The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 55

ALICE TEHEfl 3 nn stew Bv MAKY ANN WEST only a physical characteristic, one felt, but also a rare personal strength and integrity. The artist had painted some one she knew well, some one she liked and admired. You felt that instinctively as you looked at the canvas. It was not simply a portrait of features, but ANTHUR1UMS AND RED GINGER i I i 4 THE PAINTINGS of Nesta Ober-mer, noted British dramatist, and year-round guest at the Royal Hawaiian, were among the three top money makers at the recent artist's auction for the Kuakini hospital fund. That Mrs.

Obermer, an excellent surf-rider, composer of lyrics and beautiful poetry, and playwright for the London stage, should now be thus acclaimed an outstanding artist seemed highly noteworthy. That she should excel in so many widely varied fields caught my attention. Talking to her at the home of a friend, I indicated my interest in her art. "I'd like you to see my paintings" she said. When I heard about her one-man show Jan.

19, at the Moana hotel, I called Mrs. Obermer to ask when I might talk with her about it, she countered with, "My dear, when would it suit you? Don't bother to ring. Just come right in. I shall be expecting you." The ease with which she. siphons off the extraneous details, and comes with great directness to the matter at hand, no doubt accounted, I could see, for the way in which she found time to paint, to write and to surf.

I was to find her answer characteristic. Her consideration for others, her warmth and friendliness is sheer, golden sunlight. Her ready wit and rippling laughter shed their rays on all whose paths cross hers and leave them radiant and glowing. Her love of people oils the wheels of her industry and gives impetus for her many achievements. In one corner of her sitting room, as I entered, stood a painting of Mrs.

Sargent Kahanamoku, just off the easel, the oils scarcely dry. When I commented on how she caught the spirit of her subject and how just right Mrs. Kahanamoku's yellow dress appeared, Mrs. Obermer replied, "Yes, I felt that too. I liked the yellow.

I loved doing her. She is such a very straight little person, you "Straight." She was not indicating 1 XsX D'j ft NESTA OBERMER 1 of suchness. The thought came to me, "She paints with the brush of a poet." And this thought was repeated as I saw more of her paintings. 1 When I asked about the number and scope of her paintings for the show, she began to show me photographs of them. "Before we look at my paintings of local settings and flowers and people, I must show you this one she said.

"You were speaking of personality in faces. This is a photograph ot a painting I did in Switzerland. This THOMAS SQUARE, HONOLULU 10 THE HAWAII WEEKLY, JAN. 13, 1952.