VOL. IV, NO. 5

December 14, 1962

Designs Don't Follow Fads;
Working With Teens Is Tops

Have you ever tried to design clothes? It is not as easy as you might think; but one who does find it easy, interesting, and profitable is Mr. George Blanas, acting chairman of West's art department.

Not only does Mr. Blanas convey his knowledge, obtained at Wright Junior college, the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and the University of Illinois, to his art pupils, but his extensive knowledge is also used to conceive women's fashions. Working under his own name, Mr. Blanas designs cocktail, evening, and bridal fashions for private customers. "I design to fit the budget, personality, and appearance of my customers, not the fad of the day."

Besides fashion designing, Mr. Blanas enjoys painting, cooking at the barbecue in summer, and "working in silver" or making jewelry. He makes rings, pins, and necklaces as a hobby and to sell.

Some of Mr. Blanas' past assignments include teaching the Junior school of the Art Institute in Chicago for six years, designing the costumes for Maine East's V-show, being this year's assistant director of the V-show here at West, and lecturing in the Home economics department on the relationship of the principles and elements of design to fashion. "Fashion designing has helped me in teaching textile design," explained Mr. Blanas.


"English has always been my favorite subject and I love working with teenagers," Miss Nancy Samuelson asserted when asked of her reason for teaching English.

Miss Samuelson is interested in reading, tennis, and music, and has traveled to Colorado, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Minnesota where she enjoyed fishing. Born in Iowa, she attended the University of Iowa and Morningside college in Sioux City, Iowa. She has also attended the University of South Dakota.

Miss Samuelson expressed her enjoyment in teaching and asserted that Maine is the finest of all the schools at which she has taught. Her future plans include a vacation in Sioux City, Iowa, during the Christmas holidays and work on her M.A. at the University of South Dakota during the summer.