Landmark Columbus

Landmark Columbus
Motto "Caring for and celebrating Columbus' design heritage."
Formation 2015
Type Non-profit organization
Headquarters Columbus, Indiana, United States
Parent organization
 Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County
Affiliations Docomomo - US
Website landmarkcolumbus.org

Landmark Columbus is an organization in Columbus, Indiana, United States, that is dedicated to caring for and celebrating the world-renowned cultural heritage of Columbus, a city which is home to seven of the forty three National Historic Landmarks in Indiana. It was started as a program of Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County in 2015,[1] and has been recognized for leading an innovative way to care for heritage without a protective law[2] and making a positive impact in the community.[3] In 2016 it became a "Friends Organization" of Docomomo US[4] and remains a partner of the Indiana Modern committee of Indiana Landmarks.

History

The effort to start Landmark Columbus began in 2013 when the Columbus Redevelopment Commission began looking at new ways to research and examine[5] the current state for the design heritage in the Columbus Arts and Entertainment District.[6] The start of this project came at a time when some of the modern works of architecture had begun to age and show signs of transition.[7]

The effort officially launched as "Landmark Columbus" in 2015 as a program of Heritage Fund, and began producing events in the community.[8][9][10] The effort has been seen as a way to preserve the design legacy of the town without relying on traditional historic preservation ordinances.[11]

Programs and advocacy projects

Landmark Columbus' 2015 Columbus Conversation in the chapel at First Christian Church

Landmark Columbus produces a number of ongoing programs and projects in an effort to care for the design heritage, most of which are created by an Advocacy and Education Committee.[12] The organization is active in the community in various ways,[13] including nominating the Irwin Conference Center [14] for a Docomomo US National Citation of Merit in 2014 for the National Historic Landmark building designed by Eero Saarinen, which was restored through an adaptive reuse project by Cummins [15] Columbus historians David Sechrest and Ricky Berkey have been involved with the organization from the beginning, helping to create projects around both the early and modern history of the community.[16]

Friends of First Christian Church Architecture

Friends of First Christian Church Architecture (FFCCA) is a collaborative effort with a mission to "is to preserve the architecture and design elements of FCC, a National Historic Landmark designed by Eliel & Eero Saarinen in 1942."[17] The project was launched in January 2017 as a partnership with First Christian Church, Heritage Fund, Landmark Columbus, and Indiana Landmarks.[18] The first project for FFCCA was to help save the sanctuary skylight,[19] which leaked for years and caused damage.[20] In August of 2018 FFCCA had raised enough resources from the congregation and throughout the community to have the skylight fully restored.[21] Fundraising for the restoration of the skylight was a collaborative effort, and included contributions from the Church congregation, Kenny Glass, Inc., and the Columbus Area Visitors Center.[22]

Columbus Conversations

Columbus Conversation is an annual symposium held to address a pressing need in the community related to Columbus' design heritage. The series began in 2014 and featured Theodore Prudon's keynote presentation "Modern Architecture as Heritage,"[23] and included lectures by Marsh Davis, from Indiana Landmarks; Louis Joyner, a Columbus-based architect; Richard McCoy; and a conversation moderated by Harry McCawley. [24]

The 2015 Columbus Conversation featured a panel discussion by Jeff Baker, the last president of Preserve to Enjoy, Inc.; Tricia Gilson from the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives; Flora Chou, board member of Docomomo US; and Theodore Prudon, board president of Docomomo US.[25] This moderated discussion defined ways that Landmark Columbus could raise awareness about caring for the areas design heritage and begin growing a constituency that actively helps in the cause.[26]

Chaotic Tuesdays

A "Chaotic Tuesday" inside the Commons

In celebration of Jean Tinguely's masterwork, Chaos 1, located inside the Commons, Landmark Columbus started "Chaotic Tuesdays" as a free community event during which everyone could see the kinetic artwork operate during the evening.[27] The idea for the event came from the director of Museum Tinguely, Roland Wetzel, when he visited in 2014.[28] The event happens on the fourth Tuesday of every month and has grown to be a partnership between many in the community and led by the Columbus Area Arts Council. Professors from Ivy Tech bring drawing materials for the community and provide lessons on how to draw the artwork, which Tinguely himself did many times; his drawings of Chaos 1 are in collections around the world.

