The leading philosopher of architecture of his time, Roger Scruton spent his life thinking and writing about the aesthetics of the built environment. He published such books as The Aesthetics of Architecture and The Classical Vernacular: Architectural Principles in an Age of Nihilism, along with numerous pieces of popular journalism on the subject. A staunch foe of Modernist architecture, Scruton argued for the superiority of the classical tradition, which he believed to be unparalleled in its capacity to produce beauty and harmony, and to make us feel at home in the world.
Controversy exploded in Britain when he was appointed chairman of the UK government's Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, which addressed the poor design of homes and places. A similar controversy has erupted in recent years in America as both President Trump and Congress have promoted classical and traditional design for federal buildings and U.S. courthouses.
On May 19, 2024, National Civic Art Society president Justin Shubow delivered this lecture at Georgetown University surveying Scruton's ideas about architecture as well as how his followers should respond to recent events in America.
The lecture was part of a conference, Roger Scruton: America, presented by The Center for American Culture and Ideas, American Enterprise Institute, Ethics & Public Policy Center, and National Civic Art Society.
You can watch the video on YouTube HERE.
C.J. Howard to Speak About Architecture and Virtue on June 7
The National Civic Art Society cordially invites you to a dinner lecture by C.J. Howard on “The Arrow of Aesthetics: Architecture’s Role in Cultural Formation Through Virtue.”
Co-sponsored NCAS, the event is the keynote of the The Academy Of Philosophy & Letters' annual conference.
The dinner lecture will take place on Friday June 7, 2024 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the College Park Marriott at 3501 University Blvd E, Hyattsvile, Maryland. Tickets cost $120 for non-members of APL if you register by Mary 23. Register HERE.
About the speaker: C.J. Howard is principal architect at C.J. Howard Architecture LLC. He is a registered architect who has spent more than two decades practicing in the Washington, D.C. region. He has extensive experience working for firms nationally known for their commitment to, and expertise in, classical and traditional design. Since 2017, Mr. Howard has also served as Assistant Professor at The Catholic University of America where he teaches in the newly launched classical traditional architecture and urbanism track.
Mr. Howard has most recently been a Lead Project Architect for McCrery Architects in Washington, D.C., leading the design and construction of major ecclesiastical projects (both to benefit vibrant and growing Catholic communities on university campuses as well as expanding dioceses). Some of those projects include: a new Thomas Aquinas Chapel and Blessed John Newman Student Center at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), renovated Saint John Paul the Great Chapel at Mundelein University, a New Christ the King Chapel for Franciscan University of Steubenville and a new Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville, TN.
In addition to his ecclesiastical portfolio, Mr. Howard has worked on a variety of residential and civic projects including several urban design projects in collaboration with the District Department of Transportation, to propose visionary new projects for our Nation’s Capital. He has also garnered attention for his entries in design competitions including a 2008 winning entry for a Contrabands’ and Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. His winning design, chosen from among several hundred entries submitted from 20 countries, was used as the design framework for the memorial which was completed and dedicated in 2014.
Mr. Howard received both his Bachelor of Architecture (2000) and Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism (2010) from the University of Notre Dame. In 2010, Mr. Howard received the Ferguson & Shamamian Graduate Prize for excellence in classical/traditional design exhibited in a graduate thesis. In 2019, Mr. Howard won the Leicester B. Holland Prize Competition. He is licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland and is a member of the Institute of Classical Architecture, National Civic Art Society, and National Council of Architecture Registration Boards.
Register HERE.
NCAS President Justin Shubow to Speak About Roger Scruton's Philosophy of Architecture
The National Civic Art Society cordially invites you to a talk by NCAS President Justin Shubow on "Roger Scruton's Philosophy of Architecture." The talk will take place on Sunday May 19, 2024 at 9:40 AM at Georgetown University (Hariri Building, Room 450) in Washington, D.C.
The lecture is part of a conference, Roger Scruton: America, presented by The Center for American Culture and Ideas, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Ethics & Public Policy Center. The National Civic Art Society is a co-sponsor. Scruton, who passed away in 2020, served on NCAS's Board of Advisors.
