a | i} 4 i Bilge ioe Stee operating with other interested societies it was possible to bring Mr. ‘Neutra to Van- couver for two well-attended public lec- tures as well as many less formal chats. Radio talks by both Mr. and Mrs. Neutra widened the audience and an excellent article upon Industrial Building added to the impact.of a fine creative mind backed by well organized intellect. The pleasure at finding a world wide figure to be such a balance of keen brain and human sym- pathy was a great stimulus. The inform- ation, analysis of the world situation, wit and humanity of both lectures and talks expressed those human values upon which architecture must be based. Mrs. Neutra contributed greatly to the visit, both by her singing and playing at the Gallery reception and her own great interest and participation in social Archi- tecture. This visit established the value of visit- ing celebrities in realms of Art and events of this nature may yet attract the attention given a swing band leader. The large audiences give an indication of the desire for planning and building knowledge. Apart from Exhibitions, the Art in Liv- ing Group has participated in many dis- cussion groups, conferences and lectures both in the audience and upon the plat- form and has made use of numerous mo- tion pictures to express their ideas. An organized library of pamphlets and books and a thorough scrutiny of libraries keeps the membership well informed. Membership in Eastern Canada, United States. and England adds first hand inform- ation. As a natural result of the group activity information has been sought and given to Veteran Committees. A Com- munity was planned and a model made for the twenty-seven block area suggested for the Veteran's community. While not im- plemented it was adjudged to be an excel- lent and practical solution. A small unit was developed suggesting the possibilities of planned development. The activities of the group have been varied. At present the colour schemes for the New Y.M.C.A. cubicles and built-in features are being designed by four of the members. Several years ago plans were suggested and renderings made for the Kitsilano Community Centre and plans and models have been made as a sugges-: tion to the Cambie group. These are not thought of as finished designs, but sugges- tions upon which lay members may think before contacting professional services. In the practical field it may be said that Art in Living members have built and are planning to build. Though not a building society is has proved true that the service rendered by the’ group has been helpful to the membership. fe : Association with the National Film Board has resulted in nation-wide publicity and the story has reached four and one-half million circulation and is read in three different languages. That is an important thing. Not publicity for people, but pub- licity for an idea. The idea that beauty is a possibility; the idea that the citizen may participate; the idea that beauty is a necessity; the idea that standards of aesthetic judgment are as important as plumbing standards; the idea that the eye and mind receive as forceful an impact as the sense of smell; the idea that order should not only be practical, but should be stimulating; the idea that we must be informed; the idea that in relationship to world movements we do not lead but lag; the idea that people must be participants in planning, not the recipients of dead formulae, rehashed and served as sop for. lazy minds; the idea that we have archi- tects and planners ready to lead if public thought and leadership can keep in step; the idea of the value of nature, the value ¢ ART IN of humans, the value of co-operation; the idea that the practical, so-called, is often merely the expedient and that by thought, models and consideration of a project by a number of informed people not only may obvious mistakes be avoided but architects be given the thought material with which to build. Great architecture comes not only from the methods and ma- terials of functionalism, but by the use of methods and materials to suitably clothe adequate ideas. Wtih the formation of a Canadian Na- tional Planning Association and a Van- couver Branch with which the group may merge their interests it is possible that we may lose our identity to gain in power. However to the better than one hundred members who have from time to time in the last five years sweated for an ideal the goal of a new world is still distant but not impossible. There is no doubt that creative effort realistically applied will produce “Art in Living”. INDUSTRY ¢ By BILL CALDER In Canada we are confronted by a seri- ous lack of creative achievement in much of the manufactured material on the pres- ent market. We cannot place the blame for this deficiency on any one trade or persons, ‘but we can ascertain for our- selves where the difficulties exist in the commercialization of such articles as we desire. We can assume that part of the blame lies with certain industrialists due to their acceptance as inevitable the di- vorce between everyday manufacture and beauty, and -with some designers due to the low quality of work being turned out. For instance, there has been a growing tendency to utilize. the symbols and pat- terns taken from great art periods of the past. Whether this is due to the person’s lack of creative ability, to his lack of awareness or to his indifference to his surroundings, we cannot say. However, it is certain that no amount of juggling around of Queen Hatseput or. of Haida good luck charms will contribute to the’ evolution of a contemporary Canadian form. Regardless of these difficulties, our major problem is the gap which exists between the manufacturers and the fresh sources of creative design. These sources are naturally the art schools, which regret- tably do not have at present adequate facilities to train industrial designers. The lack of prospects: for the young students combined with the negative attitude of in- dustry. have not encouraged any improve- ment in this training. As. it stands: now, very few manufacturers are willing to give student designers the opportunity to gain the necessary all round experience in their factories, but if the interest of the industrialists was aroused, undoubtedly a wide spread improvement in art school training would develop. .To solve this, we might take a lead from Great Britain, who has established the Council of Indus- trial Design to ease a similar problem. Such an organization would bring into con- tact young designers and industrialists de- sirous of good design in their products. The designer would be given an oppor- tunity to gain a foothold in industry. and the manufacturer would be assured of the services of artists trained in the only honest method of conceiving an object; that of the association of an idea with a purpose and the utilization of the art elements to procure the desired form to fill that purpose. Creative achievement in work of any sort requires the imaginative power and the constructive power which respectively constitute the design and the craftsmanship which many of our present designers seem to lack. Anything to be accomplished must be born of an idea or an image, organized and put into shape as a conception and practically carried out. To design is to organize, to shape pattern, to give form: each of these terms is synony- mous with one and the samé activity, the creation and the co-ordination of the parts which shall combine into a unity which can be appreciated aesthetically as well as functionally.. In too few cases on the present market: are the. objects