent Giblin, had his wife, Virginia, as secretary when he was a Circuit Court Judge. The Giblins left the Gables for Miami Beach after the famous speeding incident. —ML— Semple asked Gables attorney Franklin Parson if the high rise proposal had provoked him. "Well, as much as a Lawyer can be," replied Parson. Hate to see him get real angry. Joe Murphy was growing tired of answering questions posed by his old buddy Ward when Judge Cypen told the group bluntly: "Gentlemen, I'm telling you, I'm leaving here at five o'clock." And he meant it too. That party broke up in a hurry. —ML— While on the subject of communism, I was a bit startled recently when I walked into a barber shop to find a heated four-way argument going between a teenage youth, his father, a barber and the shopowner. The youth charged that the barber was indoctrinating him with Communist philosophy and the father was telling the shop owner that he didn't come in to have his kid brainwashed - just the hair. "I tell all my barbers - just cut the hair - no politics, no religion" - the worried shopowner told the father. The barber evaded the questions about the allegations. He insisted that the whole squabble was based on which way the hair was going. There is allegory there somewhere. —ML— And to conclude the repertoire of local Cold War stories - a high school youth I recently picked up on Coral Way was quite upset about capitalists if not capitalism. "I hate 'em," said he. "How come?" said I. "No good," said he. "Why for?" said I. "They exploit the people," said he. I took note of the fact that he had spoken favorably of millionaires Kennedy, Stevenson, Rockefeller and Harriman. "That's different," said he. "How's that?" said I. "They're for the people," "I see," said I. said he.

The Conditioner May Cool You But Heat Up Neighbor

The problem of noisy air conditioners is being investigated by City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. The investigation follows complaints by Gables residents that loud cooling equipment is interfering with their sleep. Most recent complaint came from J. G. Pellman, 528 Luenga Ave. Pellman appeared before the City Commission recently to complain about a neighbor's commercial-type installation which has disturbed his peace and sleep for several months, he says. City Commissioner Joe Murphy last year proposed legislation controlling the installation of air conditioners, but failed to gain support of fellow commissioners. Present city ordinances permit limited action only after an installation is completed and found to be noisy.

Biltmore Course Will End System of 'Reserved' Time

It will be first come, first served starting Aug. 5 at Biltmore Golf Course. Reserved starting times will be abandoned as of that date, according to Biltmore Pro William Tinder. Players will check with the starter on arrival and be assigned a starting time. The new procedure will hold weekdays, weekend and holidays. Tinder said the new setup has been adopted to satisfy the majority of golfers using the public golf course. Reserved times did not work out, Tinder said.

Sages of The Ages

Treason doth never prosper; what's the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason.—Sir John Harrington No greater grief than to remember days of joy, when misery is at hand.—Dante When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.—Machiavelli

"GEMS and FACETS" as presented by Mr. CARROLL

TV Lecturer, Gemstone and Diamond Authority, Member American Gem Society. "Quotes" from recent TV shows "All is NOT Gold . . ." Most everyone knows this old saying — which means so many things — but mainly it serves as a warning that glitter and tinsel and false promises of a bright outside often covers up for inferior merchandise. There are standards you can go by — some are simple, many are difficult to define — so the wise buyer seeks the advice and counsel of a trusted dealer. It will pay you to find him — even if you have to search." You can depend upon CARROLL'S JEWELERS MIRACLE MILE near LeJeune Rd. Coral Gables

Charles & Leon Sniff News And Record It With Color

Charles Ruiz and Leon Wagner, a pair of youths who are friends and live near each other, have a nose for news. They brought color photos - good ones - by the Times office Tuesday. The boys had taken the pictures of a minor accident near their home Sunday afternoon. Charles lives at 221 Aledo and Leon at 242 Camilo Ave. Charles does his own developing and printing. "I heard a big crash," Charles said, recalling the accident, "and ran to get my camera. I didn't have any film in it so Lee went home to get his." The accident was not serious enough to justify using the pictures but we're nonetheless grateful. Maybe you know some news. Tell us.

Welcome, Citizen

While visiting a new mother (it's a boy) at Doctors' Hospital yesterday we were struck, somewhat whimsical-ly, by the fact that another United States taxpayer has been born. The fact that the child lay there so peacefully was proof enough that he knew not what his government had planned for him. And as for a $290 billion national debt, well he'll learn about his share of that soon enough.

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