Rochester Institute of Technology - Techmila / Ramikin Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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HAROLD J. BRENNAN' GEHOLFIJNE VSCHOLD ERNEST BRACE LAWRENCE COPELAND The story of the School for American Craftsmen would make a fascinating sound movie on the theme of modem design and craftsmanship in furniture, fabrics, metals and ceramics. Reel I: The camera’s lens frames a criss-cross of hairy woolen threads inside the flat, rubbed wood of the loom, and glides through to record rows of wooden looms and cupboards filled with yarns, linen, wool, rayon, cotton, metallic. , a myriad of textures and hues. With bobbins heaped high about them, the weavers begin designing as warp and weft threads combine in a counterpoint of colors and woven textures. Slowly a fabric appears for a chair covering or a window drapery. Reel II: The eye of the camera sweeps in past the bal- anced curves of a pewter pitcher, focuses on a bright flare of reflected light, and spins as the sound track picks up the incessant tattoo of metal striking metal that an- nounces the creation of a bronze bowl, a silver pitcher, or a copper lamp. The forge tempers the metalsmiths material and his arm and hammer shape it until the polished, shining object delights his eye. Muscles and patience make the metalsmiths art your pleasure. Reel III: Mud splats across the picture area, but as the moving picture frames Hick by globs of the earthy stuff slither off to reveal the Pot Shop amidst spinning potters wheels and wet clay. We watch with fascination as the potters deft fingers fashion cups, plates, bowls and pitchers from lumps of plastic clay. With amazing speed, these pots take shape, but constant practice is the HOBART COWLES TAGE Fit ID FRED MEYER ANN MARIE JOl IN PR I ]» VOX S FROCK EWST It OM FR A NS W1LDEN H AIN Fourteen

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American Craftsmen

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Ceramics Class making pottery Scraping and filing bronze bowls secret of their skill. Clay be-spattered, the ceramist stacks his kilns high and after the test of fire, his pottery pieces come forth, glowing with the lustre of their glazes. Reel IV: The camera tracks upward from the sawdust and shavings that carpet the floor to poke its optic nose among the tools on the woodworkers' benches. Then the camera swings over to the maze of chairs, cabinets and tables in various stages of construction. You hear the noise of drills, saws and whistling lathes that accompany the advent of sleek contours and designs in wood for modern interiors. You can almost smell the sweet aroma of sawdust, oils and lacquers. Reel V: As the camera dollies through the exhibition room in the foyer, the viewer of our moving picture screen is given a revelatory glimpse of the craftsmen’s work with its culmination of ideas, of knowledge of basic forms of nature, and of an appreciation of art history. Finding true satisfaction in what the head conceives and the hand creates, these students foreshadow the heir- looms of tomorrow. Plaishing a bowl Wood turning Fifteen