New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-02-12
by JULIA BI.ANSHARD

by JULIA BIANSHARD
New York. Feb. - - Let your
children decorate their own rooms
if you really want to be modern
stylish and the proud possessor q
original types OF decoration in tn.
home.
This is the newest cult in this
age of children.
Robert Pallesen, mural paint
| err of note, originated the idea. HI
is receiving astonishing respons'
to his bold and new idea for usinf
the drawings of little children fol
decorating all kinds Of rooms de
voted to children's interests.
"ChiIdren like what they under
! stand" he explained his theory
"Children are sure to appreciate
the drawings of other children
the humor. pathos or exciting ad-
venture they depict, even more
than they appreciate adults con
| ception of what children shOul
like.
They're Really Decorative
drawings of youngsters undel
"A make stunning mural decora'
tons for children's libraries, nur'
| series. play rooms, school rooms
hospitals and other places wher'
children live and play.
Most adults" this interesting
| ,, continued tuc1t Af
away somewhere in their keep
sake boxes some faded, -scribblel
| drawings that they made wher
they were little boys or girls
drawings. that their mothers sal
>aged as mementoes of their fast
vanishing babyhood.
similar 'scribblings' of youns
children of today are being recog
nized by modern educators as ar
| of a high order. Many of then
show originality and talent in th'
| Youngest generation that opel
the eyes OF adults. They should
| he encouraged and used for othcl
children to see and enjoy"
Recently. Pallesen put his theo
ries into practise and proved M
point. He decorated a New Yor(
TOW shop with murals that his pu
pills had done the original draw
ings of children under IA years
Many of :hcm were under seven
Children flockcd in to see the Wor!
of their young contemporaries. AID
mired them, laughed at them. fel
sorry over some and thrilled a
others aud hung around askin:
questions. They understood ant
appreciated them, just as Pale
sen had said.
Adults. TOO. went in large mum
bers to see the exhibit and foun'
1t interesting.
Pal!esen is working out hi
ideas in his own neighborhood il
Darien. Conn. In a large barn
like room. where the walls ar
covered with huge sheets of news
print paper and pals of colo
stand about. children gather t
draw or paint. They fling them
selves into the work of painting
murals with enormous Zest. The
invent new figures where a de
sign they are working on docsn'
come out even and the result is
room full of lively, colorful, ur
usual pictures of things childrc
laugh over and return to look a
again.
- Nf Il .,
everyday, mundane things. PLAY
ing Grown-Up." Table Man
ncrs." "Concy Island" THE Ira
pcze Performance, 1.-THE Babies
Parade" "Coney Island" kid
Coasting," Buying Shoes" an
The Circus" are the names of
Eumber of them. Other childre
looking at the drawings like t
see things they themselves know
There is a spontaneity and fanci
full humor about the pictures tina
children understand. They ar
distinctly modern. Their youth
fulncss is apparent in theme a
well as in technique.
Scenes They Portray
In the jungle Scene" severe
miscellaneous monkeys are show
hanging by their tails. looking a
if Just waiting to get into trouble
In another upset plate and foo
shows what happens it naught
little girl tips her chair at tabl'
In still another, a disobedier
child shows by the look on h
face that he knows he won't
among those who get candy fc
being good"
Perhaps many parents today al
treasuring funny, charming draw
ings of their own little boys an
girls. They may RECONCILE thei
value as expression of the
children. Pallesen sees a re;
chance to give the children MOI
self-expression by allowing ther
the privilege of decorating certai
looms. He insists that. given er
couragement. materials and III
rudiments of technique, childre
can create vastly interesting an
decorative designs.
For parents who are willing I
let John and Lucy have a try {
the nursery walls or the basemei
playroom. this should be an il
teresting theory.