FALL 2011 the beaux-arts atelier ~ an interview with suzanne tucker the 2011 arthur ross awards ~ calendar of events the forum THE NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE & ART message from the president 1 The Beaux-Arts Atelier (BAA) of the ICAA OUR NEW ORgANIzATIONAL virtue of the Atelier itself and our full privilege NAmE HERALdS THE AdvENT THIS to shape and maintain. External polemical vicis- I Am gLAd TO TAkE A LEAd IN SEASON OF WHAT CONSTITUTES OUR situdes cannot intrude in this priority instance. ASSURINg A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH FIRST-EvER FULL-TImE ANd yEARLONg Also featured online and in this issue is a list ARCHITECTURAL dESIgN COURSE of of the inaugural Class of 2012, who set this OF THIS OvERdUE ExTENSION OF study offered in the studios of the national teaching pilot in motion with their enrollment. THE ICAA’S UNIqUE SERvICE TO headquarters office in New york. Applications for the Class of 2013 can now be The board of directors approved it last made with the deadline set for march 1, 2012. CONTEmPORARy CLASSICISm. THE spring acknowledging as they did that the core A magnificent ten-year grant from Richard BEAUx-ARTS ATELIER COmPLEmENTS curriculum has stood the test of time and has H. driehaus and his eponymous Trust gave mUCH OF my CHARITABLE gIvINg thus prepared us to ascend to a new level. us the confidence to proceed knowing that such It is a tribute to the legacy of our co-founders tuition assistance would be in vital force WHICH I RANk AS A CENTRAL PRI- and all those who have worked and given so throughout the Atelier’s auspicious advent. The ORITy IN my LIFE TOdAy ANd magnificently over the ensuing 20 years including Richard H. driehaus Scholars will personify those like you who contribute and participate in such promise and bear the moniker throughout WHICH I dO WITH STRATEgIC FOCUS so many precious ways. their respective careers. ON LONg-TERm SUCCESS. TUITION It is this curriculum and related syllabi that Taconic Builders has also come forward have long guided the academic mission and with a three-year tuition pledge allowing a ASSISTANCE FOR THE dRIEHAUS continuing education classes now offered across student the opportunity to enroll especially one SCHOLARS IS THE LIFEBLOOd OF the Institute’s 15 chapters. The collective view with special interest in the building arts. Peter THE PROgRAm AS REvEALEd BEST was that this unique 21st-century resource Pennoyer has made a challenge grant to the same merits two full semesters from September to vital end of direct student aide and those who By THE dIvERSE ANd vITAL CLASS may of rigorous application. Even during pro- step forward to match will be credited accord- OF 2012 ITSELF. TOgETHER THESE fessional intensive sessions there is never enough ingly ahead. time to apply the lessons learned through The Arthur Ross Foundation under the STUdENTS FULFILL my HOPEFUL drawing and direct observation. And the bounty watch of its civic-minded president gadfly Janet INTENT. I WILL WATCH THEIR of nearby classical architecture will extend the Ross; the morris and Alma Schapiro Fund PROgRESS ANd CAREER ACHIEvE- classroom beyond the walls of 20 West 44th shepherded by Linda Collins; and the Bodman Street. The ongoing success of the grand Foundation led by its board chairman, John N. mENTS WITH dILIgENCE ANd JOy. Central Academy of Art led by Jacob Collins Irwin III, all gave seed grants that led the way in (featured in a June 27, 2011 New Yorker profile planning and implementation especially for this —Richard H. Driehaus, ICAA Board of Directors by Adam gopnik—find the link online and be seminal first year. sure to read) was another catalyst. When next nearby, do stop in to visit the There is a full description of the BAA on students and observe their progress. Their hours the Web site along with the full panoply of public will be abundant as the lessons of classicism take Photograph by Jeff Gahres. AA programs. I urge you to visit there in order to root in their imaginations and the tendons of learn more. It has also been discussed on the their hands. As so often he does, Churchill sums lively listserv(e) forum we help safeguard it up best, “We shape our buildings. Thereafter entitled TRAdARCH and available by visiting they shape us.” O AT THE IC O AT I www.tradarch.net. It is worth bearing in mind TUD S that the Atelier in no way obviates the regular NG continuing education calendar throughout the RI nation and the skills and learning units they provide to the profession. Nor does it prevent the nurturing of content partners among accred- Paul gunther ited schools at all levels and related disciplines. President In the later