Environment and Art
2003 Indianapolis, Indiana
Letter from the Convener, Tom Slon SJ
September 2, 2002
Dear Member of the Environment & Art Seminar:
In May, when summer 2002 was still a thing of the future, John Gallen and I visited Columbus Indiana, which is an easy day trip from Indianapolis, Indiana, the site of this year’s NAAL meeting. Columbus lived up to its reputation as a trove of modern architectural treasures, some of which are The First Christian Church by Eliel Saarenin (1942), the North Christian Church by his son Eero Saarenin (1964), St. Peter’s Lutheran Church by Gunnar Birkert (1988), the First Baptist church by Harry Weese (1965), and St. Bartholomew’s R.C. Church by Ratio Architects, Inc. (2000).
This brings me to my proposal for our time together in Indianapolis and how we might make the best use of that time. I propose that we spend Friday, our first day together, on the road visiting the reputed masterpieces in Columbus and, if we can manage it, see the Cathedral in Indianapolis as well. Mr. Ed Sovik, who will be honored by the academy this year, is responsible for the renovation of the Cathedral, so I am told. I propose that we not use Friday to discuss these buildings, but merely to study them, take notes, take picture or make sketches. We will reserve Saturday for discussion, back at the Hyatt. Our agenda will be ambitious, to discuss these buildings in light of, and as a continuation of, last year’s seminar topic, the primitive Christian liturgy and how it bears on present liturgical practice. This, I think will require some discipline on our part, but at the same time it will give us a framework by which to discuss these buildings.
To facilitate the discussion I would urge that we read the summary of last year’s work found in the published proceedings. Also, as we did last year, we may look to particular individuals in the group to briefly present a statement about a particular building in order to begin our discussion. I will do my best to have slides of the projects we see on Friday to refresh (and verify) our memories on Saturday.
In addition to the above, we will want to hear reports from the members with regard to events of significance, not the least of which is the completion and dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in L.A. Please submit other such events to me with summaries so I can anticipate those reports in our schedule.
Please feel free to respond to the above proposal. In the meantime (or unless I hear a ground swell to the contrary), I will begin to arrange transportation for us to Columbus from Indianapolis and gather information and slides to assist us in our study and discussion.
There is no sense in crying about it. Summer’s gone.
Sincerely,
Tom