Thursday, December 16, 2010

Party like it's 1952

1952 Beaux Arts Ball, Tulane School of Architecture Visual Media Archive

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM REGIONAL MODERNISM

Monday, December 13, 2010

Character study in Kodachrome


, originally uploaded by .
I've had the distinct pleasure of sorting through old kodachromes recently. This is one of my favorites. It was in a collection of "People" at Tulane School of Architecture and dated 1952.

"Joe Donaldson taught one class in watercolor for part of the year. I don't remember much about him except he was quite a character. He was a very talented man and very talented in teaching. It was interesting to watch him talk, because he had this habit of chain smoking and smoking two or three cigarettes at one time not realizing he had them lit. He would be on the board with chalk and cigarettes between his fingers and trying to write with the cigarette on the board. it was quite an interesting site. He was a very good teacher, a very good artist."


Milton Scheuermann, Jr. (TSA 1956) in Talk About Architecture

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UPDATE 12/16/10
Joe Donaldson (1914-1997) was born in New Orleans and Studied art at the Chicago Art Institute and Tulane University as well as with Enrique Alferez. He participated in the WPA Fine Art project in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1950-1952 he taught drawing and painting at Tulane University School of Architecture. To read more and to view some of his drawings and paintings see the The Joseph Donaldson, Jr. Memorial On-line Museum.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Is there a future for the recent past in New Orleans?


Francine Stock, president of DOCOMOMO US/Louisiana, writes about the current situation of the mid-century public schools in the city. Either demolished or in danger of demolition, these structures represent a type of architecture that was forward thinking and innovative in the way they were built and used by the public. The process to discuss their future when they become obsolete has failed to provide a fair space to listen to new options. Can we establish another way of approaching this problem?

read more..... MAS Context 8 | PUBLIC WINTER 10