Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Palette and Pen Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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EDITCCI AL DORIS WHITTAKER, Editor Editorial Staff Class Editors M. Root K. Gillette N. Smith D. Hunter E. Durgin K. Barton M. Oliver L. Gifford Sandburg People vs. Ford Hall” 5 :30 P. M. A cool, unhurried walk across the Common, the lack of haste soon to be regretted, for after standing in line over an hour the doors finally opened, admitted a horde of people who were fortunate enough to gain a seat, and he, who had but recently sauntered across the Common — was confronted with these words, which seemed to leer and gloat from the placard upon which the dreaded letters were all too evident: •‘.STANDING ROOM ONLY I At last, inside the immortal gates, “Silver collection, please,” the self-conscious Art student laid his ipiarter to rest amongst the numerous dimes dep rsited hy his more brazen brethren. He had regained only partial conscious- ness when a paper was thrust in his hands and he was asked to lift his voice with the rest of the multitude and carol forth sweet moan with a voice for many years a topic for discussion amongst his fellows. Added to this, numerous elbows prodding him under the seventh rib (note Pre- Rephaelite description), and in other and sundry locations on the anatomy, was not at all conducive to the proper control of the larynx. However, the scribe moved his lips in the accepted fashion, — and those assembled held their rage in check. The Bedlam increased until it became, to the uninitiated ear, a jumbled, chaotic cacophony of sound : “W ' a-ay down up- on the Su-wan-eeee rivuh !’’ “Silver col- lection. please! “My! Isn ' t it close in here? “Close? Yeh ! All we need is a little olive oil an ' a fancy label ! “Say ! would ya ' kindly — “Silver col- lection. please! “No. madam, there are no seats! “ ' hich one of them is Sand- burg? “Yes? No? Why? “I won- der how hot it really is? And ever and anon, ringing triumphantly above the assorted clamor came the insistent tenor, “Silver collection, please !“ Even Jingle Bells did little to re- lieve the oppressing heat. One thought of “Frigidaire ' ’ and Coue and wondered how it would feel to pass out and be carried feet-first through those hard-won doors, bevond which was good air, — fresh air — CCDOL AIR! “No! Don ' t think! Makes your head feel queer ! Bad stuff — stifling! Carry on! Sandburg ' ll soon be here !’’ .- t last, a gray-haired, homely man stumbled awkwardly to the center of the stage. From all outward appearances he was a rather colorless person, save for the manner in which he aff ected his hair. This was Sandburg. It seemed almost impossible to see in this man the champion of free verse, the soldier, edi- tor, correspondent, biographer, vagabond, and poet. Sandburg, after listening uncomfort- ably to the chairman who, with pompous abdomen and frock coat much in evidence, stood imploring the people to recognize both his and Sandburg ' s greatness, rose, and in a dry, inimicable manner, began to acquaint his super-heated audience with his subject. He proceeded to read some thirty-eight original definitions of poetry. “Poetry, drawled Sandburg, “is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the air. “Or, he continued, deliberately, “poetry is a synthesis of hyacinths — and biscuits ! In defining poetry, Sandburg explained that the plow was once an effective poetic symbol, but it is now being replaced by a tractor. He claimed that it is as use- less for modern poetry to affect a classi- cal guise as it is for a ' aldorf roll to masquerade as the loaf that the raven brought Elijah. Both the old and the new have their place. — the ri( ht place. Chariot races were quite the thing at Antioch, but one never sees a chariot on Newhury Street. The poet read selections from his latest publication. Good Morning America, in which he says, Behold the proverbs of a people, a nation : There ' s one born every minute ! Keep off the grass ! Watch your step ! Don ' t park here ! Keep your shirt on ! Ten cents apiece, three for a quarter! A man of infinite variety ; he then produced a guitar and crooned a reper- toire of American folk-songs, “songs, he explained, “of the people. All too soon, he concluded and the Forum began. It was immediately sug- gested, and the suggestion was applauded right lustily, that Sandburg continue, and the Forum be dispensed with. Unhap- pily. this motion was not carried, but Sandburg ' s imperturbable nature and dry humor showed to tremendous advantage in the F ' orum that followed. His calm self-restraint wa s an armor against both the subtle and obvious insults fired at him, and