The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1922-06-17
ART IN INDUSTRY.
Public Demands Higher Standard IN
Manufactured Products.

More and more our manufacturers
are coming to recognize The EroE. ing
demand on the part Of the public |of
Il higher standard of art IN manu-
featured products. Thus far there
has been comparatively little consis-
tent effort to train an army OF ar
lists, designers, and craftsmen be-
yond the elemental stage. Each man
ufacturer has practically had to tram
artists for his own particular need, or
as has been done to large extent,
copy from foreign manufacturers or
import artists from abroad. Naural-
ly the successful operation of a large
plant is what appeals first of all to
the producer, and in most cases the
ability to manage a large business
! does not carry with it an equal abll-
| ity to train designers. In other words
! the two processes, while most init
| mately connected in producing an
article, are actually very different
things in execution. To teach de-
signers requires facilities and IN
structors that are just as complete
and competent in their line as the
manufacturing process must be com
plete, with it's choice of most efficient
machinery and the best possible ar
rangement of it to prevent lost mo-
ton as the raw material is carried
through to the finished product. We
have paid great attention to etficlen-
cy in these matters, but have ne
elected constant supply Of new art
designs of the best and highest Or
der Obviously no better pattern
will emerge from a loom than Is
given the loom to weave.
For a long time some method fol
improving conditions has been talk
ed of and is now about to material
ize. In Chicago, strong assocla
ton of manufacturers has been or
ganized for the purpose of establish
ing trainino school for artists, de
signers, and craftsmen. Also, an
other is forming at Newark, N. J. 1
is the intention to gather from al
parts of the world notable example:
Of cloths, tapestries, lace, jewelry
all forms of interior decoration, ant
specimens of all kinds of work tina
has to do with industrial art. In
strustors will be carefully selected
for their special fitness in each o.
the many varieties, and students will
be taught note only the general prin
ciples Of the arts but will be en-
couraged to select some one line fo1
which they show special inclination
and aptitude, and to specialize il
that particular branch. This viii
not only open up new avenues O.
occupation for the artistically in
clined, both men and women, but il
a few years will provide the manu-
facturer with carefully trained ar
lists who are not merely artists, bu
who have been taught how to com
bine art with the practical uses o
production, and who are expected tt
bring to their work that in1tiativ.
which is so greatly priced. Ant
when the plan is we'll in operation
our standard of industrial art SHOULD
be raised to a level which will no
only be appreciated in the home mar
kets, but largely increase expor
sales.
This country possesses one grea
advantage over others in such efforts
in the fact that Americans are 81
adaptable, and not likely to handi
cap themselves by hidebound tradi
| tons; and wherever efficiency per
mits, make short cuts to the final re
suit toward which an effort tends
II. H. Windsor, in July Popular Me
chanics Magazine.