Here is the abstract of Shubow's talk:
The leading philosopher of architecture of his time, Roger Scruton spent his life thinking and writing about the aesthetics of the built environment. He published such books as The Aesthetics of Architecture and The Classical Vernacular: Architectural Principles in an Age of Nihilism, along with numerous pieces of popular journalism on the subject. A staunch foe of Modernist architecture, Scruton argued for the superiority of the classical tradition, which he believed to be unparalleled in its capacity to produce beauty and harmony, and to make us feel at home in the world. Controversy exploded in Britain when he was appointed chairman of the UK government’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, which addressed the poor design of homes and places. A similar controversy has erupted in recent years in America as both President Trump and Congress have promoted classical and traditional design for federal buildings and U.S. courthouses. This talk will survey Scruton’s ideas about architecture as well as how his followers should respond to recent events in America.
About the speaker: Justin Shubow is president of the National Civic Art Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes the classical tradition in public art and architecture. He is former Chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency comprising seven presidential appointees who are the aesthetic guardians of Washington, D.C. Shubow has testified in Congress on topics such as the future of the National Mall and the design of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. He is the author of The Gehry Towers over Eisenhower: The National Civic Art Society Report on the Eisenhower Memorial, a critical examination of the memorial’s competition, design, and agency approval.
He has published architectural criticism at Forbes online, First Things, Public Discourse, The Washington Post, and The Weekly Standard. Shubow is a former editor at Forward newspaper and Commentary magazine, and is a recipient of a Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship. He has delivered talks on architecture and other subjects at the U.S. Department of State, American Enterprise Institute, Baylor University, Colorado College, Hamilton College, and the Universities of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and others.
Shubow received a B.A. from Columbia University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and completed four years of study in the University of Michigan’s Ph.D. program in philosophy; he has taught philosophy courses as an instructor at the University of Michigan and Yale College. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation and the Board of Academic Advisors of the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization.
Register HERE.
NCAS President Justin Shubow Delivers Talk in Palm Beach on Federal Architecture
On January 17, 2024, the National Civic Art Society and the Palm Beach Freedom Institute hosted "Can Federal Architecture Be Great Again?: Trump, Biden, and the Politics of Beauty," a talk by NCAS President Justin Shubow.
About the speaker: Justin Shubow is president of the National Civic Art Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes the classical tradition in public art and architecture. He is former Chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency comprising seven presidential appointees who are the aesthetic guardians of Washington, D.C. Shubow has testified in Congress on topics such as the future of the National Mall and the design of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. He is the author of The Gehry Towers over Eisenhower: The National Civic Art Society Report on the Eisenhower Memorial, a critical examination of the memorial’s competition, design, and agency approval.
He has published architectural criticism at Forbes online, First Things, Public Discourse, The Washington Post, and The Weekly Standard. Shubow is a former editor at the Forward newspaper and Commentary magazine, and is a recipient of a Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship. He has delivered talks on architecture and other subjects at the U.S. Department of State, American Enterprise Institute, Baylor University, Colorado College, Hamilton College, and the Universities of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and others.
Shubow received a B.A. from Columbia University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and completed four years of study in the University of Michigan’s Ph.D. program in philosophy; he has taught philosophy courses as an instructor at the University of Michigan and Yale College. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation and the Board of Academic Advisors of the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization.
Palm Beach Event: Can Federal Architecture Be Great Again?
A Federal Courthouse in Florida Completed in 2007
The National Civic Art Society and the Palm Beach Freedom Institute cordially invite you to "Can Federal Architecture Be Great Again?: Trump, Biden, and the Politics of Beauty," a talk by NCAS President Justin Shubow.
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Time: 6-8 PM
Location: a venue in Palm Beach, Florida to be disclosed via e-mail confirmation
Attire: Palm Beach cocktail
Kindly RSVP by January 12 by e-mailing president@palmbeachfreedom.org. No admittance without confirmation.
About the speaker: Justin Shubow is president of the National Civic Art Society, a nonprofit organization that promotes the classical tradition in public art and architecture. He is former Chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency comprising seven presidential appointees who are the aesthetic guardians of Washington, D.C. Shubow has testified in Congress on topics such as the future of the National Mall and the design of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. He is the author of The Gehry Towers over Eisenhower: The National Civic Art Society Report on the Eisenhower Memorial, a critical examination of the memorial’s competition, design, and agency approval.