his caustic wit proved an effec- tive lance. When asked if he had a new Lincoln anecdote, he replied that Lincoln once entertained a number of the fashionable set at the White House, one, a woman of exceptional girth, who promptly sat and spread herself upon Lincoln ' s new beaver hat. Some minutes later the pon- derous creature arose, and Lincoln, look- ing ruefully at the remains, addressed her in this fashion, “I could have told you. Madam, before you sat down, that it wouldn’t fit you!” The impression that one first received of this biographer of Lincoln, was now quite definitely conveyed. Through his intense and sincere study he seems to have absorbed the very spirit of the Emancipator, this other queer man, Sand- burg. Paul Quixn. Around the Galleries M’ith a sudden strong noise, the sun rose out of China, the temple bells were ringing in my ears, and a grinning croco- dile leered at me from the corner of the room. No. all this commotion was not due to the after-effects of the night be- fore. It was merely an intoxicating il- lusion aroused by the pictures of India and Palestine, by Ruth Coleman. They were on exhibition at the ’ose, and were uni(|ue. unusual, quite different. In fact. I liked them awfully. They were done in flat areas of water color on soft, porous paper which gave them the effect of block prints. They were a striking example of design and color, and the picturesque subjects made them quite unforgettable. “On the Shore of Galilee was a de- sign in blues and grey-purple of a Biblical shepherd strolling thru the wilderness with his shepherd ' s pipe and his dog be- side him. A humorous donkey with a pale purple hide amiably carries a young Israelite in “Jerusalem Boy on Donkey.” “Hindu Women Water Carriers” has in the foreground a number of Burmah girls such as the one in Kipling ' s verse. Their faces are the original sun-tan hue. and their petticoats are the traditional yellow and green with red and blue stripes. Each carries a green water jar poised upon her hip. The temple bells are no joke. You can really hear them now. Miss Coleman ought to do the designs for a new edition of Kipling, for her sketches exhale that same powerful feeling of the atmosphere of India that we find in “Kim and the “Jungle Books.” This collection was in the small room at the ' ose. The display in the main gallery was almost as good. The two exhibitions made a League of Nations as 9

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T he Plumbline The Green Moon by ' era, the Vers Libre Versifier I peek through the knot-hole In iny daddy ' s wooden leg And wonder why They built the shore So close to the ocean And why they cut the sleeves Off daddy’s vest And dug up Fido ' s bones To make a sewer. Famous Failures The man who opened a Gift Shop in Edinburgh. Nature Oh see the leaves upon the tree That is where they ought to be Whether they be foul or fair Papa did not put them there. S. H. Utopia Realized New School Promises Much in Way of Improvements Many new features contributing to the comfort and enjoyment of the stu- dents will be incorporated in the new school, according to O. I. Inmiigate. superintendent of constrnction in an exclusive interview with the Plumber. ■‘We hope to give the students a better break, said Fumigate, and in- troduce conveniences that will tend to brighten their few leisure moments. For example, the stair treads will be finished in overstuffed leather enabling students to sit on the stairs for longer intervals than are possible at present. The wooden and iron treads now em- ploved become irksome after a period of half an hour or so and students be- come tired out from walking about iu search of a comfortable seat. With these new leather stairs bigger and better rest periods will be possilile. Another novelty will be the new drinking fountains. These will come in assorted flavors and have special musical attachments that play har- monious and uplifting tunes when the handle is turned. Think how inspiring it will be to inhale a lemon and lime to the air of ' That ' s My Weakness Now,’ or perhaps a chocolate malted while the fountain plays ‘I Can ' t Ciive You . nything but Love, Baby’.’’ Having learned these pertinent and hitherto unrevealed facts about the new building, the Plumber sought expert opinion on the character of the build- ing site. He succeeded in obtaining the following statement from Epamin- ondous Formaldehyde. Royal Blue Line driver and an authority on sites. Said Formaldehyde, In the pursuance of professional duties, I recently passed the future location of your new school and I must say that I’ve never seen a better dump.’’ Assemblies You Should July 18 Not Miss Gordon MacTavisb Reynolds, noted traveler, author of Westward Whole, Across Salt Lake in a Prairie Schooner, etc., will lecture on Our National Won- ders — Blonde and Brunette. August 3 kl. Walker Burbank, chief electrician of M. S. A., will talk on How I Put Transformers in the Northern Lights or Midnight Frolics with .Aurora Bore- alis.” Ave Atque Vale The current spasm represents the last appearance of the Plumbline. This is our curtain speech, our swan song. If some of you have gleaned an occa- sional chuckle from this page, a mo- mentary glow of pleasure perhaps, then we have not plumbed in vain. K. H. B. — The Plumber. An Intervietv With Rabbi Dr. Harry Levi Young lady to see you. Dr. Levi.” I ' ll he down in a moment, came the voice so familiar to hundreds of radio fans. I was thankful for the moment which gave me ample time to observe my sur- roundings. The very simplicity of the room seemed to tell of the greatness of the man, h ' mself. The Rabbi began, in his calm and re- served manner, to speak of his work at Temple Israel, work which well qualifies him as an exceptionally interesting speak- er for our commencement exercises. The majority of people,” he said, think of -Art only as a painting which is hung in a museum. They do not make it a part of their lives.” T)r. Levi has organized classes at the Temple in which people, both adults and children, may study painting, sculpture, wood carving, drama, and music. These students are being given a chance to under- stand and appreciate -Art. to become more intimate with it, to express themseh ' es, and to develop their talents. Their organizer and director spoke with pride of the fine showing whicli some of these people made in a recent exhibition at 40 Joy Street. Many prominent men have spoken at their class meetings, including our own Mr. Farnum. The Rabbi siKike of the absence of plastic art in the synagogues. “The early. Orthodox Jews did not rea- lize that there might he painting in the Synagogue other than a representation ot the image of (jod. A ou see, the second Hebrew Commandment, ‘Thou shalt have no other God before thee, led them to dis- approve of all plastic .Art. Therefore there are no early Jewish painters of repute. Our people in the past have done more in drama and music than in painting. Tixlay we know that there is a place in the Temple for .Art, and that it need not take the form of a representation of God.” Dr. Levi has appointed an .Art Board, composed of men who have had definite art training and who are competent to judge all art work done for the Temple. I asked the Rabbi the subject of his talk for Commencement. I do not plan my talks, ' ’ he told me, “but it will probably have something to do with the relation of .Art to our daily The Bridgewater Murals This year the project of painting mural decorations for Bridgewater Normal School is being completed. I ' or the past two years, members of the Senior Drawing and Painting classes have been carrying on the work under the super- vision of Mr. .Andrew. For the subject of the murals Air. .Andrew planned a unified series of panels embodying the idea of general education. Each of tlie five panels expresses a land- mark in the history of education. Classi- cal, Medieval, and Hebrew education are depicte d. The central panel pictures Horace Mann, the founder of the Bridge- water Normal School, and his first grad- uating class of three girls. In the fifth panel, the first public school in .America, which was maintained in Dedham, is shown. There was also space in tlie auditorium for ten small panels, and these. Air. .An- drew planned to be painted in gray mono- chrome, and to represent the Nine Aluses. The tenth panel will represent the figures of Painting and .Architecture, leaving space for an inscription. (This tablet, IK) doubt, will give honor where honor is due — to Air. Farnum, as director of the project for the school, and to Air. .Andrew, supervisor of the work. It will also give the name of each student whose work is represented in the decorations.) The decorations progressed so well the first year, and last year, that there were only five of the small panels left for this year ' s class to undertake. Erato, the Muse of Lyric Poetry, is by .Arthur Corsini : the Aluse of History is by Ed- ward Alenges : the Aluse of Religious Poetry by Rachel Clapp; and Calliope, the Aluse of Epic Poetry, by Lincoln Levinson. To Ralph .Shepherd was in- trusted the Inscription Panel. The painting of these murals has given an opportunity not often open to the art ' student. This opportunity being recog- nized and appreciated, the project was undertaken seriously, and each panel rep- resents the finest and most sincere work of which each student is capable. Appreciation