Evening star., 1938-04-24

Frost Collection Library of Congress- Reveals
Served Leading Magazines
College Studen


buys lot, the students design a
dwelling house not to cost more than
$4,000, supervise its building from
start to finish, and, when 1t is done,
the institution puts it on the market,
sells it, pockets the cash and starts
all over again-the money employed
serving as revolving fund. going out
and coming in with complete regular
ity. The theme is studied from more
than the esthetic angle; the pocket
book Of the prospective owner is con-
sidered as we'll as the comfort of his
family and the convenience Of the
houSekeeper. Inspection is made
weekly while the work is in process,
through which medium the student is
familiarized with practical problems
Other works under construction are
visited: lecturers on design, decora-
tion and allied subjects are heard.
The exhibits comprehended in the COL
lege display illustrate one such prob
lem from start to flnish-the lot before
clearance, the house during erection,
interiors as well as exterior when
completed-an excellent job. The pur-
pose in this instance is to induce the
students to regard their drawings as
three dimensional rather than as
pictures" and to acquaint them with
the underlying reasons for architec-
tural design. Such teaching as this
is very inspiriting.
There are other reassuring signs OF
the time. but not as many as one
would wish. Tulane University has,
1t would seem. wisely concentrated on
study Of the early architecture of
New Orleans. which has flavor all its
own and charm which, If once cap
tured. may prove enduring. At least
the early builders Of America-Puri-
tans Of New England, Cavaliers of the
South. Spanish priests and French
buccaneers-had sense Of fitness in
the use OF materials and accommoda-
ton to climate-actual INABILITY
which we, in our later day, have mis-
laid, If not lost. OF this it is good to
remind and be reminded. Also it is
gratifying to find in some instances
great care and attention given to the
design OF small buildings for various
uses, utiliatrian and otherwise. To
balance which are designs for monu-
mental structures, art galleries, libra
ries, concert halls, betokening empha-
sis on those elements in community
life which are most cultural.
Architecture has been called the
backbone Of the arts, but, even more
than this, it would sometimes seem to
be the whole skeleton. Exhibitions
such as this, and the one of paintings
by college students which preceded it,
are very stimulating.
Art as a By-Product in the
interior Departments
Ne1D Museum.
ON THE first floor of the new In
terror Department Building. to the
left of the C street entrance, is now
located the departments museum
which. while not advertised as a re-
posltory Of works of art, has among
its exhibits more than a few to be
classed in such category. The activi-
ties of the Interior Department in the
development of the country, from the
time of its organization to today. are
admirably set forth in a series of do
ramas seen through glass windows
with figures in the round and painted
as well as modelled backgrounds re-
markably Stimulating reality. These in
many instances are essentially works
OF art rendered with fine sense of
perspective, colorful effect and unity
in composition. In the art of display
great strides have been taken in recent
years. In our leading museums of
natural history birds, animals and
other once living creatures are shown
as in their natural habitats, designed
drawn, modelled and painted by artists
OF no mean ability. Some such pic
turesque backgrounds have been placed
in some of the houses in our own Zoo
through the gift and effort of local
painters. All this is an advance in
visual education
Also included in the Interior Depart
ment Museum are excellent examples
of the arts of the American Indian
weavings in wool handsomely dyed,
beadwork elaborate in design, baskets
good in shape as well as pattern.
There are. of course, pictorial material
in abundance-but the Indian crafts
and the dioramas are distinctly out
standing
Prominent Out-of-ToUn Water
ColoriSt, Harold Lund, Exhibits
At the Public Library.
FOURTEEN water colors by Harold
Lund of New York and Province
town are on view this month in the
Public Library. main building, Eighth
and K streets Thev rovor yoriotv