He has published architectural criticism at Forbes online, First Things, Public Discourse, The Washington Post, and The Weekly Standard. Shubow is a former editor at the Forward newspaper and Commentary magazine, and is a recipient of a Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship. He has delivered talks on architecture and other subjects at the U.S. Department of State, American Enterprise Institute, Baylor University, Colorado College, Hamilton College, and the Universities of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and others.
Shubow received a B.A. from Columbia University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and completed four years of study in the University of Michigan’s Ph.D. program in philosophy; he has taught philosophy courses as an instructor at the University of Michigan and Yale College. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation and the Board of Academic Advisors of the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization.
A Debate Co-sponsored by the National Civic Art Society and Congress for New Urbanism: Should D.C. Raise its Height Limit?
The National Civic Art Society and Congress for New Urbanism cordially invite you to attend a debate on whether Washington, D.C. should raise its height limit.
NCAS President Justin Shubow will be arguing for the negative position, along with Brian O'Looney, partner at Torti Gallas + Partners. Arguing for the affirmative will be Ellen McCarthy, partner at The Urban Partnership, and Harriet Tregoning, director of the New Urban Mobility Alliance.
The debate will take place the morning of Sunday April 2, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Tickets for the event are $50. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For details, see above.
In the afternoon, local architects and planners will lead two separate tours around the city. The Classical Washington Tour will focus on the National Mall and surrounding area. The Waterfront Development Tour will look at the new developments of Navy Yard and The Wharf. Both tours will rejoin at the end for a happy hour -- location TBA.
Register HERE. Note that registration closes March 27.
NCAS Co-Sponsors Juried Charrette for the Siting of New Smithsonian Museums
Looking south from the Smithsonian Castle to the Forrestal Building, NCAS's proposed site for two new Smithsonian museums.
A few months ago the Smithsonian Institution announced it will be building the American Women's History Museum and National Museum of the American Latino on sites in the Reserve on the National Mall--one site just next to the Washington Monument, the other on the Tidal Basin (see illustration below).
While the National Civic Art Society is strongly supportive of the construction of the museums, we believe that the proposed sites are wholly inappropriate. As NCAS President Justin Shubow commented in Politico, "There’s no grander or more symbolic axis in America. ... We must ensure that no buildings spoil these and other sight lines and symbolic landscapes, as well as public open space in general."
NCAS believes that a far superior site for the museums is the site currently occupied by the Forrestal Building (see photo above), an ugly Brutalist hulk that is currently occupied by the Department of Energy. Located at 1000 Independence Avenue SW, the prominent, honorific, and accessible site is just across the street to the south of the Smithsonian Castle.
To encourage the use of that site, we have partnered with Catholic University's architecture school to support a juried design charrette for CUA graduate students. The charrette is producing urbanistic proposals for siting the museums at the Forrestal site.
The jury comprises former New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger; architects Anne Fairfax, Elizabeth Moule, David Schwarz, and Teófilo Victoria; and urban planners Dhiru Thadani and John Torti.
The students will make their presentations to the jury, which will provide constructive feedback, on Tuesday March 21, 2023 at Catholic University from 9:00 AM to until noon. The location is Miller Hall at the Crough Center (620 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.). The event is free and open to the public. A light breakfast will be served.
We cordially invite you to attend.
The Smithsonian's preferred sites for the American Women's History Museum and National Museum of the American Latino.
Panel Discussion on "The Golden City"
The National Civic Art Society and The American Conservative cordially invite you to attend a panel discussion on the re-issue of Henry Hope Reed's book The Golden City, a 1959 manifesto on the need for classical principles in contemporary architecture. The event will take place on November 30, 2022 at the University Club in Washington, D.C.
The Golden City was a seminal, critical document that developed one of the earliest and most compelling arguments against the then-dominant hegemony of modernism by reawakening interest in the value of our country’s built patrimony, particularly with respect to its notable classical architecture, classical sculpture, and ornament in the built environment. The book’s argument remains vital today.
