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Page 6 SHADES OF E. I. LANE Having once been a pupil in Mr. Edwin I. Lane's Art Class, the word "lampshade" is forever allied with the smell of linseed oil. Making lampshades - the assault to one's nostrils aside, was a heck of a lot more fun than most art assignments. Material requirements were few - a wire frame, parchment, a paper punch, coloured paints and linseed oil - lots and lots of linseed oil. Physical requirements were fewer still - some brain activity in coming up with a passable design; dexterity in putting the thing together; and elbow grease -lots and lots of elbow grease. The trick in creating an acceptable lampshade lay not so much in the choice of style (flat or fluted) nor, indeed, in the motif although a shaky mark could be upgraded if the design flowed smoothly around the edges of the lampshade rather than careering wildly up and down like the needle on a lie detector machine. What ultimately separated failure from success was the linseed oil or, more correctly, the application of it. Much like a French polishing technique, linseed oil had to be massaged into the parchment - hour after hour after hour. The more oil absorbed; the more transparent the shade. Students would begin the task with the unspent energy of a rocket launch with the result the first flutes of virtually every lampshade could be likened to tissue paper but as the hours of rubbing wore on and the energy wore out, the flutes became less and less translucent and by the time they came full circle and joined the first flute, they were as opaque as a painted bathroom window. Only a handful of students survived the rigors of the linseed oil marathon and failing marks outstripped passing ones. The lampshades were dutifully lugged home and almost immediately consigned to the trash can or the attic. The fashion of the day, after all, was fabric and fringe. But,it's funny when you come to think about it because those tasseled lampshades didn't let that much light through, either .... but then, neither did they smell of linseed oil. *•*â- â- *â- * WE GREATLY APPRECIATED All the zealous volunteers who made our Open House such a consummate success; the beautiful floral bouquets from Laura Coles and Mary Chapman; and the congratulatory card from Alan Turnbull of St. Albert, Alberta whose amusing message gave us a good chuckle and whose laudatory remarks made us blush with pleasure. To: The Oft-Forgotten Pluggers, Plodders, Toilers and Grinders who are the fused backbone of the West Vancouver Museum and Historical Society! My very best wishes for the success of your formal opening of your new showpiece museum, on June 19th. For a while, after receiving your invitation to attend same, I actually thought I might be able to make the journey from Edmonton; regrettably, however, in person attendance was not possible, so I can only applaud your accomplishment from afar. The only 'plus' about not being able to attend is that I still have my first visit to hold in eager anticipation! Thanks for all your efforts, from Alan Turnbull.