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oc ARE so many different subjects contained within the Design
Section of our school that it is difficult to represent it by an article
on any one of these—however, “Interior Decoration” is broad enough
to cover most subjects. It is a subject of interest to everybody who sleeps
under a roof—and it could be of much keener interest to most if they
stopped for a moment to consider the quality of that roof!

There is no need for all the drab interiors we see in the early even-
ing as we walk along a street when the lights are on, but the blinds are
not yet drawn—no need for these drab, dead, colourless rooms—while
bright green paint costs the same as dull brown and cheerful flowered
cretonne is not more expensive than sad grey. Underlying our course in
“Interior Decoration” is the structure of Design — drawing — colour
theory and texture—but in the working out of the curriculum, the stud-
ents handle not only paint and paper—but every kind of material that
can be used for the dozens of different crafts being practised daily. Only
by “handling” material is the tactile sense developed—only by “mixing™
pigment is the theory of colour understood—only by “doing” does the
practical artist emerge. j

So our students embroider and stitch — paint furniture an
hammer metal—build pots—glaze and fire them—then thrill to all the
unexpected results that happen in the kiln. They make cut-paper anc
texture panels, block-print textiles for curtains, cushions, etc., weave
rugs, paint murals, letter books and calendars, illuminated addresses, etc.
and all these exercises and projects are fitted into well prepared architec:
tural drawings of the homes for which they were designed. 4

Then there is the study of period furniture, of Heraldry—of Way
and Means in the Modern Store, and the application of the artist’s know:
ledge to its uses in the world around. a

There are tea-rooms to decorate—theatres and costumes to desigt
for, old homes to renew and new ones to plan for. “Interior Decoration’
is the broadest of all design subjects and while qualifying the studer
interested in this as a vocation, it also trains and prepares ‘“‘the teachet
for the requirements of the Modern School curriculum and is of inspi a
tion and use to every homemaker—whether or not she be the wage earne

Pe ed Ree dts A Y E A

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