Dear ARLIS Members and Friends,
I am pleased to announce the speakers at the President's Choice session next week at the ARLIS/NA Annual Conference in Chicago.
Modern in the Middle co-authors Susan Benjamin and Michelangelo Sabatino will present their research and talk about the discoveries surrounding their award-winning 2020 publication, now in its second printing from Monacelli Press. Susan draws on a decades-long career in historic preservation, having written dozens of landmark nominations for Chicago-area buildings. Michelangelo frames his discussion from numerous international research projects, his position at IIT's school of architecture, and the restoration of his modernist home in the Chicago suburb of Riverside.
Modern in the Middle uncovers the special and unique role Chicago (in the "middle" of America) played in the development of the Modern House. Although locals Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe were the giants in the room, there were relatively-unknown talents whose stunning work is revealed through gorgeous Hedrich Blessing photos throughout the book. Stories about their clients (who were largely "middle" class) and the architect-client relationships are equally compelling. The authors' passion for their subject is clearly felt from beginning to end of this fascinating read.
The organizers of this event are working with a local bookseller to have signed copies on site for sale.
Our presenters' full bios can be found on the conference website at https://www.arlisna.org/news/speakers and you can add the event to your conference schedule at https://arlisna50thannualconference.sched.com/event/zrWj/presidents-choice.
My best,
Mark
MARK POMPELIA | Visual + Material Resource Librarian | Librarian IV
Rhode Island School of Design Fleet Library | library.risd.edu
President 2021-22, Art Libraries Society of North America