Independent Star-News from Pasadena, California • Page 53

ALTADENAWS ART IS Literally Fabulous By Jarvis Barlow Scene Art Critic 1 HAS BEEN written In so many woitls Lliat while the eyes of modern man are fixed on the stars and that beyond tlie moon and the stars there are other galaxies, man's principal problem remains within himself, which the furthest conquests may not help solve: the riddle of what he is. Outer space diverts man's "attention from this crucial question, the answer to which lies in inner space. And it is in exploration of this area'that the arts offer man important assistance. Trying to be like the hundred-eyed Argus may lead an artist exploring into many an Interesting bypath, but how many can use one hundred eyes and come out unbewil- dered? The artist today may easily lose his own sense of dl- dection In Iry'ng to look In too many directions; and he faces the problem of distracting activities, not the least of which is the lure of a thousand and one exhibits. CONSIDERING these pitfalls It is a great experience to watch a young artist of stature grow with consistency, prohing the Inner" fields of man that remain to be conquered, and developing Ins own strong undistracted statement of what he finds.

It is especially so, when the PASADENA INDEPENDENT, STAR-NEWS SUNDAY, FEB. 8, 1959 Syne A Books Church of the Crossword 1'iizzlo Entertainment Foolllffhls Ji Gardens TM Conrmcl Hobbies Mike Connolly Music Radio TV 8 Schools TV Piilloul After Travel 1 THE COVER "Boreas," a lithograph by Joseph Blugnalni of Alia dena illustrating the Mm Hed Editions Club publica lion of Biilfinch's "The Agt of Fable." Boreas-- literally wind from the mountain, subject in which at this sea son an Alfadenan is at horn --was Hie fabled God of IH North Wind. Ray, JficCwneU same "explorer" has proven himself as a studio artist, as a practitioner in an applied field, and as a teacher. One such Is Joseph Mug- naini of AHadena. As the studio artist, illustrator and teacher, Joe has proven himself a three-fold success.

His work reflects a kind of cross-fertilization call the process compromise, or compensation, or a complementary effect which brings about continued enrichment. It is a process in which both technical and creative experimentation, which Is at the heart of artistic growth, goes through the crucible of application. IN THE "Contemporary American Graphics" show, which is currently on view at the Lang Galleries, Scripps College Clarimont, and which includes the studio work of John Bernhardt and the illustrative material of a dozen artists commissioned by the Limited Editions Club publications, Mugnainl is a principal exhibitor. The Altadenan's activities are varied. In addition to the exhibits of his work, in galleries here and there, a circumstance not beyond the pale for any artist worth his salt today--and some hardly worth it, too--Joe has executed four book-jackets for Hupert Hart Davis of London and other recent books published in Italy and Sweden.

He lias been Invited to do a cartoon strip on space travel (we hope it is "inner space" travel) in collaboration with Ray Bradbury; and he Is work- Ing on a print commissioned by" the Pasadena Society of Artists, on a series of paintings and designs to be used in a film written by Ray Bradbury and directed by Robert Synclor (who directed "The and on designs in color for the Limited Editions Club publication of "Ben Hur." IT IS Miignalni's original drawings, lithographic proofs and finished products illustrating the Limited Editions Club issue of Bulfinch's "The Aee of Fable" that one may presently enjoy in the Scripps College exhibit In these, the sardonic twist, one of the characteristics of this artist's statement, has a fertile field in which to move --on such classic mythological beings as Oedipus, Icarus Al- theaf Ulysses, Atlas, Dacdelus, Beowulf and others. Highly individual incisive and penetrating characterizations, attention to details that make fascinating embellishment, and.an Imaginative soaring in keeping.wijh..the, "The Age of "DWdatus," a lithograph by Joseph Mugnaini of Altadena, illustrating for The A Fable" (he of ihe artificer and his son, Icarus, who escaped from the Labyrmth, a prison on wings of wax and feathers. Icarus, at top, got too near Ihe sun and the wings moiled Daedalus escaped to Sicily. Josenh lni of Altadena at work on a lithographic sfone. Lithography Is trie arl of g' or designs by applying a greasy material to a special fme-gramed kind transferring i design Wdtef wfiiihVeVenls- printing- Me containing 6H 'JrVnTadhering wolfed; portions the.