The Golden City was recently re-published with new essays by critic Catesby Leigh and architect Alvin Holm. Join us as Leigh and Holm participate in a discussion about the book moderated by Reed disciple Seth Weine, an architectural and graphic designer.
The event, which will be followed by a reception, is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click HERE to register.
Date: Wednesday November 30, 2022
Reception: 5:00 PM
Panel: 6:00 PM
Location: University Club, 1135 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Cost: Free
Announcing the 2022 National Civic Art Society Tour Series
The National Civic Art Society cordially invites you to take part in our 2022 walking tour series of architecture and public art in Washington, D.C. Local historian Jeanne Fogle will bring Washington’s past alive through stories of residents and government officials, the background of lesser known monuments, and insight into the city’s distinctive architectural development, both public and private.
About the tour guide: Jeanne Fogle is a Washington, D.C., historian who was born in the nation’s capital, where her family has lived for more than 150 years. She has authored three books on Washington, D.C.’s social and architectural history: Two Hundred Years: Stories of the Nation’s Capital, Proximity to Power, Neighbors to the Presidents Near Lafayette Square, and Washington, D.C., a Pictorial Celebration. Fogle serves as an adjunct professor of Washington History and Regional Tour Guiding and Tour Managing at NOVA. Her great-grandfather George F. W. Strieby was an accomplished fresco artist whose work adorns the U.S. Capitol.
Tours are limited to two hours in length and begin at 10:00am at the location indicated. The cost per tour is $10. NCAS members, students, interns, and Hill staffers may obtain free tickets by e-mailing info@civicart.org. If you have any questions, please e-mail info@civicart.org or call (202) 670-1776.
Tour 1. Embassy Row Architecture on Massachusetts Ave. – May 8, 10:00am-Noon
The Embassy Row architecture along Massachusetts Ave. evolved in the past century, when large diplomatic delegations came to Washington and began to occupy the city’s older magnificent mansions, originally commissioned by wealthy owners, designed by the leading architects of the day. Later, foreign governments built embassies near these grand mansions, respecting their grandeur, but adding a sense of utility. This tour will cover 2-3 miles.
Meet at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. and 17th St. NW (SW corner / Peruvian Embassy).
Tour 2. 16th Street Architecture Above Florida Ave. – May 15, 10:00am-Noon
Sixteenth Street north of Florida Avenue offers a glimpse of diverse architectural styles reflecting many different uses and purposes of the structures from mansions built private residences or as Embassies, to early 19th century luxury apartment buildings, impressive churches, and a grand public Garden Park “fit for an Aristocrat.” This tour will cover 2-3 miles.
Meet at the intersection of 16th St. and Florida Ave. NW (NW corner / Henderson Castle Wall).
Tour 3. Monumental Architecture of Capitol Hill – May 22, 10:00am-Noon
The monumental buildings of Capitol Hill form a unique cluster Federal and privately built structures of diverse architectural styles that include the marble-clad congressional and judiciary office buildings, federal and private library buildings, and the Roman-inspired train station and neoclassical post office. Many of the buildings are adorned with wonderful sculptures and works of art. This tour will cover 2-3 miles.
Meet at the U.S. Botanic Gardens (Maryland Ave. SW side).
Tour 4. Apartment Architecture of the Kalorama Triangle – June 12, 10:00am-Noon
The Kalorama Triangle neighborhood boasts of some of the finest apartment buildings in Washington, designed by the best-known architects of the time. There are also a number of eye-catching apartment buildings built for those of more modest means. Together, these grand residential buildings showcase imaginative architectural styles to accommodate a diverse population. This tour will cover about 2 miles.
Meet at the intersection of Connecticut Ave. NW and Columbia Rd. NW (above the Hilton hotel)
Tour 5. Outdoor Sculpture West of the U.S. Capitol – June 19, 10:000am-Noon
A multitude of unusual sculptural art fills nearly every large and small park and adorns many buildings within a mile radius of the west front of the Capitol. There are presidential memorials, military memorials, classical and art deco relief sculptures, and a multitude of monuments to commemorate major and minor historical figures and events. This tour will cover about 2-3 miles.
