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620 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
202.783.3788 |
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National Building Museum to Present Exhibition of
Innovative Masonry Design Installation
July 25, 2003
WASHINGTON—On October
18, the National Building Museum will open Masonry
Variations, an exhibition that will explore the possible
future applications of some of the world's oldest —and
newest —building materials. To illustrate the versatility
of stone, tile/terrazzo, brick, and concrete block, the
Museum has commissioned works by four cutting-edge architects
working in teams with master craftworkers to explore the
unique potential of each material. These innovative and
creative installations will be displayed in a series of
galleries along with accompanying material describing the
history of masonry techniques, changing methods of production,
and possibilities for future uses. Masonry Variations will
be on view through April 4, 2004.
Masonry Variations is made possible by the International
Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and the International
Masonry Institute.
The four young and talented architects commissioned to design the works in
masonry are: Julie Eizenberg, founding principal of Koning Eizenberg Architecture
in Los Angeles; Carlos Jiménez, principal of Carlos Jiménez Studio
in Houston; Jeanne Gang, principal of STUDIO GANG ARCHITECTS in Chicago; and
Winka Dubbeldam, principal of Archi-Tectonics in New York City.
Julie Eizenberg’s installation design will employ the traditional material
of terrazzo/tile in new and surprising ways on the floor, walls, and ceiling
of her installation. The surface of Eizenberg’s piece will undulate and
rise from the gallery floor —transforming from a highly polished smoothness
to an increasingly rugged texture through the installation. Eizenberg will
work in cooperation with a team of master craftworkers led by Michael Menegazzi
to create her installation.
Bricks have been used for centuries as a material in compression, stacked and
bearing on one another. In his installation, Carlos Jiménez challenges
convention and defies gravity by using this traditional material to create
interlaced and moveable armatures joined together in tension. Jiménez’s
installation will reflect the same purity of forms and simple geometries for
which his buildings are known. J. Keith Behrens will oversee the craftworkers
who have partnered with Jiménez to build his design.
Jeanne Gang’s design will demonstrate the delicate balance between material
and shape. Her installation will be made of a new substance —a translucent
blend of stone, woven glass fiber, and resin. The new material will be cut
into thin, yet immeasurably strong, puzzle-shapes using computer modeling,
and joined together to form long undulating chains. The final installation
will result in a translucent marble curtain of 600 interlocking pieces that
hang in tension from the vaulted gallery ceiling. Gang’s installation
will be constructed with the help of a team led by master craftsman Matt Stokes
Redabaugh.
Winka Dubbeldam’s installation will investigate the possibilities of
autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). A relatively new material, AAC is one-third
the density and weight of traditional concrete block. Dubbeldam’s design
will sculpt the material based on the graphic patterns of sound waves of varying
intensities. The soft sculptural material will become a sinuous, visual expression
of aural experiences. Master craftsman Robert Mion Jr. leads the team that
will work with Dubbeldam to build her installation.
Masonry Variations is being curated and designed by Stanley Tigerman,
FAIA, principal of Tigerman McCurry Architects in Chicago. Tigerman is a highly
respected architect and frequent commentator on national and local media programs
about the built environment. He has been an outspoken architectural critic
as well fighting to save historic buildings, and working with community activists
and civic groups to promote affordable housing, among other goals. The exhibition
graphics designer is Alicia Cheng, of the firm mgmt. At the National Building
Museum, the exhibition is coordinated by Curatorial Associate Matt Kuhnert
and consulting curator Susan Piedmont-Palladio.
A range of supporting educational programming for adults and youth will complement
the exhibition. On Thursday, October 16, 2003, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, exhibition
curator Stanley Tigerman will present —Variations on a Theme —an
overview of the innovative exhibition and its collaborative approach involving
four teams, an architect and craftspeople, who designed and constructed the
installations that reflect the versatility of masonry. Tigerman will be joined
by the four teams, who will discuss their creations in greater depth. Tickets
are $15 Museum members, $20 nonmembers, and $10 students. Lecture attendees
are admitted to the reception. Advance registration required. To register for
both the lecture and reception, please call (202) 272-2448 or register online
at www.nbm.org.
On the opening day of the exhibition (October 18, 2002), the Museum will host Masonry
Mania Family Festival —a free, one-day family program held from
10:00 am to 4:30 pm. The festival will give visitors the rare opportunity to
join professional masons and craftworkers in a variety of hands-on activities
such as mold making, bricklaying, and tile and stonework. Visitors can also
watch as representatives from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied
Craftworkers compete in their International Apprentice Contest.
The National Building Museum is America’s premier cultural institution
dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction,
and urban planning. The Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from
11 am to 5 pm. Admission is free. Museum Shop. Café. Public inquiries:
202/272-2448 or visit www.nbm.org.
The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents
100,000 skilled masonry workers in the United States and Canada. It is
the oldest continuously operating construction union in North America.
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