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Industrial Arts Exposition. Dissent Among Designers. Vintage News. 1935

ARTS IN INDUSTRY GLORIFIED IN SHOW :Exhibit Here, Opened by Signal Sent by President, Reveals Beauty of Products.

The home was the center of attention in this Industrial Arts Exposition opened under the 'auspices' of the National Alliance of Art and Industry. The exposition was designed to showcase that, despite financial problems, science and industry was flourishing. Prior to the exposition opening, a group of designers issued a statement that the National Alliance of Art and Industry was not promoting the 'best standards of American design.' They declined to participate in the event in which President Roosevelt opened in the Oval Room of the White House by pressing a gold telegraph key.

The designer's statement said that the National Alliance was formed to promote 'good design in manufactured products'. It continued by saying that it 'neither stimulates better design, represents the artist, nor improves the relationship between designer and industry.'

Signers of this statement reads like a Who's Who: Russel Wright, Norman Bel Geddes, Raymond Loewy, Gilbert Rhode, George Sakier, Walter Dorwin Teague, Donald Deskey, and Walter von Nessen. It is interesting to note that a number of these same designers participated in the National Alliance of Art and Industry exhibitions in previous years.

The article noted that manufacturers were using art and design to create 'sales appeal' during the depression.

ARTS IN INDUSTRY GLORIFIED IN SHOW :Exhibit Here, Opened by Signal Sent by President, Reveals Beauty of Products.. 1935. New York Times (1857-Current file), April 16, http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed April 6, 2006).