Thursday, March 29, 2012

Hear Edward Durell Stone's Accomplishments, Personal Struggles, Relationships (April 17)

Images courtesy of Hicks Stone

On Tuesday, April 17, there will be two exceptional opportunities to learn about Edward Durell Stone and experience his architectural legacy. Author and architect Hicks Stone is visiting Austin to talk about his book, Edward Durell Stone: A Son's Untold Story of a Legendary Architect.

The book represents a candid story of Edward Durell Stone's accomplishments, personal struggles, and relationships from the perspective of the person best equipped to share them, Stone's own son.

Special Book-signing EventTuesday, April 17, 2:30-3:30
The Westgate Tower
1122 Colorado Street

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Hicks Stone will be available for a special book-signing at the lobby of the historic Westgate Tower. This is an opportunity to meet Hicks Stone in the only building in Austin designed by Edward Durell Stone. Mr. Stone will say a few words about his first visit to this landmark.

The Westgate Tower was listed on the National Register for Historic Places in 2010. The plaque will be available for viewing at this special event. More information is available on the National Trust's for Historic Preservation blog.

The book will be available for purchase ($85+tax). Cash or check are preferred. Credit cards will be accepted. The book can also be purchased in advance at the Austin Center for Architecture at 801 W 12th. Check the AIA-Austin website for hours or call 512.452.4332.

Lecture at the University of Texas at Austin
Tuesday, April 17, 5:00-6:00 pm

Goldsmith Hall, University of Texas at Austin
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Hicks Stone will give a lecture on his father's life and work at 5:00 pm at Goldsmith Lecture Hall at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Parking is available on the street and at the nearby UT Coop Bookstore parking garage at 2214 San Antonio Street.

The lecture and book signing was organized by Mid Tex Mod in collaboration with Preservation Texas, AIA-Austin, and the UT-Austin Student Historic Preservation Association. The events are supported by the Goldsmith Society of the University of Texas School of Architecture, the North Texas chapter of Docomomo US, Gay and Lee Gaddis, JP Gumbles, Charles Peveto and the Westgate Condo Association.

Hicks Stone is also speaking in Houston and Dallas organized by Houston Mod and the North Texas Chapter Docomomo US.

More About the book
From the publisher: "Among the iconic projects for which Stone is responsible are The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the U.S.Embassy in New Delhi, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. But a negative reception among the architectural community often accompanied his popular and commercial successes, a double edge that continues to inform his legacy. Hicks Stone addresses a body of work that has been largely neglected, if not outright misunderstood. In answer to the chorus of criticism about the master architect’s works, Hicks Stone writes: 'I believe that my perspective as a son and architect offers me a unique and privileged position to address many of these bromidic and reflexive perceptions.'"

Edward Durell Stone's Architecture in Texas
More information about Edward Durell Stone

East Austin History Walk and Talk (April 15)

Join us for a tour inspired by Jane Jacobs and East Austin's history.

Sunday, April 15, 2012
10 am-2pm


Learn about the history of community, public housing, urban renewal, and neighborhood change. The tour includes mid-century and modern landmarks such as the Victory Grill, Chalmer Courts, and Hutson-Tillotson.

We’ll be going on a walking conversation with Dr. Eliot Tretter of the UT-Geography Department and Dr. Fred McGhee, a historical anthropologist and archaeologist.

Tour begins at Metz Elementary, 84 Robert T. Martinez, Jr. at 10:00 am.
  • Set aside 4 hours for the entire tour.
  • We’ll provide information about some of the sites we’ll see along the way.
  • Wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes and bring water.
  • We’ll stop for a no-host lunch along the way (most likely Casa Colombia)
Tour ends at Zavala Elementary, 310 Robert Martinez, Jr., Austin TX at approximately 2 pm.

Please RSVP to Andrea Roberts, e-mail aroberts318@netzero.net

Tour created by faculty and students at UT-Austin
. More about the national Jane Jacobs 2012 tour

Photo credits: Paul Lowry.
Douglass, Neal. Aerial View of Town Lake, Photograph, May 20, 1968; digital image, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth19265/ : accessed March 29, 2012), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Austin, Texas.