International studio (60.1916/1917)

A Civic Ideal

CIVIC IDEAL
BY JOHN W. WIESE
Municipal art is a public educator;
it is an art for the citizen, and it is
an ideal that they have been striving to reach
since the early dawn of history. In the early
days civic art was displayed in and on the great
public buildings, but now its mission stretches
out over a much broader plane. Its goal now is
to take, in the right way, those steps necessary
and proper for the comfort of the citizen. Mu-
nicipal art, then, is the most powerful means that
public-spirited men can use in improving civic
conditions. By improving civic conditions we
do not mean the advancement of beauty alone;
civic art represents a moral, intellectual and ad-
ministrative progress. With those facts in view
we may safely say that the steps taken in this
general evolution are leading to municipal aes-
thetics as their visible goal. Now, in order
to make our city beautiful and lovely, we must
consider the beautifying of the city’s focal points.
We have heard it said that civic art is not satis-
fying unless it has well-defined characteristics,
and unless they are expressed harmoniously.
That is very true, and the expression must be so
harmonious that a person approaching the city
will be impressed clearly and distinctly by one
beautiful and appropriate idea. If it does that,
civic art has reached its goal in that respect.
We may readily see that the most favourable
place from which to view a city is from the ap-
proach, whether by land or water. How different
is the impression gained by entering the city by
railroad or car or wagon if the city has a beau-
tiful, -permanent and formal entrance, than if the
entrance is neglected, and if innumerable and
variegated advertisements occupy the entrance
scene. In order to ameliorate these conditions
which can give no good impression of the city tt>
any traveller, the city should require the railroad
corporation to keep its right-of-way at least neat,
and the city itself should beautify the surround-
ing places. If it cannot beautify it by planting
trees or by using some other means of improving
it along the borders to the city limits, then mere
neatness will do much. A worthy entrance to
our city would be an advantage to the railroad
company as well as to the city, but it evidently
remains for the city to demand it. Civic art will
work wonders in advertising the city in compari-

son to what those ugly and conspicuous business
advertising signs along the main roads and rail-
roads leading to the heart of the city can ever do.
All the main approaches lead necessarily to the
business centre of the city. Therefore these main
streets should consist of more than a passage
cleared for travel with only buildings or vacant
lots on either side. Of course we assume as Mr.
C. M. Robinson, one of the greatest and best
authorities on civic improvement says, that the
furnishing of these streets consist already of a
good pavement and well-laid walks, which are
both kept clean. Assuming that, there are still
other factors which mar the prospect of the
street. One great factor is the present system of
overhead wires—a factor that mars the prospect
of the business section as well as the residential
streets, although these wires are more distasteful
in the latter. The remedy for this is the under-
ground system.
Another great factor is the system of adver-
tising which placards the way, especially if it is
used as in some cities—on some of the most
prominent thoroughfares.
We do not want to show our ill-taste and in-
tense commercialism in the display of these irrel-
evant and ugly announcements. We cannot call
this sort of street-furnishing art. Nor is it any-
thing that will secure one’s attention for any
length of time. We invariably turn from it with
a feeling of disgust. Beauty and fitness, on the
other hand, is art, and in whatever form it may
appear we look at it again with pleasure and ad-
miration. Beauty and fitness can with few
exceptions be secured at a cost which is not
greater than that expended in providing for these
extraordinary ornamental factors used. Municipal
art would have something to be proud of, if our
business streets were freed from overhead wires,
side banners, and projecting signs, with different
beautifying objects put in their place. The at-
tractiveness of the street would be immensely
increased, its importance would not be lessened,
and the competition of the merchants would still
exist with the same keenness.
When we have cleared these streets from all
their defects, the next question arises as to what
should be along the streets. This question may
be answered by taking the opportunity of secur-
ing every artistic device for the city where space
can be obtained without crowding the public way
unduly. A row of formal shade trees on either


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