Features

THINK :: Fountain Of The Pioneers Follow-Up

UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FATE OF KALAMAZOO'S "FOUNTAIN OF THE PIONEERS"

 

Our previous feature article on Alfonso Iannelli's "Fountain of the Pioneers" touched on the emotionally-charged subject of art, history and our country's mistreatment of Native American's. While covering several aspects of the controversy surrounding the public sculpture, we were left with more questions than answers about the fountain's future. Luckily, David S. Brose, Chair of the Fountain of the Pioneers Study Committee for the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission, was kind enough to send a detailed letter describing the misunderstandings and hopeful future for this important piece of art.

THINK :: Fountain Of The Pioneers: The Fuss, The Facts And Its Future

A LOOK AT THE COMPLEX ISSUES SURROUNDING ART THAT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE

 

Kalamazoo, Michigan's Bronson Park seems like an unlikely location for a battle over political correctness to erupt. However, a 1940 fountain depicting white pioneers and Native Americans in the park has been the target of activists' PC ire, with suggestions raised that it should be completely removed. But this fountain also happens to be a work of significant sculptural art by none other than Alfonso Iannelli, whose Park Ridge, IL home and studio's preservation has currently been in the spotlight. Supporters say the fountain's meaning has been misunderstood and it should be preserved as an important extant sculpture from Iannelli's Studio. Does artistic significance trump political correctness? Is this a case of insensitivity or misinterpretation?

THINK :: Why The Iannelli Home And Studio Matters

MAKING THE CASE TO SAVE A PLACE IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF PROGRESSIVE DESIGN

Standing at the corner of Northwest Highway and Elm Street in Park Ridge, IL is a rather unimpressive looking building emblazened with the name "Audrey's" in white script letters. It may look boring in outward appearance—but appearances can often be deceiving.

This building was once the home and studio of artist and designer Alfonso Iannelli. It was also a place where amazing people regularly created absolutely amazing things for almost 50 years. Most likely, this building will be torn down in the near future to make room for something new.

The cynic would respond: "So what. Why does it matter? It's happened a hundred times before to buildings with more architectural significance: Midway Gardens, the Larkin Building, the Imperial Hotel, the Babson House, the Chicago Stock Exchange—the list goes on and on. What makes the Iannelli Home and Studio so special that it should be saved?"

THINK :: Lessons From The Housing Crises

HOPE IN THE IDEA THAT "SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL"

With all the talk of bailouts and panic on Wall Street, it seems like nothing but bad news. The current administration's team of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke had hoped that infusing the market with confidence via a $700 billion dollar bailout of the financial system would help act as the shot in the arm the economy needs. Not everyone is sure this rush to throw money at the problem will actually solve it and Congress responded by voting down the Paulson plan on Monday the 28th. It remains to be seen how government will deal with this economic quagmire, but most everyone can agree that something has to change. In these unprecedented times of economic anarchy, credit drought and an avalanche of foreclosures, many of us are left wondering how we got here and what the future holds. If we can permit ourselves to look beyond the barrage of bad news, there may be a ray of hope to come out of this mess that can lead the country towards the path we should have taken many years ago. So what is this silver lining I speak of?

THINK :: The "Rediscovering Wright Project"

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. WILLIAM ALLIN STORRER

Quite possibly one of the biggest architecture-related stories of the year has to be Dr. William Allin Storrer's announcement of his research team's discovery of the 29 previously unknown Frank Lloyd Wright-designed houses. Hiding in plain sight for many decades, the houses represent potential missing links in the story of Wright's long career of creating a uniquely American Architecture. Even though Dr. Storrer states that a thorough amount of careful research has gone into documenting each of the "Mysterious 29", the claim of finding previously unknown Frank Lloyd Wright houses has stirred up its share of controversy among other scholars and Wright enthusiasts. In order to shed a little more light on the story, I interviewed Dr. Storrer about the claims, the research and the skepticism.

THINK :: Frank Lloyd Wright's Bernard Schwartz House

A PRIVATE JOURNEY INTO A WORK OF ART, WRITTEN BY HISTORIAN GAIL FOX

In the late 1980’s, hungry for intellectual and aesthetic stimulation, and living in a small community of 13,000 on the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan, I turned to part-time graduate study in Art History at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Thankfully, my husband and two school-age daughters supported my quest and I committed to the 180-mile round-trip commute for each class, test, research paper, and deadline.

THINK :: Stickley Lives!

HOW HISTORICAL BRANDS ARE SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD

A brand is the symbolic embodiment of every piece of information or experience connected to a company, service, or product. Brands exist as a way for consumers to foster associations or certain expectations about a company and what it provides. Brands are born, they grow, they wane, and they die – just like living things. Once a brand goes through its life cycle and finally dies, it’s not often that it can come back and thrive as it once did. That being said, there have been cases where once popular brands have passed through their original life cycle only to be reborn and regain – or even surpass – their former popularity.

THINK :: Commuter Biking

THE NEW DRIVE TO WORK

Summer has always been the perfect time for carefree weekend bike rides. An opportunity for exercise, stress-relief, and just plain fun. And for those that want to extend the experience to their daily grind, there’s a growing population taking part in what I like to call the new drive to work: commuter biking.

In much of the world, the bike is valued as a utilitarian vehicle; however, our American culture positions the bike as purely recreational, not for transportation. True, there are many reasons for our non bike-friendly mindset, but that’s slowly starting to change as commuter biking is being woven into the fabric of everyday life in metropolitan areas such as Portland, New York City, Austin, and Chicago.