Marvels of Modernism: Duluth & Rochester Events Re-Cap
 
Students and members of the preservation and design community in Rochester engaged in a lively dialogue about landscape architecture and the Marvels of Modernism. Complementing the Marvels exhibit displayed at the Rochester Community and Technical College, local landscape architects Andy Masterpole and Craig Ruhland from Yaggy Colby talked to 25 horticulture students about the profession, using a powerpoint developed by Troy Wanless and then customized by Andy and Craig to make it local. A big thank you to the Department of Horticulture for co-sponsoring the events. Douglas Courneya and Robin Fruth-Dugstad, both instructors of Horticulture, helped organize the events and are a big reason they were such a success!

An added bonus was the contact from a Rochester preservationist, leading to stunning period photos by Balthazar Korab of Saarinen’s IBM building with Kiley’s landscape features. These images, as well as images from Roger Martin's firms' master plan of the site from the early 80s were incorporated into a gallery talk about modernist landscapes, featuring Peavey Plaza, and opening people’s eyes to the importance of the landscape as a contributor to integrity and beauty of historic sites. 
 
Similar events took place earlier at U of M Duluth, with members Luke Sydow and Eric Johnson of SAS and Associates presenting the career talk and Misa Inoue from Oslund and Associates discussing the modernist landscape she designed for the science building. 
 
The Marvels of Modernism exhibit was developed by The Cultural Landscape Foundation and supported by MASLA, with matching funds from ASLA as a $3000 chapter initiative grant. Carrie Christensen, MASLA's new PR director, demonstrated her skills and enthusiasm with her stipended work organizing the show, guided and assisted by Joan Macleod and Gina Bonsignore. Gina represented MASLA at both these events and gave the gallery talks about Peavey, based upon Jean Garbarini’s excellent powerpoint on the plaza. MASLA was also greatly assisted by the Preservation Alliance and AIA for outreach to their members. Faculty at Rochester Community College and and U of M Duluth were also enthusiastic supporters and made the exhibits possible by providing space, AV equipment and outreach.
 
The Marvels of Modernism exhibit was previously displayed at the Design Within Reach store in Minneapolis, at the College of Design and at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. A mini version of the display will also be featured at a ULI event in the near future.
 
Photography junkies – definitely check out Mr. Korab’s website at http://www.balthazarkorab.com/02_gallery.html. This inspiring photography inspired MASLA to hold an open photography contest of valued places in Rochester – to keep the awareness going long after the exhibit has left the city.