Evening star., 1936-09-12
FEDERAL CONTROL
Of ARTS OPPOSED
American Architecture Does
Not Thrive on Regimen.
tation, Says Kahn.


American architects do not thrive
on regimentation, declares Ely Jacques
Kahn, chairman of the Committee on
Allied Arts of the American Institute
Of Architects. Government bureaus in
the United States, he says, produce Q
mediocre architecture, in contrast to
foreign countries.
America might profitably swap some
Of its chronological developments TOR
the spiritual and constructive prin-
eiples that actuate Central Asia. he
points out. Siam is an outstanding
example of governmental success in
developing a national art and archi-
lecture, he finds in Q survey embrace
ing the countries of Europe and the
east.
There is, naturally, some question
as to the virtue of governmental con-
troll of cultural matters, for we have
already discovered that, once the State
begins to usurp the architects job, a
huge machine develops, and, through
q simple process of growth, becomes
. juggernaut Of sinister possibilities"
Kahn asserts.
individuality PuIverized.
During an emergency-war, for
example-it may be wise to ignore
the fate of certain individuals for the
good Of the State. We find, however,
that the grinding of the Governments
bureaus which produce architecture
pulverizes the individual architect
coldly and brutally. There is no point
on insisting that finer buildings could
be erected were their design put in the
hands of eminent, trained men. Any
one who has watched the system OF
bureaus of the city, State or Govern
ment knows that time is wasted and
money is wasted for results which are
mediocre for the simple reason that II
is a machine which is functioning. One
cannot ignore the personality OF the
artist to the extent that one might
desire. He simply does not thrive on
Recommendation.
THE attention we, in America, give
10 forestry, land erosion, farm lands,
water conservation and roads, is no
less intense than might be found in
less prosperous countries. AS a mat
ter of fact, even these highly neces-
sary activities are relatively new in
our approach to human relationship.
They have become important because
after the careless use of rich virgin
land it has been discovered that re-
sources cannot be wasted perpetually.
What We have found necessary
with elements that supply food, cloth
ing and shelter, we will also eventu-
ally realize as important in those
features of our social fabric that sup
port our spiritual welfare.
In other lands it is customary to
fnd the government actively inter-
ested in the arts. France Is pre-
eminently known for the encourage
ment and support it has given. The
presence of q representative in the
state council, the existence OF a ma
tional arts school and state manufac-
turing plants such as that at SevreS,
where for centuries fine porcelains
have been made, are merely few
of the instances where Frenchmen
feel that money is not wasted In help
ing their artists produce what is,
after all, one of the chief commodities
of the country-art.
Governmental buildings, monu-
ments, all of the historical structures
of France, are under the architectural
control of trained men whose fame
and income, incidentally, increase
through the application of this sys-
tenn.
Sweden, Austria, Italy, and Ger
many have other varieties of support,
but in all of these lands the very
practical value of guarding artistic
assets is noted.
Siam Old Fashioned.
siam is one of the few old-fash-
Toned Kingdoms that remains, In spite
Of European influence, foreign pres
sure, business, industry and all of the
other advantages of modern develop
ment. Siam goes on serenely, strange
to our eyes, with it's brilliant archi-
lecture, its quaint ceremonials and
its adherence to tradition.
1T was customary for the royal
court to have its own theater, building
group, painters, sculptors and artisans,
and so it continues. In the royal
compound at Bangkok is large
school adjoining the workshops. The
school trains craftsmen for the mani
fold jobs necessary to the completion
of various projects undertaken under
royal command. Masons. Sculptors,
foundrymen, gilders, carvers, cabinet
makers, weavers and silversmiths work
in harmony, for there is but one style
TO worry about, and they are skilled
in technic and the knowledge of ac-
cepted detail.
Here is a beautiful case of pater-
nalism where young people are trained
thoroughly, can see actual work going
on and are absorbed in production as
normally as they advance in pro-
ficiency. This is perhaps more than
we can wish for, but there Is basic
ally an idea in giving youth the edu-
cation that 1t wants, showing the
students how knowledge is applied and
finally making it possible to produce.