Landscape architecture cleanups

2015 North Christian Church Landscape Clean Up

Landmark Columbus has organized a number of community efforts to help clean and maintain the landscape at North Christian Church, which was designed by Dan Kiley and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the city. Cleanups have addressed issues caused by storms and ongoing maintenance, including the dormant pruning of the many magnolias that surround the church. [29]

Yearly bicycle rides

Landmark Columbus started a yearly bicycle tour in May that coincides with National Preservation Month and National Bike Month.

  • The 2015 "Olde Tyme Architectural Bicycle Ride" featured a tour of late 19th and early 20th century architecture and landscapes near downtown.[30]
  • The 2016 "Mad Men Bike Ride" featured many works of modern architecture, including stops at North Christian Church and the Miller House and Garden.[31]
  • The 2017 "Public Art Bike ride" featured a look at many of the public artworks around downtown.[32]

Landmark Lego Challenge

In May 2016 Landmark Columbus held a first-of-its-kind competition that invited participants to build one of the seven National Historic Landmarks out of Lego bricks.[33] This project was launched in partnership with the Indianapolis Museum of Art, kids commons, the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives, and other organizations.[34]

Docomomo US Tour Day

Various partners began participating in "Tour Day" starting in 2013 to draw regional interest in visiting Columbus and seeing the modern architecture.

  • In 2013, a tour was given of the Columbus Arts District and the Miller House and Gardens. [35]
  • In 2014, Indiana Landmarks created the "Landmarks Experience: Columbus," a day-long immersion with lectures and tours that included the Miller House. [36]
  • In 2015, Landmark Columbus created the "Saarinen, Pei, and the Plaza that Connected Them" tour, which looked at the relationship between the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library Henry Moore's Large Arch, and First Christian Church.[37]

Documentation and surveys

In 2013 and 14, all of the public art in Bartholomew County was surveyed, photographed, and placed in the database of the Public Art Archive.[38] The list of public art in Bartholomew County, Indiana includes more than 100 artworks in a diverse group of places. Also at this time, all of the resources in the Columbus Arts District and all of the modern buildings were surveyed, photographed, and published in the database of CultureNOW.[39][40] Other research projects have included investigations for public artworks that are now missing.[41]

Ongoing series of talks

Landmark Columbus occasionally hosts experts of architecture, art, and community.

Public art walking tours

With the rich history of public art throughout the community,[47] walking tours are frequent. There is also a special walking tour every October in partnership with Reach Healthy Communities.[48][49]

Exhibit Columbus

2016 announcement event for Exhibit Columbus on the Library Plaza of the Bartholomew County Public Library

On 5 May 2016, Landmark Columbus announced Exhibit Columbus as an "annual exploration of architecture, art, design, community" that will alternate programming between symposium and exhibition years.[50] The inaugural symposium, "Foundations and Futures," took place from 29 September to 1 October, 2016. The inaugural exhibition opened in August 2017 and featured 18 temporary installations of architecture, art, and design[51] that re-energized a global dialogue around design in Columbus.[52],[53]

