ART IN THE HOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22356, 1 September 1934, Page 9

ART IN THE HOME

INTERPRETATION OF PERSONALITY

TEACHINGS OF HOME SCIENCE An interesting address on the part played by art in the teaching of home science was delivered to the Home Science Conference this week by Miss A. M. Bowbyes, of the Home Science Department. » “Art in its relation to the home is an essential part of Home Science teaching,” said Miss Bowbyes. “ The teaching of art has dealt in the past exclusively with the creation of artistic things, and there is a definite need for directing the emphasis of art teaching to. the field ot appreciation and discriminating selection. Clothing, home planning and furnishing, care of the sick, serving of . foods, care of children and family relationships, all have an ‘ art ’ side. The successful discharge of household responsibilities is conditioned largely upon a perception of this truth. Not until all girls in schools can have their inherent love for beauty rightly stimulated and directed may we look forward to a nation of homes tastily furnished and artistically satisfying, or of people who express real genuineness and sincerity in their living. "In art courses that are related to the home, an attempt is made to apply the principles of design to those problems in everyday life in which beauty and utility are factors, to build up in girls ideals of finding and creating beauty in their surroundings and to bring them to the front, where they can recognise fitness and purpose, and see beauty, and derive pleasure from inexpensive and unadorned things that are available to all homes.

“ The teaching of art in Home Science courses is primarily concerned with problems of selection and arrangement. The girl, as a prospective home-maker, needs to know not so much how to make a textile design, but how to choose and use one successfully; not necessarily how to design furniture, but how to select and arrange it: not how to make pottery, but how to select the right piece for her purpose. At the same time, let it be kept in mind that true art is founded upon comfort, utility, convenience, and true expression’ of personalities, as well as upon the most perfect application of art principles. The home expresses the personalities of its occupants, and reveals far more than many realise. It stamps them as possessing taste or lacking it. Thinking’ men and women want backgrounds that interpret them to their friends, and they prefer that the interpretation be worthy. " Design is composition or art-structure, or building up of harmony. It is the fundamental process in all fine arts. It is through the’appreciations that one i» able to recognise harmony. Hence the. study of design or art-structure resolves itself into a development of judgment and appreciations. The study of structure and composition leads to appreciation of all forms of art because it is based on a study of synthetic principles. Unfortunately, the word design has, in popular usage, come to mean decorative design, but design is also structural. There is a difference between the two. Structural design is the design made by the size and shape of an object, whether it be an object itself or a drawing of an object worked out on paper. The colour and texture of an object are also part of this structural design. Decorative design is the surface enrichment of a structural design. Any lines or colours or materials which have been applied to a structural design for the purpose of adding a richer quality to it constitute its decorative design. A designer whose work shows real quality adapts or conventionalises his design to suit the material he is using. He does not attempt to deceive by imitating real objects; that is, flowers, fruit done in clay, wool or threads. It is a form of deceit to take an object existing in Nature and try to reproduce it on a flat surface in other materials, as we so often do to-day in our embroideries and other crafts. “'There is need for emphasis in art teaching otn the ability to understand structure. Artists work in harmony with certain definable principles, and the degree of success obtained depends upon whether or not they conform to these principles. These principles may be stated as harmony, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis, colour. Actually, a house is a “design” made upon subdesigns. Consequently a simple and artistic whole can only be obtained by the-application of principles to the design, selection, and arrangement of furnishings. “ The basis of dress design is the human figure. Successful dress design depends upon A knowledge of the proportions of the human figure, an understanding of personality, .and the applicaj tion of principles of design to costumes.” Lantern slides were used to illustrate principles of design and their application to interiors and costumes. The speaker’s closing remark emphasised again the importance of. a knowledge of these principles and their use in everyday life.