Evening star., 1940-06-16
Architectural
Exhibit at
Museum
Variety Shown by
Work of Federal
Association
BY Leila MechIin.

By Leila Mechlin.
The ninth annual exhibition of
the Association of Federal Archi-
tects, on view in the foyer of the
National Museum until the end of
June, consists not only of architec-
tural designs and renderings, but
also paintings, drawings, prints and
craft work done by members of the |
organization. The architectural de-
signs and renderings are official
works. done in the several Offices of
the Government departments con-
cerned with building by men practic-
ing the profession of architecture,
for which they are trained; the
other works represent avocational
activities carried on for the pure
pleasure of the doing when leisure
time has afforded opportunity. The
balance between the two is well
maintained
The Government units represented
In the architectural section are the
ONCE of Supervising Architect, Pub
lie Buildings Branch, Federal Works
Agency; Bureau of Yards and Docks,
Navy Department; Army Quarter
master Generals Department, War
Department; Housing Division, Pub
lie Works Administration, and Vet
erans Administration. The work
done covers great public buildings to
house Government departments in
Washington and other Federal
structures such as post Offices
throughout the United States, bar
racks, hospitals, officers quarters,
warehouses, landing field stations
and so on, necessary to both Navy
and Army; housing projects and
general welfare construction. The
extent to which this activity is
carried on is graphically manifested
by map of North America, with |
those points checked thereon where |
buildings have been erected from de-
signs and plans drawn in the Office |
of the quartermaster general, and, |
in the margin, illustrations of % |
of those buildings, 10 on each side.
This is the work of Bernado Mion
of the o. @. M. c., who also exhibits
incidentally, a handsomely illumi
construction division of the same |
office, signed by all his fellow work.
ers, besides several paintings of
street scenes in European villages in
oils.
Poster Explains Purpose.
That the purpose of this Govern
ment work and the spirit in which it
is rendered shall be understood by
the visiting public, the Office of
Yards and Docks has set up frank
ly lettered poster in front Of the
alcove wherein its display is to be
seen, which ably serves not only as
introduction, but as "blurb." On
this, after preliminary matters have
been briefly dealt with, the following
statement is made:
Through many mediums and
many men, the Government works
out its architectural problem. Thet
measure of its success or failure is
the efficiency, durability and beauty
of its structures all over the world"
This is succinct statement and
one worth remembering The art of
architecture must always go hand
in-hand with utility. if it is to at
tain highest perfection; but, on the
other hand, durability and efficiency
alone are not sufflcient-there must
be beauty as we'll. Assurance of the
sound basis for such reasoning is to
be found in the great world monu-
ments, buildings of all sorts, out
standing examples of architecture at
its best, which for centuries have
been acclaimed and have given in
spiration, not only to designers and
builders, but to the people of all ma
tions.
Work Is Simple.
1t is interesting to observe in the
architectural sections of this cur
rent exhibition the prevalence of
the modern idiom in design and
more especially its logical and ap-
propriate adaptation. The leap from
tradition to innovation was wide and
hazardous, and many there were
who were unable to accomplish the
feat with skill and beauty. The re-
suit was superabundance of strange
distortion - violent contradiction
absurdity. A half-dozen baking
pans, stove pipe or two and per-
haps saucepan can hardly be ex-
pected, even when cleverly piled one
upon another, to achieve an order
In architecture. Neither should an
exterior resembling laundry plant
or warehouse be expected suitably
to clothe a building purposed as art
museum or State capitol. This is no
reproach to modernism, but rather
to those who have misapplied it.
From this era of inartistic confusion,
We seem now to be emerging, and it
Is, indeed, gratifying to find that
some of the up-coming architects
here in Government employ are
pointing Il way to finer achievement.
They use the modern idiom not only