References

  1. ↑ Sisson, Patrick (4 February 2016). "Columbus, Indiana, a Modernist Mecca, Updates Historic Preservation Efforts". Curbed. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Connors, Will (10 April 2017). "Indiana Town Preserves Its Historic Architecture, Without a Protective Law". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Reports, Staff (18 November 2015). "Group makes big impact with city's heritage". The Republic. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "A New Year and a New Organization in Columbus, Indiana | docomomo united states". docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Columbus taps conservator to preserve architecture". www.wdrb.com. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. ↑ McCoy, Richard (2014). "The Columbus Challenge" (PDF). Objects Speciality Group Postprints. 21: 363–377. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Notes on Columbus, Indiana | docomomo united states". www.docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  8. ↑ McClure, Julie. "MONUMENTAL TASK". The Republic.
  9. ↑ "Columbus Update: Civic Inspiration at the Right Scale | docomomo united states". docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  10. ↑ Karaim, Reed (1 June 2016). "Is Columbus's Modernist Legacy at Risk?". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  11. ↑ Ross, Michael Franklin (19 August 2016). "Saving the Columbus Occupational Health Association". Archpaper.com. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  12. ↑ McClure, Julie. "MONUMENTAL TASK". The Republic.
  13. ↑ "Winter Magic, Spring Phoenix, and Columbus All Year". WFYI Public Media. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "A Modern landmark finds a new use". Hidden Gems Indiana.
  15. ↑ "Citation of Merit - Cummins Irwin Conference Center & Office Buildings | docomomo united states". docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  16. ↑ McClure, Julie. "MONUMENTAL TASK". The Republic.
  17. ↑ "Purpose". www.fccoc.org. Friends of First Christian Church. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  18. ↑ Sisson, Patrick (2 February 2017). "Saving the country's first modern church, and a Columbus architecture landmark". Curbed. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  19. ↑ Blair, Brian (23 January 2017). "First (Christian) things first: New group forms to protect city's original Modernist building". The Republic. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  20. ↑ Clark, John (25 January 2017). "First Christian Church in need of help maintaining landmark | 1010 WCSI". 1010wcsi.com. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  21. ↑ McClure, Julie. "Architectural integrity: First Christian Church skylight repair retains defining characteristic". The Republic. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  22. ↑ Reports, Staff (23 August 2018). "Church's skylight project highlights successful collaboration". The Republic. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "2014 Columbus Conversation". YouTube. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  24. ↑ Elig, Jenny (13 May 2014). "Preserving architecture taking center stage". The Republic.
  25. ↑ "2015 Columbus Conversation by Landmark Columbus". YouTube. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  26. ↑ McClure, Julie. "Landmark group invites residents for a chat about historic preservation". The Republic. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  27. ↑ Blair, Brian. "Returning to a state of 'Chaos'". The Republic. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "Talking Chaos with Roland Wetzel". YouTube. Landmark Columbus. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  29. ↑ Blair, Brian. "Helping 'a beacon' shine on". The Republic.
  30. ↑ Clark, John. "Health advocates plan local bike month activities". 1010 WCSI. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  31. ↑ "May is Bike Month - City of Columbus Indiana". www.columbus.in.gov. City of Columbus. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "May is Bike Month - Columbus Regional Health". www.crh.org. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  33. ↑ Blair, Brian. "Get a leg up on LEGO building competition during opening event today". The Republic. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  34. ↑ Reports, Staff. "Lego challenge builds on city's architectural foundations". The Republic. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  35. ↑ "TOUR DAY 2013: INDIANA | docomomo united states". www.docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "Tour Day 2014: INDIANA | docomomo united states". www.docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "Saarinen, Pei, and the Plaza that Connected Them | docomomo united states". docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  38. ↑ "Columbus in the Public Art Archive". www.publicartarchive.org. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  39. ↑ "Columbus in CultureNOW - MuseumWithoutWalls". www.culturenow.org. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  40. ↑ "CultureNOW - Newsletters". www.culturenow.org. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  41. ↑ Elig, Jenny. "In search of city's lost art". The Republic.
  42. ↑ Covington, Olivia. "'Columbus is not a Museum' topic of presentation". The Republic.
  43. ↑ "Columbus is not a Museum featuring Michelangelo Sabatino". YouTube. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  44. ↑ Staff Reports. "Exhibit Columbus leaders bring in speaker from Grand Rapids". The Republic. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  45. ↑ Blair, Brian. "Exhibit Columbus has eye on the prize". The Republic. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  46. ↑ Blair, Brian. "Never built: Why? Program kicks off research effort in Columbus". The Republic.
  47. ↑ Sims, Chris. "8 Must-See Columbus Artworks — Besides the Famed Architecture". Limestone Post Magazine. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  48. ↑ Reports, Staff. "Art walking tour connects residents to city, exercise". The Republic. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  49. ↑ Reports, Staff. "Walking tour traces steps to public art". The Republic. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  50. ↑ "Landmark Columbus launches ambitious program: Exhibit Columbus | docomomo united states". www.docomomo-us.org. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  51. ↑ Grossman, Dan (27 July 2016). "Building Columbus, and some of the country's best architecture". NUVO. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  52. ↑ Loos, Ted (17 August 2017). "Columbus, Ind., Renews Its Big Design Legacy". Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  53. ↑ Shaw, Matt (5 May 2016). "Columbus, Indiana announces biennial design exhibition to begin in fall 2017". Archpaper.com | Serving up news and inside reports to a niche community interested in the built urban environment. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
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