The times., 1901-04-28

VIII Cover the walls n Big Task.
The Pan-American Exposition well de-
serves the title of the Rainbow City, for
everywhere color is predominant. This is
true of the interiors of the buildings as
well as of their eXteriors. The huge
structures which were for the most part
erected last summer, and which received
during the fail and early winter the ex-
terror decorations which so materially
enhance the charm of their picturesque
and often fantastic architecture, remained
during the winter very barn-like, so far
as their interiors were concerned. The
ugly rafters were unadorned by even a
vestige of bunting or burlap or gaily col
Ored festoons.
The work of covering the walls and
roofs upon the interior was left until
spring, although during the winter the
scheme of interior decorations was thor
oughy worked out by the director of
color c. Y. Turner, and his assistant,
Adelaide J. Thorpe who was placed by
Mr.. Turner in direct charge of this i'm
portant work. Once the scheme of in
terror decorations for the various build
ings was completed, the materials were
purchased and chemically treated, so as
to make them non-combustible.
Inc assistant director OF interior uSC-
~ atoms was a very busy woman during
nat period, and, if possible, was more
$50 when the actual work of decorating
began. This was accomplished in mar
selously short space of time, so that the
interiors of the different buildings were
transformed as though by the exercise
of magic The transformation is indeed
a pleasing one The use of burlap for
the walls and of bunting and tapestry
effects for the draping of the upper por-
tions of the walls gives a charming as
pect to the scene, and, as a whole, the
decorations are quite unique in the his
tory of expositions. The use of hags
and other insignia of the various Ameri-
can Republics or colonies, as basis for
the general decorative effect serves both
to lend variety and gayety to the general
appearance of the buildings, and to I'M
part a note of patriotism and national
pride, in keeping with the general pur-
pose of the great enterprise.
An idea of the size of the task of deco
rating these buildings in this way may
be gained from the fact that it required
about 200 900 yards of fabric for the deco
ration of two buildings, those of Machin-
cry and Manufactures and Liberal Arts
One of the chief difficulties encountered
rations was in getting space of sufficient
size for the big tapestries, some of which
are 3Ox60 feet. These have to be painted
by people who are accustomed to handling
| large masses of color. The ordinary pic
ture pair ter fipds 1t a very difficult thing
| to do and 1t is really branch of art by
itself in carrying out this interior color
scheme those in charge OF 1T conferred
with manufacturers and exhibitors gen.
orally, in order to get the scheme of color
! of their exhibits, and so far as possible
make everything harmonious.
One of the most attractive interiors
upon the Exposition grounds is that of
! the Horticulture Building. In the centre
| Of this building is the model for the i'm
mense Goddess of Light, the figure sur
mounting the Electric Tower. Here the
visitor can judge of the artistic qualities
| of this piece of sculpture by Herbert Ad-
ans at somewhat closer range than in
| the case of the large figure which is 10
Gated nearly 400 feet from the ground
upon the summit of the tower. The model
| is placed in the centre OF the Horticul-
! ture Building, under the main dome, and
| is surrounded by large palms. The lower
part Of the basin is used for cut flower
| exhibits. The whole is lighted by electric
|
| dome and rear columns of the building
are plastered and the general effect of the
| interior is very appropriately green and
| white, leaving the fruits and flowers TO
| add the necessary bright tints of color to
| the room.
The idea is that if bright colors were
| used in the decorations themselves, 1t
| would very much injure the play of color
which the fruits and flowers impart. In
/ the four corner columns of the Horticui-
| ture Building are also four pieces of an
| tiuue statuary, placed among palms Con-
| Meeting the Horticulture Building with
| the Mines and Graphic Arts Buildings
| upon the one side are conseryatories hll-
| ed with palms and other plants. These
! Conservatives are principally of glass
and need no decorations. such as are used
| in the Horticulture Building, and other
structures of the same group, as the wall
surface is almost entirely covered by
| palms.
The Mines Building is covered with ma
room colored buriap, and over the arches
are placed allegorical panels, in which
| considerable gold is used.
The interior decoration of the Graphic
Arts Building is quite different in char
| acter from any of the others, inasmuch
| as no flags are used. The walls are COW
cred with olive green burlap, which is also
used In the case of many different eX-
| htbits. AS large number of book covers,
photographs. etc, are exhibited in this
| room the color has been kept grey
! shade of green, so as to give a good back
! ground for the materials placed upon it.
! over the arches and on panels in the cell
| ing posters are used, and the whole effect
| is decidedly unique.
| The Temple of Music Is finished in staff
| and coIored upon the interior according
to a color scheme in harmony with the
! exterior decorations of the building. Much
! sculpture and plastic ornamentation is
used There is, therefore, no occasion for
| the hanging of bunting or tapestry as
in most of the other buildings. Blue, gold,
| red. and green are used in way 10 give
| charming and harmonious effects, the
| Colors being laid on in tones of such char
| acter that they blend harmonioUsiy, and
though they give a strong character TO
the whole interior, contrasts are avoided
which would jar upon a sensitive optic
| nerve.
The Ethnology Building is in general
| style companion to the Temple of AFu-
| sic though possessing an individuality of
its own, and is. like the Music Temple,
| finished in plaster and painted upon the
| interior. The building has a splendid
| dome and galleries. which are used for
exhibits and for paintings and other rep
| resentatons of the life of the aborigines.
| The purpose of the building calls for it's
treatment as to interior decorations in a
manner quite distinct from that of the
| others. and the whole scheme is appro-
| priate to the character of the exhibits