Art: Bauhaus Blowout

A new centre for the contemporary re-examination of architectural problems was set up in Chicago last year in the New Bauhaus, directed by Hungarian Designer Ladislaus Moholy-Nagy (TIME, Oct. 25). Last summer hopes of this school appeared to be borne out in an exhibition of fresh experimental work by its students (TIME, July 11). But last month opening day came and Chicago’s New Bauhaus did not reopen. Neither chunky Director Moholy-Nagy nor his backers, the supposedly well-heeled Association of Arts & Industries, would say anything except to their lawyers until last week. Then Moholy-Nagy sued the A.A.I. for $2,750 back salary, intimated sadly that he had been gulled. But the A.A.I. had a bitter tale to tell of Moholy’s trying to “Hitlerize” the New Bauhaus, announced in some confusion that the school would re-open this week without him, then that it would re-open “soon.”