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Modern Architecture Photography Exhibition Comes to Oklahoma

Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered
April 30 to June 7, 2009
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Famous architectural photographer, Julius Shulman, stopped by OKC's Untitled Artspace last September for a small exhibition and lecture. If you were unable to attend that event, don't despair- you'll have another chance April 30 through June 7, 2009. Those are the dates for Julius Shulman: Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered, featuring photographs of some of Oklahoma's most unique mid-century buildings. Photographed by one of the world's most famous architectural photographers!

© J. Paul Getty TrustIf the name doesn't ring a bell, the style probably will (see Modernity and Metropolis from the Getty Archive). Shulman, now 99, is credited with creating the "look" associated with California modernism. His photographs of architectural icons designed by Neutra, Koenig and Lautner have become icons in their own right.

The exhibit in Oklahoma City will showcase his work here in the Sooner State in the early Sixties. His subjects include Founder's Bank (right), Bruce Goff's Bavinger House in Norman, the rotund State Capitol Bank and many more. Special events are also planned, including a book signing on opening night.

Bus Tour
A guided bus tour is also planned for May 2 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Magic Modern Bus TourVisitors will have a chance to see the architectural subjects Shulman photographed in the Sixties. At least five commercial properties and private residences are on the schedule and the lucky tourists get to see them up-close... inside and out! Cost for the bus tour is $45 for adults, $35 for OKCMOA members or $25 for students. A box lunch is included.

The bus tour departs from the southwest parking lot of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 222 NW 15th Street in Oklahoma City. Seating is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis. Advance tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21. Purchase online through www.okcmoa.com or call 405-278-8237 between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.

For more on the works and theory of Julius Shulman listen to this excellent 2005 interview from Day to Day.

Comments

Hi there - Jen from OKC here - I recently wrote about Shulman for Oklahoma Today. Any chance you could take a look at a painting I bought today and give me some idea of the architect, location, etc.? I will post later tonigth. Thanks, jen
Shane Hood said…
Jen-

I would like to see the painting as well. Is it a rendering of a building? You can send the image to my email at [email protected].

-shane hood
www.lortondale.blogspot.com

The Recent Past

Oklahoma State Capitol Bank

On the Trail of Julius Shulman: Stop 2 "This is a bank," the sign outside the futuristic building read. According to legend a prankster added a strategic question mark and echoed the sentiment of many passers-by: "This is a bank?" That was back in 1964 when it opened. Today the Arvest on Lincoln Boulevard looks a bit less Jetsonian, mostly due to replacement of structural glass below the "saucers," but it's still an unusual bank. Designed by Robert Roloff of the architectural firm Bailey, Bozalis, Dickinson & Roloff, the State Capitol Bank caused quite a stir in Oklahoma City when it opened. Heck, it's still pretty shocking today! Originally the flying saucers appeared to hover above the building (as seen in this vintage postcard). All the glass that made that effect possible also made heating and cooling an expensive proposition. Security concerns also mandated replacement of those windows with solid materials and small square portholes

Visit to the Prairie Chicken House

This unique house on the edge of Norman, Oklahoma is known to most as the prairie chicken house. Designed by Herb Greene in 1960, he preferred to call it simply the Prairie House .  Thanks to the  Prairie House Preservation Society  (PHPS) it is now possible for the public to experience one of Oklahoma's most unusual architectural treasures. 

The Bruce Goff House in Vinita

We were recently surprised to learn about a Goff-designed home just an hour away from Tulsa in Vinita, Oklahoma. Vinita is probably best known to OK Mod readers as the home of the Glass House on I-44, also known as (shudder) the World's Largest Largest McDonalds . Anywho, turned out the Goff house was on the market, and the owner was more than happy to let us have a look around. We took a short drive up the turnpike one Sunday afternoon to meet the realtor, snap some pictures, ask some questions and enjoy another one of Bruce Goff's unique creations. The home is known as the Adams House and was built in 1961. The 3,700 square foot home is arranged in a circular floor plan with a large sunken "conversation pit" at the center. Rising up from this pit is a large metal fireplace, its chimney surrounded by skylights, which dominates the entire house. Rooms surround the perimeter with folding accordion doors acting as walls. To maintain some semblance of privacy an inner