Meet at the intersection of First St. SW and Maryland Ave. SW (near the Garfield Statue).
Video of Panel on "Authenticity, Beauty, and Human Well-being"
On September 14, 2021, the National Civic Art Society and The American Conservative co-hosted a panel discussion on “Authenticity, Beauty, and Human Well-being: Why There Cannot Be Good Urbanism Without Good Architecture” at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C.
The speakers and individual topics were:
Architect Nir Buras -- Neuroaesthetics, Technology, and a City of Makers
NCAS Research Fellow Michael Curtis -- a Mid-Career Portfolio
Ann Sussman -- How New Understandings in Psychology and Neuroscience Change How We “See” Architecture and Ourselves
Watch the video HERE.
Panel on "Authenticity, Beauty, and Human Well-being" Sept. 14 in D.C.
The National Civic Art Society and The American Conservative cordially invite you to attend a panel discussion on architecture and urbanism on Tuesday September 14 at 6:00 PM ET the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. You can watch the live stream of the event HERE.
The subject is “Authenticity, Beauty, and Human Well-being: Why There Cannot Be Good Urbanism Without Good Architecture.” The event, which will be followed by a reception, is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
If the event is sold-out, you may e-mail info@civicart.org to be added to the waitlist.
The speakers and individual topics are:
Architect Nir Buras -- Neuroaesthetics, Technology, and a City of Makers
NCAS Research Fellow Michael Curtis -- a Mid-Career Portfolio
Ann Sussman -- How New Understandings in Psychology and Neuroscience Change How We “See” Architecture and Ourselves
Date: Tuesday September 14, 2021
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Location: Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
NCAS Launches 2021 Walking tour Series “The Classive Tradition: The Beauty, Goodness, and Truth of Washington, D.C.”
The National Civic Art Society invites you to take part in our 2021 outdoor walking tour series “The Classive Tradition: The Beauty, Goodness, and Truth of Washington, D.C.” led by NCAS Research Fellow Michael Curtis. You can register for them HERE.
About the tour guide: Michael Curtis is a sculptor, painter, historian, architectural designer, and poet who has taught and lectured at widely, including at The Institute of Classical Architecture, The Center for Creative Studies, and The National Gallery of Art. His pictures and statues are housed in over 400 private and public collections, including the Library of Congress, National Portrait Gallery, and U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Curtis has made statues and medals of presidents, generals, Supreme Court justices, captains of industry, and national heroes, including Davey Crockett, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Justice Thurgood Marshall. Curtis' History of Texas, located at the Texas Rangers ballpark in Arlington, Texas, is the largest American frieze of the 20th century. Mr. Curtis' plays, essays, verse, and translations have been published in over 30 journals. His most recent nonfiction books include The Classical Architecture and Monuments of Washington, D.C. Curtis studied classical architecture at the University of Michigan, and painting, sculpture, and engraving at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florence, Italy.
Tours, which are outdoors, are limited to two hours in length and begin at 10:00 AM at the location indicated. The cost per tour is $10. NCAS members, students, interns, and Hill staffers may obtain free tickets by e-mailing info@civicart.org. If you have any questions, please e-mail info@civicart.org or call (202) 670-1776.
Tour I: Capitol Hill - Saturday May 15, 10:00 AM - noon
Classive Order: The challenge of Knowledge, Justice, Governance embodied in American Classive temples.
U.S. Capitol
U.S. Supreme Court
Library of Congress, Jefferson Building
Meet at Le Bon Café, 210 2nd St SE.
Tour II: The Grand Avenue - Saturday May 22, 10:00 AM - noon
Classical America: The Muse, the Father, the People symbolized.
National Mall
Washington Monument
Jefferson Memorial
Meet outside the Washington Monument Bookstore, 15th St., National Mall.
Tour III: President’s Park - Saturday June 5, 10:00 AM - noon
A Republic of Virtue: Virtues necessary to a republic, Authority, Community, Commerce.
White House
Lafayette Square
U.S. Treasury Department
Meet at the entrance of Teaism at 800 Connecticut Ave NW.
