For Immediate Release: February 27, 2008
Media Contacts: Emma Filar, Marketing & Communications Associate
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Eero Saarinen: News Release
First retrospective exhibition of the visionary designer of the iconic St. Louis Arch, the sweeping terminal at Dulles International, and the popular ‘Tulip’ chair
WASHINGTON, DC—Eero Saarinen was one of the most prolific and celebrated architects of the mid-20th century. Designer of such iconic structures as the St. Louis Gateway Arch and the terminal at Dulles International Airport, as well as popular furniture including the sculptural 'Tulip' chair, Saarinen produced a body of work that not only explored the promise of new materials and technologies, but also seemed to capture the uniquely American spirit of optimism during the post-World War II economic boom. His flourishing career was cut short, however, when he died of a brain tumor at the age of 51. His untimely death—coupled with the extraordinary diversity of his work—made Saarinen a problematic figure for critics and historians, and as a result, the architect's many contributions were widely overlooked for much of the past four decades.
A new exhibition, Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future, makes a powerful case for recognizing Saarinen as an exceptionally innovative figure whose work has exerted a profound and continuous influence on architectural theory and practice for more than a half-century. The first full retrospective of Saarinen's career, this exhibition sheds new light on "the least-known famous architect of the 20th century" and firmly places him among the leading modernist designers.
The exhibition also examines Saarinen as a person, as well as his relationships with family, colleagues, and the press; "Building for Postwar America" explores the wide range of Saarinen's projects and their cultural significance. Featured works include the sculpturally evocative TWA Terminal at what is now Kennedy International Airport in New York; the groundbreaking John Deere Headquarters in Moline, Illinois, which was the first major building to use Cor-ten steel; and the serene Kresge Chapel at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lesser-known, unbuilt works presented in the exhibition include the winning proposal, designed by Saarinen in association with his father Eliel, for a new Smithsonian Gallery of Art, which was to have been located on the National Mall.
The exhibition was inspired by the 2002 donation of the Eero Saarinen and Associates office archives, which had been privately held since the architect's death in 1961, to Yale University. Scholars accessing the material for the first time discovered numerous sketches, correspondence, and other items that had never been published or displayed before. The exhibition includes many of these never-before-seen drawings and documents, along with large-scale models, photographs, a full-scale façade mock-up, original furniture samples, and a specially-commissioned documentary film by KDN Films featuring interviews with some of Saarinen's prominent colleagues and collaborators.
A comprehensive, 382-page catalogue featuring essays and a survey of more than 100 of Saarinen's projects accompanies the exhibition. Donald Albrecht, curator of the exhibition, co-edited the catalogue along with Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen, assistant professor at the Yale School of Architecture. The book is available in the Museum Shop and through the Museum's web site.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the National Building Museum is launching a series of events exploring the legacy of modernism and current efforts to preserve modernist architecture, much of which is now more than a half-century old. Related programming includes a presentation called Growing up Saarinen: Life and Legacy of an Architect by Eero Saarinen's daughter, Susan; a symposium entitled Preserving Modernism; a tour of Washington Dulles International Airport; and Architecture Family Day. Visit www.www.nbm.org regularly for up-to-date information on related programming.
The National Building Museum presents Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future from May 3 through August 23, 2008, in its first floor galleries. The exhibition is organized by the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York; The Museum of Finnish Architecture, Helsinki; and the National Building Museum with the support of the Yale University School of Architecture. The Patron of the exhibition is Her Excellency Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland.
Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future is made possible by the global sponsor, ASSA ABLOY. Additional support for the touring exhibition is provided by Autodesk; Florence Knoll Bassett; Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro; Elise Jaffe and Jeffrey Brown; Jeffrey Klein; Earle I. Mack; Ministry of Education, Finland; Marvin Suomi; and Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates, among others.
Major sponsorship for the presentation of Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future at the National Building Museum is provided by the local sponsor, Knoll, Inc. Additional support for the presentation of the exhibition and associated educational programs at the National Building Museum is provided by the Dedalus Foundation; Carolyn Brody; Deborah Berke & Partners Architects; Nancy B. and Howard K. Cohen; Gensler; Richard Meier Foundation; Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; Perkins + Will; and STUDIOS Architecture, among others.
After the National Building Museum, Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future will be traveling to The Minneapolis Institute of Art and Walker Art Center, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum at Washington University, the Museum of the City of New York, and Yale University Art Gallery and Yale School of Art and Architecture. The exhibition was presented at the Cranbrook Art Museum and various locations in Europe prior to the National Building Museum.
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, online content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Twitter: @BuildingMuseum and Facebook.
For more information, including a detailed fact sheet and press images, or to arrange a guided press tour of the exhibition, please contact the Marketing and Communications Department at the National Building Museum at (202) 272-2448 x 3458 or pressoffice@www.nbm.org
