Art and Discipline

The U.S. military training camp at Ft. Dix, N.J. has some 400 part-time soldier art students. Every Wednesday afternoon these men meet and work in two crowded, fully equipped art schools at the Fort's recreation centers (one of these is for Negroes).

Dix's schools are the result of one lec ture made at the camp a year ago by Director Boris Blai of the Tyler School of Fine Arts (part of Philadelphia's Temple University). Blai told soldier listeners that anyone could learn to use his hands to express himself. The men wanted to hear more. Back came Blai. He was swamped with requests, questions. Result was a Blai-promoted fund-raising and teacher-recruiting campaign. First classes were held last spring. Subjects were painting, sculpture, ceramics, lithography, bookbinding, jewelry-making. Last fortnight Russian-born Boris Blai told a few stories about his schools.

Few Dix students ever colored a canvas or modeled a figure in their civilian days. Said one of them, looking up from a sensitive head modeled in clay: "I've been in the Army six years, and I've had my ups & downs. I was up as high as staff sergeant once. ... I have a hot temper. They thought when I came here that I'd never learn to make anything with my hands but black eyes. [This] is easier on the hands, and more satisfying." Another Dix artist has even refused to leave Ft. Dix on his days off. He stayed to work on his paintings.

Ft. Dix art converts send their work home, give it to friends, exhibit it at the Community Auditoriums. One soldier changed his life by fashioning an irresistible engagement ring for his girl. Army officers' expectation is that, later on, alumni of the Blai courses will aid rehabilitation of the wounded by imparting their new-found knowledge of manual crafts. Blai and assistants may later take their teaching into Army hospitals.

Says Blai: "Discipline does it. The Army is teaching Americans discipline and control, the foundation for success in art, or in any other sphere."

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