Tour IV: Liberty Stroll - Saturday June 12, 10:00 AM - noon
National, Political, and Personal Liberty: The Statue: not free, at Liberty to approach Divinity.
Lafayette Park; Lafayette, Rochambeau, Kosciusko, Von Steuben
Treasury; Hamilton & Gallatin
Decatur House
Meet at the entrance of Teaism at 800 Connecticut Ave NW.
Tour V: Honoring Heroes - Saturday June 19, 10:00 AM - noon
Sacrifice and Remembrance: Memory, Honor, Forgetfulness.
Lincoln Memorial
National World War II Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (and other memorials as time permits)
Meet outside the Lincoln Memorial Bookstore.
The New National World War I Memorial: Classical and Magnificent -- Lecture Nov. 15
The National Civic Art Society cordially invites you to attend a talk by sculptor Sabin Howard on Friday November 15, 2019 at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. Howard will present his magnificent classical design for the National World War I Memorial, which recently received final approval from the required government authorities. The Memorial is to be located in Pershing Park in Washington.
Howard's design is a monumental 58-foot-long bronze sculpture titled "A Soldier's Journey." Flowing from left-to-right, the 38-figure composition allegorically tells the story of a soldier who leaves his family for the front, endures the ordeal of battle, and returns home. The ideals of heroism, family, and caring are juxtaposed with the violence, terror, and aggression of battle. The sculpture simultaneously tells a second story--namely, America's coming of age during the Great War.
Please join us as Howard presents his design. His talk will be followed by a reception.
Date: Friday November 15, 2019
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Ave. NW , Washington, D.C.
Cost: $10 for National Civic Art Society Members, $20 for Non-Members
Video of "Making Dystopia: The Strange Rise and Survival of Architectural Barbarism"
The National Civic Art Society, together with ICAA-Mid-Atlantic, co-sponsored this lecture by James Stevens Curl on his new book Making Dystopia: The Strange Rise and Survival of Architectural Barbarism. Curl tells the story of the advent of architectural Modernism in the aftermath of World War I, its protagonists, and its astonishing global acceptance after 1945. He explains how the triumph of architectural Modernism in the second half of the 20th century led to massive destruction, the creation of alien urban landscapes, and a huge waste of resources. The coming of Modernism, however, was not inevitable.
Curl is Professor at the School of Architecture and Design, Ulster University; Professor Emeritus at De Montfort University, Leicester; and has been a Visiting Fellow at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He was awarded the President's Medal of the British Academy "for his contribution to the study of the History of Architecture in Britain and Ireland." Curl is the author of numerous books, including Victorian Architecture and Georgian Architecture, and he is co-author of The Oxford Dictionary Of Architecture.
Introductions by Justin Shubow and Stefan Hurray
Date: May 10, 2019
Location: Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C.
"Making Dystopia" Lecture by James Stevens Curl in D.C. May 10
The National Civic Art Society and ICAA-Mid-Atlantic cordially invite you to a lecture by distinguished architectural historian James Stevens Curl on Friday May 10 in Washington, D.C. Curl will speak about his new book Making Dystopia: The Strange Rise and Survival of Architectural Barbarism.
Curl will tell the story of the advent of architectural modernism in the aftermath of World War I, its protagonists, and its astonishing global acceptance after 1945. He will explain how the triumph of architectural Modernism in the second half of the 20th century led to massive destruction, the creation of alien urban landscapes, and a huge waste of resources. The coming of Modernism, however, was not inevitable.
According to Theodore Dalrymple's review of Making Dystopia, "Professor Curl has written an essential, uncompromising, learned ... critique of one of the worst and most significant legacies of the 20th century. ... It is a loud and salutary clarion call to resist further architectural fascism."
AIA CE credits are available for this lecture.
Date and Time: Friday May 10, 2019
6:00 PM - Reception
7:00 PM - Lecture
Location: Cosmos Club ( 2121 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.)
Cost: $15 for National Civic Art Society and ICAA Members, $25 for Non-Members
REGISTER HERE.
