The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Theory Of Decoration
Modern art is applying the new illuminating science in a fuller and more imaginative way. All the devices are employed. Particularly it uses effectively, the varieties of modern glass, thin colored marbles, reflecting metals and fabrics. Period lighting fixtures are generally imitations of historic oil, candle and gas fixtures. The older electric wall-bracket is often an oil lamp fixture turned upside down. One of the best devices in modern lighting is to build decorative flush panels of glass of exquisite color and texture into the wall, the glass being in thin sheets or modern patterns overlapping, with the light bulb behind. The use of such panels or light inserts permits the use of various shaped bulbs. All sorts of light control are possible; colored, indirect, direct, clear, reflected, diffused, subdued, etc. In commercial display, lighting often takes the shape of stage effects of all sorts. Sometimes the objects displayed for sale are shown in a spotlight, or stand out against a glowing background.
What may be called the architectural lighting—ceiling lights, wall brackets and cornice lights, are more apt to be indirect and diffused in beams or areas of illumination. Sometimes a beam of light in a definite form is cast from a concealed box near the floor up against a vertical pilaster or support. The ceiling is often used as a reflector.
The artist who becomes interested in modern art should exercise the utmost discrimination. lie should distinguish between that which most embodies the highest ideals of art, which appears to have lasting qualities of design and that which is less sound. He should reject everything which is extreme, or bizarre, wild, superficial, or transitory.
MODERN DECORATION
He should become familiar with the best works of the leaders in the movement and should note how each progresses. He should especially know how to detect the experimental work, which is necessary in the early development of a style, and should appraise truly the degree of its success.
There are not as yet a large number of noted artists in the new movement, and one should avoid mistaking results of their personal tastes for exclusive principles of style, for tomorrow a new galaxy of stars may present something equally individual and equally in accord with the spirit of the times.
There has been much produced in the name of "modern art" the only quality of which has been that it is different without being logical. Much has been produced that is restless, zig-zag and hurly-burly which disregards the principles of harmony. This type of art may be adaptable to certain types of rooms, but not to the rooms of a dwelling. Art may be in a state of revolt, but it should not be revolting. There should be a rational use of new materials or old materials in new forms that are more suitable to present-day needs. There should be a logical reason for every form, line, color, texture or pattern produced.
