on very fine shows, sometimes one-man shows of local painters and

sculptors, and again exhibits of arts and crafts... Recently an entire floor

of the The Emporium was given over to a Russian artcraft exhibition,
where one could literally run amok among fascinating Russian boots,
silver, brass, pewter and enamelware, embroideries, rugs, pottery, glass,
lacquer, woodcarving, and the quaintest carved toys imaginable.

There is the gorgeous Legion of Honor Building, where a colossal sculp-
ture exhibition has just closed after eight or ten months—a successful
show which was visited by thousands. A perfect spot for a Palace of
Fine Arts in a perfect setting—atop a green hill overlooking the sea and
the Golden Gate. Rolling hills all round bathe in sunshine, surrounded by
sloping lawns and terraces, a Roman pool in front, tall eucalyptus trees
bending in the breeze, fountains playing, and everywhere sculpture. The
building itself, in Greek architecture, is a gem placed there, with its
graceful columns, sculptured pediment and friezes. The interior is carried
out simply with high ceilings, hardwood floors, glassed dome, and gal-
leries and galleries. In the courtyards fountains play, palms and ferns
sway, and the laughing, dancing nymphs and fauns of the garden exhibit
seem perfectly at home. One wanders from gallery to gallery to the
strains of vibrant, resonant chords of an organ which plays during the
opening hours. Always there are groups of students wandering about,
knots of tourists clustered about the better-known pieces, ordinary
citizens, or just single souls, musing in front of the works; always, too,
officials to question and remind one not to touch the pieces, madam!
The setting is superb, but | could not help but think of all the equally
wonderful settings we could provide in Vancouver. Our great snowclad
mountains rising to the clouds majestically, evergreen trees standing
guardian—a place where we could hold exhibitions of our own country,
where noble sculptures and powerful paintings could do justice to our
splendid, rugged north. A gem in which all—artists, students, dreamers
and citizens—could share a civic pride and joy. A dream, worth the
dreaming, and an inspiration.

There are innumerable other exhibitions being held here weekly of all the
crafts imaginable—opportunities for every artist-craftsman to show his
work. These are bringing to the public the realization of the relation of
art to each and everyone of us in everyday life, and proving that "art
is life"' in the truest sense. The artist is no longer regarded as of a strange
species, a being apart. He is accepted as a natural and necessary part
in the great scheme of things. Only a question of time and energy on

(PAE EG RG,
[21]

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et