About the Speaker: Professor James Stevens Curl has been Visiting Fellow at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. In 2014, De Montfort University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Arts in recognition of his "distinctive contribution... to the intellectual and cultural life of the nation and region." His many publications include studies of Classical, Georgian, and Victorian architecture, and the most recent edition of his Oxford Dictionary of Architecture was published by Oxford University Press in 2015. In 2017 he was awarded the British Academy President's Medal for "outstanding service to the cause of the humanities and social sciences" in his wider study of the History of Architecture in Britain and Ireland.
NCAS Research Fellow Catesby Leigh to Speak on "Classical Sculpture: A Lost Art?"
On April 27 in Boston, National Civic Art Society Research Fellow Catesby Leigh will be giving a keynote address sponsored by the New England Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architectural & Art, in celebration of the 2019 Bulfinch Awards. Leigh's lecture is on the theme "Classical Sculpture: A Lost Art?"
The Greeks defined monumentality in sculpture during the fifth century, B.C., and the classical standard they established in doing so held sway well into the Christian era. That standard re-emerged during the Renaissance, but it was losing traction by the time our nation won its independence. To understand why, one must distinguish between style and content in sculpture. The high-quality classical sculpture for which the Greeks and modern masters ranging from Michelangelo to Houdon are known is very complex in its formal content. Since the late 18th century, and partly thanks to Canova's "neoclassicism," the focus has been on style at the expense of content. The advent of photography in the mid-19th century reinforced this trend, and photography's vitiating influence on the academic tradition remains as powerful as ever. It's reasonable to ask, even at a time when classical architecture is enjoying a noteworthy resurgence, whether classical sculpture, as the Greeks understood it, is a thing of the past. Even if that is so, it does not mean sculpture has not continued to play an essential role in our classical institutional buildings and monuments.
Catesby Leigh has been writing about public art and architecture for over 20 years. Particular areas of interest have been monuments (and anti-monuments), institutional buildings, urban planning, and painting and sculpture. His commentary has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, City Journal, First Things, National Review, Weekly Standard, Claremont Review of Books, Modern Age, Arts & Antiques, and other publications. Leigh is a co-founder and past chair of the National Civic Art Society. Currently an NCAS research fellow, he is working on a long-term book project concerning the nature of monumentality and its American manifestations. He lives in Washington, D.C..
To register for the event, which runs from 9:00 AM to noon, click HERE.
Panel Discussion on "The Future of Penn Station" October 24 in NYC
Everyone agrees that New York's Penn Station is an utter disaster and embarrassment to the city. The depot is ugly, cramped, dark, dangerous, difficult to navigate, and plagued by train delays. Are we capable of building a world-class station for a world-class city? Should we leave Madison Square Garden in place and add a glass wall to the station on 8th Avenue? Should we rebuild the original Beaux-Arts station? Is there a way to improve train traffic and passenger circulation?
In partnership with Rebuild Penn Station: a project of the National Civic Art Society, Agora presents "The Future of Penn Station," an evening addressing various proposals to alleviate these problems. We hope you will join us for this rich conversation. A reception will follow.
Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door. Tickets may be purchased HERE.
DATE AND TIME
Wednesday October 24, 2018
7:00 PM
LOCATION
W83 Ministry Center
150 West 83rd Street
New York, NY 10024
PANEL OF SPEAKERS
Kevin Baker is a New York-based writer who is the author of numerous fiction and non-fiction books, including the City of Fire trilogy, the middle volume of which won the 2003 James Fenimore Cooper Prize for Best Historical Fiction and the 2003 American Book Award. He is a regular contributor to Politico, The New York Times, and The New York Times Book Review. He is a contributing editor and columnist at Harper's, and a contributing editor at The New Republic.
Richard Cameron is a principal designer at Atelier & Co. in Brooklyn. He is the co-founder of both the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and The Beaux-Arts Atelier, an educational platform for practicing architecture as a fine art. In 2013 he received The Arthur Ross Board of Directors Honor Award from the ICA&A.
Wally Rubin has been District Manager of Manhattan's Community Board Five for eleven years. During that time, he has worked on the five year Greater East Midtown rezoning effort, the current Garment Center rezoning, the various efforts around the West Midtown Transit Corridor (including Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal), the growth of the pedestrian plazas, and all the other issues that have shaped the central business district over the last decade. Earlier, Rubin worked as Director of Theatre for the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, for Borough President Ruth Messinger, and as an aide to Congressman Ted Weiss.
