Noted architectural historian Dr. Denis McNamara will be the lead presenter in an April 17-18, program sponsored by the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati. Edward Schulte, architect of many local landmarks, including the design of St. Monica and Christ the King churches, and the renovation of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, is the focus of the two-day symposium and tour. The symposium will be at the Cathedral on Saturday, April 17, 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. On Sunday afternoon, April 18, 2:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., there will be guided tours of selected Schulte churches in Cincinnati.

Cathedral undercroft, 8th & Plum St., Cincinnati OH 45202. Parking on south side. April 18, 2 until 4:30 p.m., See church list below. 

Cincinnati architect Edward Schulte rose to national prominence as a prolific designer who synthesized the dominant trends of Modernism with traditional ecclesiastical materials and forms. He is the only American architect of the twentieth century who could list four cathedral commissions among a body of work that included more than 80 churches. Schulte has recently been rediscovered as a master architect of singular ability whose unique style and collaboration with local artisans brought Cincinnati's artistic talent to a national audience.

Dr. Denis McNamara is assistant director and faculty member at The Liturgical Institute, a graduate program in theology at the seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He holds a Ph.D. in architectural history from the University of Virginia, and recently lectured on Schulte's work at the international meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians. His newest book, "Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy" (2009), includes photos and commentary on many of Schulte's designs. His work is also in McNamara's earlier book, "Heavenly City: The Architectural Tradition of Catholic Chicago" (2005).

Dr. McNamara's illustrated talk on Saturday will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Father Christopher Armstrong, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and currently the pastor of St. Antoninus, Green Township and a former Archdiocesan Chancellor. Father Armstrong and AFC trustee Christine Schoonover are co-chairs of the program. Donald Junker, an architect and trustee emeritus of AFC, and Cincinnati photographer and publisher Robert Flischel will join McNamara on the panel. The program is free and open to the public.

Tour Schulte churches on April 18, 2:00 until 4:30 p.m. Guided tours are free and open to public for: St. Bernard, 7130 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati 45247; St. Cecilia, 3105 Madison Ave., Cincinnati 45209; Our Lord Christ the King, 3223 Linwood Ave., Cincinnati 45226; St. Gertrude, 7630 Shawnee Run Rd., Cincinnati 45243; Holy Trinity, 2420 Drex Ave., Cincinnati 45212; St. Monica/St. George, 328 W. McMillan, Cincinnati 45219; Church of the Nativity, 5935 Pandora Ave., Cincinnati 45213; and St. Peter in Chains, 325 W. Eighth St., Cincinnati 45202. Visit www.architecturecincy.org or phone AFC office (513) 421-4469 for additional information.

About Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati
The Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to creating awareness of the historic and contemporary built environment. Edward J. Schulte is one of the architects profiled in "Architecture in Cincinnati: An Illustrated History of Designing and Building an American City." The book is available at museum shops and bookstores, and on sale (hardcover $70, now $45, and softcover $35, now $20) at the AFC office, and online at www.architecturecincy.org. To visit or join AFC, contact (513) 421-4469 or visit our Website.

The Foundation is grateful to GBBN Architects and The Catanzaro Family for assistance with sponsorship of the symposium.

Learn more and view Schulte churches at http://www.architecturecincy.org

Website: http://www.architecturecincy.org
Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati
Sue Ann Painter
Executive Director
email: painter@architecturecincy.org
phone: 513-421-4469  Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati
127 West Ninth Street
Cincinnati OH 45202

                CHICAGO – The annual conference of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy (FLWBC) will convene September 22–26, 2010, at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. The annual conference offers an exploration of Wright’s architectural and engineering legacy through daily education sessions as well as an opportunity to see Wright's designs in person. This year the conference welcomes attendees to private homes Wright designed as well as the Burton J. Westcott House, now a public museum, in nearby Springfield, Ohio. The annual event is expected to attract more than 400 people ranging from Wright homeowners, architectural scholars, educators and enthusiasts from around the world as well as 100 local volunteers.
 
