The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-12-05
Womans, Club Meeting.

Modern Industrial Art in Fog
land" was the title OF paper read by
Mrs. Harland White before the Wo.
mans CLUB Saturday afternoon, n ".
20, the club being entertained by MRS.
Herbert Lyon.
The industrial art movement began
about forty years ago, Though the dls-
tinct phase OF iDduslrialism oelungs to
the last ten years. WHAT are we tu un-
derstand by Industrial arr? Accord
Ing to Mr.. Ashbee, art Is the highest
imaginative production for human de.
light Or service" Mr.. Ruskin says
that "The object OF art is either to
tell a true thing or to adorn a service
able One"-and SO far as art is in line
with life IL is a great art. BY industry
we mean productio by which the ma
chine or the hand, works but not under
the direct guidance OF the brain.
Industrial art, then, is form OF art
or labor which aims to be artistic and
educative, andI which. combines the
practical and the ideal. Art, educa-
tiOn and labor are the three elements
to unite to form this new Industrial
ism; and the problem confronting the
new art Is to decrease the number of
degrading employments and to raise
the character OF others by allowing the
utmost freedom to the workmen, real
izing also that certain amount of lei
sure, skill and intelligence is necessary
for the best work.
One OF the strongest movements In
the right direction today is that OF
the ARTS and Crafts" ".Thls move
ment" says Mr.. TrigRs. sis not TO be
regarded as fanatical protest against
machinery and not as a return to the
abandoned domestic system Of me-
dieval days, but rather as a conscien-
tious effort to advance a step beyond
the factory stage OF industry wherein
the interests of both the producing
and consuming classes are guarded the
one class demanding opportunity OF in
dividual expressions and the other the
satisfaction Of it's higher wants." The
effort OF Ruskin and Morris for work
where head, heart and hand should be
united gave impetus to the movement.
Women OF high rank and social work
ers urged on their handicraftS so that
the people might be happily employed
in the villages and country instead of
rushing into the unwholeSome life OF
the large cities.
About eighteen years ago, the Home
Arts and Industries Association was
formed and succeeded in establishing
many handicrafts upon permanent
basis. Glasses or courses Ia which the
manual arts are taught were organized
throughout Great Britain. Annual
exhibitions OF the work OF these classes
are held in Albert Hall, London.
They include examples of all the
lesser arts: wood-carving, book
ing, leather, metal, pottery, tapestry,
linen, wooden, laces, embroideries, car
pets, marquetry, rugs, basketry, and
other useful articles. The Guild OF
Women Binders which teaches the art
of binding has been unusually
successful. These craftswomen are
not all found in the large cities Of Eng
land, but are scattered throughout the
valleys and moors Of the British Isles.
The meath and Home Arts
Scheme" for disabled soldiers and
sailors founded by the Countess OF
Meath has been at work for nearly two
years. Workrooms have been opened
up throughout the United Kingdom
and many men have been taught vari-
Gus industries by which they maintain
themselves. The weaving and tapes.
try houses Of Haslemere, London
suburb, are interesting In the steady
progress this industry has made. The
work is much enjoyed by the employees.
To encourage textile industries
among the women, the British Irish
spinning, weaving and lace school was
founded. It's special object was to aid
the peasant woment whose lives are
often wasted through lack of useful,
happy employment. Infrm women
and deaf and dumb persons are also
taught to spin.
The Windermere classes have
experimental in weaving together
cotton and silk. Old fashioned spin
ming wheels we're re established and
more than ninety women are employ
ed. The Windermere textiles have
acquired a wide reputation for
elegance and durability.