Dani Simons is Vice President for Strategic Communications at the Regional Plan Association. She oversaw the rollout of RPA's Fourth Regional Plan, and is working with RPA staff and partners to create a communications strategy to speed the implementation of the plan’s recommendations. She previously served as the global head of communications for Motivate, a global leader in bike share and was part of the launch team for Citi Bike, the largest and most successful bike share program in the western world.
Samuel Turvey is Chairman of the Rebuild Penn Station Steering Committee. He is a native New Yorker and daily Penn Station commuter from Northern New Jersey. A long-time community activist and participant in charitable causes, he founded and produced the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Manhattan’s Tompkins Square and Marcus Garvey Parks. He is a trustee of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem and the John Noble Museum of Maritime Art on Staten Island. Turvey is a Regulatory and Compliance attorney at TIAA.
MODERATOR: Justin Shubow is President of the National Civic Art Society, a non-profit organization that promotes the classical and humanistic tradition in public art and architecture. He is a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
"The Architecture of Bureaucracy" Event in Washington, D.C. on October 17
The National Civic Art Society and C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State cordially invite you to attend an event on "The Architecture of Bureaucracy" in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday October 17, 2018.
Catesby Leigh, the National Civic Art Society's 2018-2019 Research Fellow, will deliver the keynote address. He will discuss the intellectual and aesthetic inspiration for bureaucratic buildings of the New Deal and later eras, and their stark contrast with the classical principles that influenced the architects of our Capitol, White House, and our republic’s other early buildings.
Agenda:
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Registration & Reception
6:00 - 6:10 PM: Welcome by Adam White & Justin Shubow
6:10 - 7:20 PM: Keynote Address by Catesby Leigh
7:20 - 8:15 PM: Reception
Location: Decatur House (748 Jackson Place NW, Washington, DC 20006)
The event is free and open to the public.
Register HERE.
Rebuild Penn Station Panel and Photo Exhibition in New York City on October 4
Opened in 1910, to a miraculous design by McKim, Mead & White, and torn down in 1963 for a shamefully inferior replacement, New York's Penn Station today remains one of the city’s great lost causes.
On Thursday October 4 in New York City, Chartwell Booksellers will host a conversation on Rebuild Penn Station, the National Civic Art Society's project to rebuild the original station. The conversation will feature leaders of Rebuild Penn Station together with design collaborators ReThinkNYC and Atelier & Co.
The conversation which begins at 6:00 PM, will take place in the lobby of the Park Avenue Plaza building at 55 East 52nd St. (between Park & Madison Avenues).
The event will include an exhibition of never-before-seen photographs of the original Penn Station taken by the late-Bob Parent, who is most famous for his portraits of jazz musicians. The exhibition includes Parent's resonant image (see above) of the Penn Station track sign for the train to the August 28, 1963 "March for Jobs and Freedom" in Washington, D.C., where Dr. Martin Luther King would deliver his "I Have A Dream" speech.
The event is free and will be followed by a reception.
RSVP: 212-308-0643 or chartwellbooksellers@gmail.com.
"CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE AND MONUMENTS OF D.C." BOOK TALK
The National Civic Art Society cordially invites you to attend a book talk and discussion in conjunction with the publication of Classical Architecture and Monuments of Washington, D.C.: A History and Guide by Michael Curtis. A reception will follow. RSVP here.
Discussing the book will be Al Cox, Historic Preservation Manager for the City of Alexandria, and Andy Seferlis, a professional tour guide and stone-carver who updated the book The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington D.C.: A Comprehensive Historical Guide.
About the author: A co-founder of the National Civic Art Society who serves on its Board of Directors, Michael Curtis studied classical architecture at the University of Michigan, and painting, sculpture, and engraving in Florence, Italy. He has been a sculptor for more than 25 years. Major commissions include The History of Texas at the Texas Rangers Ball Park in Arlington, Texas, the largest American frieze produced in the 20th Century, as well as portrait busts for the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Thurgood Marshall Building, and many other public venues. His specialty is portraiture and fine medals.