regard, however, it does mean that A INK WASH RENDE A INK WASH I whatever partnerships develop we will proceed IND with an unprecedented measure of certainty by 2 icaa interview fall 11 3 to work with more influential practitioners as ST: Starting an Institute Chapter is a demanding ICAA Interview with Suzanne Tucker an interior designer and continually feed my yet rewarding endeavor. I’m very proud of the passion for architecture. It is arguably the best of growth our Chapter has had and of the dedicated, both worlds! If, however, there had been an strong board we have in place. Serving on the ICAA back then, I would have headed to New national board is an honor and has certainly york in a heartbeat. opened my eyes to the challenges of running a non-profit and expanding the Institute across PWG: Have the economic and social changes of recent years the country especially of late with the varying affected your work whether by necessity or preference? regional impacts of the recession on all of the Are you always on the look-out for new and perhaps more building arts. I find in board meetings I switch sustainable materials? from one hat to another so I can weigh each RECENTLy, ICAA PRESIdENT perspective fairly although sometimes they PAUL gUNTHER HAd A vIRTUAL ST: The design world has been deeply affected remain in conflict. But I see that serving the INTERvIEW WITH BOARd dIRECTOR as a whole in the past few years and even though needs of the Chapters is imperative because the SUzANNE TUCkER, whose thriving design our firm has remained busy, the consciousness of growth of the ICAA is coming directly from practice based in San Francisco, along with her the client has changed. It’s more demanding but those volunteers and the potential for raising role as founding president of the likewise thriv- ultimately useful to be more aware of such funds at the Chapter level is tremendous. Clearly ing Northern California Chapter of the ICAA, shifting client needs. It’s this current reality that there is a hunger across America and beyond makes her an ideal steward. She joined the board I refer to as “comfort zones” and whether tradi- for what the ICAA brings to classicism in educa- in 2009 and her example has inspired and tional or contemporary, casual or formal, every tion and advocacy. Our challenges on a national encouraged us ever since. client has different ones. As designers, we conse- level and down to the chapters are to develop quently become more sensitive, more creative, ways to continue to feed that hunger, support our Paul W. Gunther: How do you define classicism for the and thus produce a more soulful home. And our programs and to nourish the classical traditions 21st century? environmental needs are driving us in the same in a contemporary world. I’m a glass half-full direction—from paints to pesticides, building person so I don’t see problems per se, just Suzanne Tucker: For me, classicism today is still materials to cleaning products. Sustainable possibilities! I am pleased that Joe Lucier has about the essentials of balance, scale, and pro- materials are not somewhere in the future, they stepped forward to succeed me as president of portion. In my interiors work, that doesn’t mean are a necessity now and our charge is to work Northern California but I am still on deck as being a slave to traditional formality or unimagi- with them creatively. I don’t see this need as being eager steward and bridge to the national board. native constraints, but rather, it’s about a suitable more or less applicable to tradition. It just is. He’s off to a promising start! approach in today’s world. I find that many clients and even some architects associate PWG: How do you balance the many requirements of your PWG: I am curious while still on the subject, what was classicism simply with predictable classical present career ranging from the current project roster, your first glimpse of the ICAA and its unique potential to forms—arches, columns, pediments, etc., but for seeking new business, writing, lecturing, and volunteer safeguard and impart classicism in the contemporary world? me it’s maintaining a creative focus that is both SUZANNE TUCKER Photo by Noe DeWitt. efforts as has been in such abundance as the Chapter’s charter Where lies the greatest potential yet to be fulfilled? timely and timeless. Earlier this year, Allan co-founder? greenberg delivered a fascinating talk to our University of Oregon was pivotal for me and ST: I became familiar with the ICAA just prior Northern California Chapter from which I ignited my passion for interior architecture along ST: I have wonderful support staff and designers to my first Institute trip in 2003.