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MURALS BEAUTIFY FIRST UNITED

THREE FORMER STUDENTS ENRICH THE WALLS OF THE GORE AVENUE CHURCH IN ARTISTIC AND
SUITABLE FORM; CRYSTALLIZING THE SPIRIT OFTHE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE IN LINE AND TONE

THE MURALS IN THE
MAKING.

EDITORIAL NOTE:

Many thanks go to Paul Gorenson for
this article. He and the other two art-
ists of these throe murals aro exceed~
ingly busy and it is kind indeed of him
to have found the time to write this
for us. We only wish it had been longer
and that he had told us students more
of the construction in composition, and
how each mural was evolved, so that we
would be able more fully to appreciate
the Fine Art in them. We should all go
and see these murals. (United Church,
corner Hastings and Gore).
originated about two years
ago when Orville Fisher felt that the
inclined wall space up in the church
ceiling would offer a wonderful oppor-
tunity for mural decorations. He sug-
gested this to two of his fellow stud~
ents, Ed Hughes and I, who aided him in
carrying this out - and, of course, Rev
Andrew Roddan, who made it possible.

Our idea was to get away from the
conventionalized method of wall decor-
ation - to try and do something in a

The idea

style more solid and enduring. We felt
that subjects dealing with the Life of
Christ would be most suitable - Adora-
tion, Worship and Service being the
first three of six, yet completed.

As it was impractical to paint dir-
ectly on the walls, the best thing to
do, was to make stretchers for the
panels to be nailed on to the walls.
The gymnasium afforded us an ideal
place in which to work, We spent two
months working on the decorations day
and night.

Our real difficulty came at the end,
when the panels were to be hoisted in-
to place. It was nerve-racking busi-
ness raising the decorations - they
were so frail and clumsy to handle, yet
each weighed approximately 200 lbs. and
in our anxiety to get them in place we
might easily have missed our step on
the scaffolding.

However, that climax has passed, the
panels now rest securely in their plac-
es - and we feel grateful to Rev. Rod-
dan for his help and in allowing us a
free hand in doing them. We would feel
justly proud and repaid if these mur-
als should be an inspiration to art
students and a foundation for them on
which to build.

THE MURALS TAKE ANOTHER FORM

Beautiful reproductions similar to
the illustrations shown have been made
into Seasonable cards by the mural dec+
orators, and are for sale. Purchasinga
card or cards will give you besides a
splendid remembrance a share in a great
undertaking.

Mr, Lismer, a noted eastern artist
who visited here this sumner,placed the
murals among the really significant
artistic expressions in Canada today.
Such plucky pioneer work in this field
is commendable, and we have no hesita-
tion in urging every student topurchase
at least one of these fine cards.

The pictures in the reproduction do
not give a correct conception of the
magnitude of the work, The original
panels are nine feet high and thirty
feet long. How is that during a depres-

sion? There are to.be three further de-
signs and we look forward to them as we
wish their designers every good fortune.

CURTAIN UP (Concluded)

May I take the opportunity here of
saying that if at any time a student is
full of conflicting doubts regarding
studies or attitude to study that such
student will let me share them. Ten
minutes private conversation may chase
away many a doubt. The school is now
in its eleventh year and a fine healthy
student body is enrolled.

I am hopeful that this session will
see many things come to pass which will
make for a better school.

With every good wish to the magazine
and its staff.

Sincerely yours,
Charles H, Scott.