The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

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 fall 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
| oughly worked out by the director of
| color c. Y. Turner, and his assistant,
Adelaide ]. Thos. e, who was placed by
Mr.. Turner in direct charge of this i'm
poTtant 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-combustibie.
The assistant director of interior dec
atoms was a very busy woman during
nat period, and, if possible. was more
SO when the actual work of decorating
began. This was accomplished in a 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 drapins of the upper por-
tons 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 flags
and other insignia of the various Ameri-
can Republics or colonies, 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 200 600 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
by the assistant director of interior deco
rations was in getting space of sufficient
size for the big tapestries, some of which
are 30x60 feet. These have to be painted
by people who are accustomed to handling
large masses of color. The ordinary pic
ture pair ter fiPds it very difficult thing
to do, aud 1t is really branch of art by
itself. in carrying out this interior color
scheme those In charge of it 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 Gentle
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 To-
Gated nearly 400 feet from the ground
upon the summit of the tower. The model
is placed in the centre vi 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
lamps, giving a charming effect. The
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 IL 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 Horticul-
ture Building are also four pieces of an
tique statuary, placed among palms. Con-
Meeting the Horticulture Building with
the Mines and Graphic Arts Buildings
upon the one side are Conservatives fill
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 burlap. 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-
hibits As large number of book covers,
photographs, etc, are exhibited in this
ROOM the color has been kept a 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 a way to give
charming and harmonious effects the
colors being laid on in tones of such char
acter that they blend tremendously. 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 Nu-
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
resentations 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- |