To those e.xtra people, who have had such a large part in the making of The ' Vignette this year, and who have done their chores ' ’ so cheerfully, we want to express our ap])reciation. Their work has been as important as that of the regular staff, and the staff is grate- ful to them for the fine spirit with whicli they have contributed. Air. Porter and Mr. Brewster have given us splendid articles, and Air. Brewster has been very kind in loaning us interesting cuts. We have tried to maintain a certain standard, and if ne have succeeded at all. it has been through Air. Jamison’s unfailing willingness to help. • He has kept us from e.xcesses and encouraged our best efforts. We are deeply grate- ful for this year of work with him. 8

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far as the subjects were concerned for the large room was filled with oils and water colors of German castles, Italian and French streets and houses, bits of the canals of enice, and of the English sea- coast. The artist, Leonard Richmond, treats his picturesque subjects decoratively and his colors are clear and fresh. The water colors in particular are transpar- ent and very water-colory.” “Corfe Castle, Dorsetshire, England” is a grey pile upon a dark hill lightened in one spot where the sun strikes the green grass. The River Doubs, Besan- con, France” has a fragile and spotless (luality with its pale blues and faint shades of yellow. In Lakes in the Clouds, two cups of clear green-blue water are caught in the hollows of the gloomy hills. Among the oils were, The Entrance to the Bequinage,” a still, vhite street, barred with shadows, and on either side high, steep-gabled houses roofed with orange shingles. The Golden Sands of Dinard, Brittany captured me by its melodious title. I don ' t remember the picture, itself. At Messrs. Doll and Richards ' there has been a group of sculptures by Edgardo Simone, mostly portrait beads. There was a woman ' s figure emerging from the rough marble in an interesting pose. It was called Inspiration Musicale, and was intended for a foun ' .ain. Prayer is a subdued bust of a madonna-like per- son, whose meek, slim hands are up- raised on either side of her head. The Boston . rt C lub put on a large and varied show of prints, including etchings, dry-points and wood-blocks which are nearly all beautifully designed and woith studying for tbeir technical beauty alone. The first one that at- tracted my eye as I entered, ( probably because it resembled a costume sketch ) was an etching of a foreign-appearing woman, very likely a Russian, judging from the number of syllables in the ar- tist ' s name. The face was very carefully drawn in detail while the clothing, a printed shawl and skirt were simply sug- gested with a few lines and a surface pattern. The contrast between the fin- ished head and the simply rendered cos- tume made the whole very pleasing. Broken Rails by P. B. Parsons was a dry-point of a rickety rail fence lead- ing up a hill to a tree-shadowed fairy house like the one where the witch lived. There were several etching of fisher- men by Sears Gallagher and a delicate sketch of the dunes and the water. Sand and Sea, by E. B. Warren. Near the door were two very lovely etchings of a snow-storm. The solid masses of trees and fence posts were indicated by short broken lines far enough apart to suggest that snowflakes blurred the rest. (Jne of the best block prints in color is Ernest ' atson ' s, Day ' s End ; great dark horses tugging at a plow under a gold and purple sumset. A more striking print, tho ' not as beautiful, is the one called “Prayer for the Drowned, a group of women in silhouette, with upflung arms imploring the iieavens for mercy. At the Public Library the result of the annual “House Beautiful cover contest was shown. Many and varied are the ideas inspired by the word “house, ' ’ from “moving day” to a futuristic house and garden piled on top of a skyscraper. Moving Day had several versions. In one, the furniture was being neatly packed into a van in the orthodox way, in an- other, a vagabond fellow lazily drove along the highway with his cuckoo clock and bridge lamp tucked in the back of the wagon. M. rjorie E. Root A Rhapsody in Blue ■ t this time of the year it has appeared customary for local seniors to digress on pulling up the stakes, letting out the topsail or wheeling the plane out of the hangar to venture into the blue etber to answer a mysterious urge, the future. The air is teeming with suppre.ssed yearn- ings, lingering regrets and tearful fare- wells. Life, take me for what I am! I ' m your responsibility now. Those curling, yellow green tendrils left in the gutter in late . pril, the for- sythia