ones of beauty ‘as well as of utility. “a operating with other interested societies it was possible to bring Mr. Neutra to Van- couver for two wellattended public lec tures as well as many less formal chats. Radio talks by both Mr. and Mrs. Neutra widened the audience and an excellent article upon Industrial Building added to the impact of a fine creative mind backed by well organized intellect. The pleasure at finding a world wide figure to be such @ balance of keen brain and human sym- pathy wes a great stimulus. The inform- ation, analysis of the world situation, wit ‘and humanity of both lectures and talks expressed those human values upon which architecture must be based. Mrs. Neutra contributed greatly to the visit, both by her singing and playing at the Gallery reception and her own great {interest and participation in social Archi- tecture, ‘This visit established the value of visit- ing celebrities in realms of Art and events of this nature may yet attract the attention given a swing band leader. The large audiences give an indication of the desire for planning and building knowledge. Apart from Exhibitions, the Art in Liv- ing Group has participated in many dis- cussion groups, conferences and lectures both in the audience and upon the plat: form and has made use of numerous mo. tion pictures to express their ideas. An organized library of pamphlets and books and a thorough scrutiny of libraries keops the membership well informed. Membership in Eastern Canada, United States and England adds first hand inform: ation. As a natural result of the group activity information has been sought and given to Veteran Committees. A Com: munity was planned and a model made for the twenty-seven block area suggested for the Veteran's community. While not im- plemented it was adjudged to be an excel lent and practical solution. A small unit ‘was developed suggesting the possibilitios of planned development, The activities of the group have been varied. At present the colour schemes for the New Y.M.C.A. cubicles and builtin features are being designed by four of the members. Several years ago plans ‘were suggested and renderings made for the Kitsilano Community Centre and plans ‘and models have been made as a sugges: tion to the Cambie group. These are not thought of as finished designs, but sugges: tions upon which lay members may think bbefore contacting professional services. In the practical field it may be said that Art in Living members have built and are planning to build. Though not a building society is has proved true that the service rendered by the group has been helpful to the membership. Association with the National Film Board hhas resulted in nationwide publicity and the story has reached four and onoshalf million circulation and is read in threo different languages. That is an important thing. Not publicity for people, but pub- licity for an idea. The idea that beauty the idea that the citizen the idea that beauty is a necessity; the idea that standards of aesthotic judgment are as important as plumbing standards; the idea that the eye and mind receive as forceful an impact as the sense of smell; the idea that order should not only be practical, but should be stimulating; the idea that we must be informed; the idea that in relationship to world movements we do not lead but lagi the idea that people must be participants in planning, not the recipients of dead formulae, rehashed and served as sop for lazy minds; the idea that we have archi- tects and planners ready to lead if public thought and leadership can keep in step; the idea of the value of nature, the valu + ART IN ‘of humans, the value of cooperation; the {dea that tho practical, socalled, is often moroly the expedient and that by thought, models and consideration of a project by ‘a number of informed people not only may obvious mistakes be avoided but architects be given the thought material with which to build. Great architecture ‘comes not only from the methods and ma- terials .of functionalism, but by the use of methods and materials to suitably clothe adequate ideas. With the formation of a Canadian Na- tlonal Planning Association and a Var couver Branch with which the group may merge their interests it is possible that ‘we may lose our identity to gain in power. However to the better than one hundred members who have from time to time in the last five years sweated for an ideal the goal of a new world is still distant but not impossible. There is no doubt that creative effort lly applied will produce “Art in INDUSTRY ¢ By BILL CALDER In Canada we are confronted by a seri- ‘ous lack of creative achievement in much of the manufactured material on the pres: ent market. We cannot place the blame for this deficiency on any one trade or persons, -but we can ascertain for our- selves where the difficulties exist in the ‘commercialization of such articles as we desire. We can assume that part of the Blame lies with certain industrialists due to their acceptance as inevitable the di vorce between everyday manufacture and beauty, and with some designers due to the low quality of work being turned out. For instance, there has been a growing tendency to utilize, the symbols and pat- tems taken from great art periods of the past. Whether this is due to the person's lack of creative ability, to his lack of awareness or to his indifference to his surroundings, we cannot say. However, it is certain that no amount of juggling around of Queen Hatseput or of Haida good luck charms will contri evolution of a contemporary Canadian form. Regardless of these difficulties, our major problem is the gap which exists between the manufacturers and the fresh sources of creative design. ‘These sources ‘are naturally the att schools, which regret- ably do not have at present adequate facilities to train industrial designers. The lack of prospects for the young students combined with the negative attitude of in- dustry have not encouraged any improve: ‘ment in this training. As it stands now, very few manufacturers are willing to give te to the” student designers the opportunity to gain the necessary all round experience in their factories, but if the interest of the industrialists was aroused, undoubtedly a wide spread improvement in art schcol training would develop. To solve this we might take a lead from Great Britain, ‘who has established the Council of Indus trial Design to ease a similar problem, ‘Such an organization would bring into con- tact young designers and industrialists de. sirous of good design in their products The designer would be given an oppor. tunity to gain a foothold in industry. and the manufacturer would be assured of the services of artis's trained in the only honest method of conceiving an object; that of the association of an idea with a purpose and the utilization of the art elements to procure the desired form to fill that purpose. Creative achievement in ‘work of any sort requires the imaginative Power and the constructive power which Tospectively constitute the design and the craftsmanship which many of our present designers seem to lack. Anything to be accomplished must be bom of an idea or ‘an image, organized and put into shape as ‘a conception and practically carried out To design Is to organize, to shape paltern, to give form: each of these terms is synony- mous with one and the samé activity, the creation and the co-ordination of the parts ‘which shall combine into a unity which ‘can be appreciated aesthetically as well as functionally. In’ too few cases on the present market: are the. objects ones of beauty-as well as of utility.