The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-10-18
Gargoyles Record History
gu" Building Fascinating
by DOROTHY FAY GOUT.D

aht Niaftufh etn ttatoftilHh Woftt
Of fascinating detail not noticeable
at frat glance
Especially interesting 10 the ssrios
Of ehlmorae and snrsoyles that sp-
pear at intervals ut the oornice
limo. They represent figures
famous IN tho educa tionai history
OF tho world Dante and confuciun
and Moses ana many noted individ-
uals are thore. and also scuiptursd
groups or heads representing such
historic figures a. tho begging
monks. the crusaders. or the Elton
scholars.
There are symbolic figures Of
teachers Of science, Of mafhe-
matics and Of philosophy. Often
the fish appears in tho groups
~ II was the earliest known
sign Of education. For the per.
son clever ct noting re
scmblsnccs several Of tho hcads
provo 20 be portraits Of noted
persons In tho state and also
many have been suggested from
the various workers on tho
building - regents. governors,
presidents and faculty mcusbcrs.
N well ~ craftsmen may BE-
recognized.
Naturally. any work Of sculpture
Involves tho use Of model, even
when considerable freedom 10 used by
tho artist The custom usual In mo.
dlcyal timsa Of seeking inspiration
for faces among tho people Of the
city was followed In oiden times
many an artist even went 30 far an
70 put his enemies upon tho caths-
dral wall among bis demons and his
devils. while, conversely. no put his
friends among the bishops: the VII
LACE notabies among tho SANTA
There are AZ 81 these ohimcrns and
gargoyies on the new Education hail.
Tho other three buildings have about
50. Homa economics scuitpurcd
work sets its suggestion from the
household tasks. Altho there are 30
chimeras. only five varieties occur.
Commerce han gets tn from the
world OF business and trade: philoso-
ply hall from that subject There
arc so on theae two connected build.
lngs. They form an interesting
series. which. II Investigated care
fully. would supply the student with
a rich intellectual background Of tn
formation.
Tho work on Educasion han
was especially tho interest Of DIR.
Suxsailo and the idea 81 using .
series that would be a historic sur.
vcy Of the education Of tho rncs
was his. The architects office
made tho sketches and fuii-sire
drawings and tho sculptor. Alon-
10 Victor Lewis. made tho clay
models that were sent TO tho
terra Gotta factory TO be made
full sire. then Inspected, before
being cast and baked In terra
Gotta.
They are dixsircsivs,y local PROD
ucts. not only a. far an tho creative
sids Of tbs sculpture goes. tu, In 70.
gard 20 materials also. II 10 cusso.
mary Fast 20 have such details
carved IN stone. and enc Of the IN
trresfing things about this series In
tho success with which such detail
has been proved possible IN terra
GOTTA For OF course the sharp sii.
houesfs and heavy undsrcut possible
In stone II lost thru tho necessary
.oftening Of tho silhouette when tho
terra Gotta II baked.
Therefore an entirely new Kind
Of seulptured effect had 60 DO
tried. enc that would be In 40
cord with the innate qualities Of
tho material. Tho Indian heads
upon the White and Henry build.
ings are also interesting exam
pies Of how terra Gotta can be
successfully used ns points Of nc
cent In business buildings.
In the case Of terra Gotta. used 40
much hero because II Il a native
product ana considerably cheaper
than Htone. there Is a special asset
to this climate. for such warm and
beautiful colors can DO employed that
our buildings need not have the cold. /
grny look 30 characteristic OF much
stone work Also terra Gotta build. |
ing can b. washed annually and thus
kept fresh and young" looking. The
Metropolitan buildings and the Times
building and Frederick q Nelson's
are striking examples of this.
Tho University buildings mako use
OF our local brick. too. and by a
choice Of variety OF shades from
dark red 20 pale buff. wall OF real
texture ana Of warm tone II Oh
taincd that I'm contrast with the
varied green OF the tile roof produces
which give an atmospheric
effect of color and are very cheerful
Another local uss Of material In
those buildings In In the mouldings |
and flat decorations. Frequently /
such plants as tho Oregon grape and
saiai vino are used instead OF the
usual acorn and oak leaf.
In this building two attempts
were made 20 use local coiorcd
glass. Ono In In the purple and
gold for the seal that Is Just above
the secrctary's desk in the very |
center Of tho enc Of the hall and
the other IL In tho symbolic figure
OF Education over the entrance door
beneath tho orioie window.
Some handcarved cresting by tho
woodcarvcr. Erickson. can also be
seen In the oak partitions on the
main floor. On this same corridor
hangs series of photographs Of
tho univcrsity's presidents. from
Mercer 10 Suzzallo.
Altho the building was planned
for the Department Of Educa-
ton. that department occupies
only the ground floor. Tho
executive, business, the presi-
dents. the deans and tho voca-
tionai secrctarics' offices occupy
tho main md mezxanfne floors.
IL nulll