The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
r~Hn Importance of industrial art

In the commercial development
- OF the United States has been
recognized by the Bureau OF Education
at Washington through the recent
publication OF q thirty-two page pam
phlet entitled Industrial Art, Ma
tional Asset. This contains n series OF
graphic charts and descriptive text by
II. M. Kurtzworth. director Of the
Grand Rapids School of Art and In
dustry.
How much this country Is behind
European nations In its industrial art
development and how important 1t Is
Cor Us Immediately TO undertake a ma
tionwide campaign for industrial art
education IL evident from the exhibit
ton Of French art applied to industry
which Is being held in New York city
during the month of August. 1t is un-
Ger the auspices Of the French Gov
ernment and the Franco-American
Eosrd OF Commerce and Industry.
171e great need for literature on the
subject OF Industrial art education was
brought directly to the attention OF
Or. p. T.. Claxton, Commissioner Of Ed
ucation, by a resolution passed at the
aunual convention OF the American
Federation OF Arts held in Detroit In
May, 1918.
The preface 10 this important pub
iication by Florence N Levy. general
manager Of the Art Alliance OF Amer
ioa, calls attention to the fact that
these charts were originally prepared
10 aid In securing for Grand Rapids,
Mich, an annual appropriation OF
about $1,000 for the maintenance OF a
school of art and industry. Similar
schools might with advantage be es-
tablished in every city having $4,000
or more inhabitants.
The charts are fully described by
MIR. Kurtzworth. The first symbolizes
the stages through which an idea
passes from its inception to the produc-
ton of the finished article and its use
by the general public. with special
emphasis upon tho importance of design
in the evolution OF the idea GOOD
craftsmanship al the basis OF all
graphic and constructive arts not only
is the means OF making living, but Is
one of the best ways OF learning TO
see, think about. reproduce and re-
create the things that make life enjoy
able and efficient.
The second chart compares the
length. of time that the average 100
bows and girls remain in school with
the income of the average American
wage Garner. From this it appears
that 81 per cent. leave school before
completing the eighth grade and %
per cent earn less than $50 week;
that only 10 per cent. attend high school
and but per cent remain to graduate
while per cent. earn $3.50 year
and over. There is, therefore, direct
and proportional relationship between
the education a city provides and the
incomes of its workers.
The third chart shows that the ma
sions most valuable resource Is It's
fund of human energy and that upon
the highly trained talents OF her citi-
xens the future industrial, commercial,
personal, civic and national welfare OF
/ the United States depends. Accord
ing to occupation. the need for under
standing the value of the industrial
arts appears to be an integral part
OF the activities of the IS per cent.
who are producers during 80 per cent.
of their time and Of the entire popu-
lation who are 100 per cent. consumers
Of commodities 100 per cent. of the
time
The effect of environment upon
character and the Industrial arts upon
environment (chart FOUR indicates
definitely now. as 1t has in previous
chapters of the history of the race,
that the fate of the nation lies in the
hands of the workmen. and designers
even more than in those of the war
riors and statesmen. In the choice Of
the furnishings OF American homes,
two-thirds OF which must be chosen
according TO the dictates OF incomes
of less than SIS a week. the average
citizen finds his chief opportunity to
express his instinct for the beautiful.
Imagine the effect for good or evil
of over TO-, 100000 artists" thus
creating an environment in over 49,
100000 dwellings for the increasing
$4,000. 900 families.
The fifth chart is devoted to urging
the necessity for efficient art courses
in grade and high schools. 1t points
out that 90 per cent of our Citzens