            Cincinnati, Queen City of the West, offers a unique historical association with Wright, not only for the three Usonian homes designed during his lifetime, but also because Wright delivered an important speech during the Depression from Cincinnati’s Netherland Hilton. There, he addressed more than 600 members of the National Association of Real Estate Boards on June 30, 1932, and found one of his first apprentices.
 
               That day, a second-year University of Cincinnati architecture student and city native Abrom (Abe) Dombar, found a way to meet the famous Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect he admired above all others. Though Dombar was prohibited to attend the lecture because he was not a member of the organization, he summoned the courage to approach Wright as he prepared to take the stage. On the spot, Wright invited the determined 19-year-old to lunch after his talk. Because of that meeting Dombar made the noteworthy decision to leave the university to become one of the first apprentices in Wright’s Fellowship program, also established in 1932. Dombar’s younger brother, Benjamin, later followed Abe to Taliesin and also apprenticed with the master. Separately, the brothers returned to Cincinnati and over many years in that city designed dozens of area homes, some of which will be open for touring during this year’s conference.
 
              Attendees will visit Wright's Cincinnati-area residential works in addition to the newly restored Westcott House (1906-08), Wright’s only Prairie home in the state, which faced collapse a decade ago. The Westcott House’s award-winning restoration was made possible by the Conservancy when it bought the home in 2000 from a private owner and transferred it to a newly established non-profit foundation. Five years and $5.8 million later, the home opened to the public October 15, 2005. Today, the museum serves as an educational and economic driver for its region and attracts 12,000 visitors yearly.
        
              Volunteers are already planning educational sessions, social events and home tours to take place when conference attendees arrive in September. Those who arrive early Wednesday, September 22, may choose to participate in an optional pre-conference day tour of Columbus, Ind., or downtown Cincinnati architecture scheduled for the afternoon. 
 
               The Cincinnati hills have long been attractive to architects either directly influenced by Wright or to those designing in opposition to his organic architecture. The area features homes by Philip Glass, Michael Graves, Richard Neutra, William Drummond, Daniel Burnham and John deKoven Hill as well as local mid-century modernists such as Woodie Garber, and contemporary architects such as Carl Strauss, Ray Roush and David Niland.

               This year’s conference theme, “Modifying Wright’s Buildings and Their Sites: Additions, Subtractions, Adjacencies” investigates significant changes made to Wright’s buildings or their contexts by Wright and others.  It offers a forum for considering questions regarding architectural integrity and interpretation relevant to building owners and site managers, preservationists and historians.
 
            A highlight of the conference is the annual Gala dinner on Saturday evening, to be held in the hotel’s Hall of Mirrors. The Conservancy will bestow the Wright Spirit Awards – its highest accolades– to those individuals and organizations that demonstrate extraordinary efforts in stewardship of Wright buildings or furtherance of the Wright legacy. Rounding out the conference is an optional post-conference architectural tour taking place Sunday, September, 26, for which details will be announced.
            
            For more information about hotel and conference registration, please visit www.savewright.org, or call the Conservancy at 312.663.5500.
 
          The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati at the corner of Fifth and Race Streets, just off of I-75 and I-71 and 12 miles north of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. A National Historic Landmark and charter member of Historic Hotels of America, the structure is a dramatic example of French Art Deco.
 
            The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, an international preservation organization, is based in Chicago. Founded in 1989, its mission is to facilitate the preservation and maintenance of the remaining structures designed by Wright through education, advocacy, preservation easements and technical services.

Coming soon to The Betts House, HOME WORK, an exhibit of new work by the design studio VisuaLingual, features throw pillows, table runners, ceramics, and limited-edition prints inspired by the historic architecture of Cincinnati.