dying in May, the haunting es- sence of the first roses in June no wonder we suddenly drop all the little strings we are pulling and sit down in the grass. There is the warmth of the sun, a lur- in,g sweetness of opening buds, damp from rain. There is the ground, hard, brown, cracking for a strong little, green spear. There are those wonderful, tou.gh, soaring columns encased in their fibrous, coarse, scale like bark. victi)rs over sn; w, sleet and icy winter blast. Those waiting trees stand with their emptiness rewarded. They are exultant on every bough. The air is busy with birds ; the sky, clear or massed with the schooners of the wind. film of green creeps over every dull and hardy shrub. Late in the day the sun glows low in the sky. The street warm in misty orange light is barred with shadows. There is a faint music of the birds, a rubbing of tbeir feathers as they nest. When the sun comes around the corner, you take your hat off. It lifts your hair, puts cool fingers over your eyes. . nd when evening setlcs down, the stir grows (piiet in the grass. The first faint piping of the crickets comes from far. In the still- ness that dying forsythia looks like a white ghost on the lawn ; there ' s a white moon swiftly skimming the stars. Deep in the heart of the night, blue branches mingle, make a lattice against gray distance. The pattern of outlines, of objects blurs. Grass, trees, and sky blend, a mist envelops all. There is no earth, only a space and a silence. Hili). L. Frost. What Follotus? The Vignette, as a bi-monthly fea- ture. is gone. Long live — what?? Now that the deed is done and a good work has been terminated, wbat is to be done to fill the space? It leaves a space. It is not entirely as if it had never ex- isted. We. who have worked for it, have had faith in it. We believe that it meant something, that it filled some need, even in a trade school. hor two years we have fought to build it up, to make it worthy of an art school, worth the effort that was put into it, worth the paper it was printed on. We have tried to give you timely, interesting articles. When we have been fortunate enough to hear a speak- er whose name means something to us all, we have tried to pass our experi- ence along for the enjoyment of those who couldn ' t go. When we have found things of interest in the theatre, in lit- erature, we have handed them on to you. We have tried to keep you in touch with current e.xhibitions. We have given you a regular column of humor. The Plumbline, lest our mag- azine become too serious. We have tried to give variety, and we have had faith enough in our work to know that The Vignette has not passed out of ex- istence because it was unworthy. There is a group of people, here, to whom The Vignette has been a source of information and enjoyment, people wbo appreciate the opportunity to con- tribute to such a paper, and who would like the experience which work of that sort offers. L ' nfortunately, these peo- ple are in the minority. The school owes them such an opportunity as ex- isted in The Vignette. They are the people of ability. They are the ones who will feel a loss. They are the ones through whom any e.xpression of the school as a whole must come, and because there is a larger number of people who take no interest in such a form of exi)ression, who do not care one way or the other, these others, who have the ability, and to whom it makes a difference, must be deprived of an opportunity which is their due. On what ground has The Vignette been discontinued? On this, that it was not representative of the school as a whole: that an art school is no place for a literary magazine. Why is this school unable to support a literary magazine? Why should our means of expression be limited to graphic form? Are we blind to other arts than our own? This has become a mere trade school, a place where people come to learn a trade, and where they get just what they come after. If extra things are offered, they feel no obligation to take them. If they do not like them they have the privilege of removing them. Certainly, if an organ of ex- pression is not serving its purpose ade- |uately, there is no question that it should be made to do so, but to destroy a good work and to offer no substitute, notbing to fill the .gap, that is some- thing entirely different. 1 (giestion the right of any majority to vote out an institution which has no greater fault than that of shooting over their heads, and which, for others, has proven a source of stimulation and enjoyment, an educational feature which they desire and appreciate. The majority vote may be a democratic feature, but it is not always the best move for a school as disorganized as this is. D. W. 10