HOME WORK offers a new perspective on the ornamentation and embellishments found on many downtown and Over-the-Rhine buildings. By removing the design elements from their architectural setting and placing them on functional objects and prints, VisuaLingual shifts the focus to the artistic merit of each unique detail.

“The architecture of Cincinnati is eclectic and beautiful. Architects and craftsmen often include wonderful detail work on building facades,” said Betts House executive director Julie Carpenter. “VisuaLingual’s transfer of these architectural embellishments to useful objects and prints draws attention to the unique ornamentation that contributes so much to our city’s built environment. We hope this exhibit inspires people to take a closer look at the buildings in their neighborhoods.”

VisuaLingual (http://www.visualingual.org) is the award-winning multidisciplinary design studio of Maya Drozdz and Michael Stout, which creates original place-centric products and prints, and also collaborates with cultural agencies on design commissions. Based in Over-the-Rhine, the studio's work focuses primarily on the built environment in and around Cincinnati.

HOME WORK: An Exhibit of New Work by VisuaLingual
February 20 – April 8, 2010

 
Coming soon to The Betts House, HOME WORK is an exhibit of new work by the design studio VisuaLingual, featuring throw pillows, table runners, ceramics, and limited-edition prints inspired by the historic architecture of Cincinnati.
 
HOME WORK offers a new perspective on the ornamentation and embellishments found on many downtown and Over-the-Rhine buildings. By removing the design elements from their architectural setting and placing them on functional objects and prints, VisuaLingual shifts the focus to the artistic merit of each unique detail.
 
“The architecture of Cincinnati is eclectic and beautiful. Architects and craftsmen often include wonderful detail work on building facades,” said Betts House executive director Julie Carpenter. “VisuaLingual’s transfer of these architectural embellishments to useful objects and prints draws attention to the unique ornamentation that contributes so much to our city’s built environment. We hope this exhibit inspires people to take a closer look at the buildings in their neighborhoods.”
 
VisuaLingual is the award-winning multidisciplinary design studio of Maya Drozdz and Michael Stout, which creates original place-centric products and prints, and also collaborates with cultural agencies on design commissions. Based in Over-the-Rhine, the studio's work focuses primarily on the built environment in and around Cincinnati.

HOME WORK debuts as part of the Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend; The Betts House will be open noon – 5 pm, on Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21 and will offer free admission both days. An opening reception for HOME WORK will take place Saturday, February 20, 5 – 8 pm. In addition to its regular hours, The Betts House will also be open the following Saturdays during the run of HOME WORK: March 6 and 20, and April 3, 12:30 – 5 pm.

ABOUT THE BETTS HOUSE

Built in 1804, The Betts House, Ohio’s oldest brick house, is located in the Betts-Longworth Historic District in downtown Cincinnati. The Betts House promotes the study of building materials and historic preservation through special exhibits and public programs. Tours of the house showcase its history and construction. An ongoing exhibit features a timeline of the house paired with the history of Cincinnati and the nation.

VISITOR INFORMATION

The Betts House is located two blocks west of Music Hall at 416 Clark Street. Parking is available on Clark Street, John Street, Central Avenue, and the Town Center Garage on Central Parkway behind Music Hall. The Betts House is open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and two Saturdays each month; other days and times are available by appointment. The museum is closed on January 1, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and December 25. Group tours are available by appointment. Admission is $2 per person.

Noted architectural historian Dr. Denis McNamara will be the lead presenter in an April 17-18, program sponsored by the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati. Edward Schulte, architect of many local landmarks, including the design of St. Monica and Christ the King churches, and the renovation of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, is the focus of the two-day symposium and tour.  The symposium will be at the Cathedral on Saturday, April 17, 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.  On Sunday afternoon, April 18, 2:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., there will be guided tours of selected Schulte churches in Cincinnati. 

Cincinnati architect Edward Schulte is known for having designed many of his home city's most prominent churches in the 1930s and 1940s. By the 1950s, however, Schulte rose to national prominence as a prolific designer who synthesized the dominant trends of Modernism with traditional ecclesiastical materials and forms.

Schulte is the only American architect of the twentieth century who could list four cathedral commissions—these among a body of work that included more than 80 churches. Schulte has recently been rediscovered as a master architect of singular ability whose unique style and collaboration with local artisans brought Cincinnati's artistic talent to a national audience.

Dr. Denis McNamara is assistant director and faculty member at The Liturgical Institute, a graduate program in theology at the seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He holds a Ph.D. in architectural history from the University of Virginia, and recently lectured on Schulte's work at the international meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians. His newest book, Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy (2009), includes photos and commentary on many of Schulte's designs.  Schulte’s work is also in McNamara’s earlier book, Heavenly City: The Architectural Tradition of Catholic Chicago (2005), which received the Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Booksellers Association.
 
Christine Schoonover, AFC immediate past president and its current program chair, and the Reverend Christopher R. Armstrong are co-chairs of the program and tours, which will be open to the public without charge. 

Dr. McNamara’s illustrated talk on Saturday will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Father Armstrong, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and currently the pastor of St. Antoninus, Green Township.  As a former Archdiocesan Chancellor, Father Armstrong oversaw a video project to record the artistic, cultural, and historical treasures of the Archdiocese. While a seminarian at St. Gregory College Seminary, his professor of Art and Architecture was Rev. Donald A. Tenoever, who had worked closely with Edward Schulte in the renovation of St. Peter-in-Chains Cathedral.  Donald Junker, an architect and trustee emeritus of AFC, and Cincinnati photographer and publisher Robert Flischel will join McNamara on the panel. 

Sponsors will be recognized in a video of Schulte’s local churches, which will be produced to complement the programs.  It will be available for public viewing on AFC ‘s Web site and copies will be distributed to area libraries and churches.  

Visit www.architecturecincy.org or phone AFC office (513) 421-4469 for additional information.

Architectural Foundation Programs and exhibits

AFC sponsors educational and enjoyable programs that increase awareness and appreciation for the built environment of Greater Cincinnati. Its goal is to advance sustainable, satisfying, and aesthetic designs that improve the quality of life.

AFC Headquarters and Gallery
127 West Ninth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
421-4469
www.architecturecincy.org
 

If you didn’t get your fill of surprising and entertaining stories about our nation’s chief executives on Presidents Day, fret no longer.
 
The Ohio River Valley Chapter of the Victorian Society in America will present “Ohio Presidents and Politicos,” the title of this year’s popular annual symposium, on March 13, 2010, at historic Trinity Episcopal Church, Fourth Street and Madison Avenue, Covington, Kentucky.
 
Maybe you already knew that eight Ohioans served as U.S. president. But did you know that three of them were from Hamilton County?  Or that Abraham Lincoln made three visits to Cincinnati?
 
Or how about the pivotal role that Cincinnati’s infamous “Boss” Cox, whom muckraking journalists called “the biggest boss of them all,” played in bringing order and reform to the changing city?
 
Learn more about how the Queen City led our country at “Ohio Presidents and Politicos.”
Speakers are:
 
§  Dan Hurley, historian, “The Taft Family: A Remarkable Legacy of Leadership”
§  Bob Wimberg, author of six books on Cincinnati history, “Ulysses S. Grant and his Family”
§  Judith Spraul-Schmidt, University of Cincinnati history professor, “ ‘Boss’ Cox’s Cincinnati”
§  Warren G. Harding III, great-nephew of President Warren G. Harding, who will talk on “Our Common Country: Mutual Good Will in America”
§  Joyce Baer, library genealogist and costumed historical interpreter, “Remember the Ladies: Presidents’ Wives from Ohio”
§  J.A. Chewning, UC senior design historian, “Lincoln in Cincinnati”
 
The symposium runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $30, members, $35, nonmembers, and includes a catered lunch. To register or for more information, call Karen or Jim Schwartz at 513-829-3483.