By Janice Hack, executive director of the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society
Experience the splendor of local gardens and landscapes through new eyes at the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society’s new exhibition. "Nature by Design: Drawings of the Foundation for Architecture and Landscape Architecture, 1926-1935" showcases beautiful watercolors, measured drawings and sketches of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff estates and gardens drawn by students of architecture and landscape architecture over 75 years ago. The exhibit is open to the public and will be featured at the Historical Society through December 16.
The Foundation for Architecture and Landscape Architecture was an innovative summer program of advanced training for graduates in those disciplines at Midwestern universities. Launched in 1926 by members of the Lake Forest Garden Club and renowned landscape architect Ferruccio Vitale, the Foundation took advantage of Lake Forest’s reputation as a locus for country place design.
Students took classes on the campus of Lake Forest College from masters in their fields, and utilized the houses and grounds of neighboring estates as examples for analysis. In light of the Foundation’s mission of promoting collaboration between architects and landscape architects, Lake Forest resident Edward L. Ryerson sponsored an annual fellowship
Drawings provided by the LF-LB Historical Society
competition, which sent the top team of students to Europe for a year of study. The drawings brought to light once again in Nature By Design were created by Foundation students for class assignments, the fellowship competition, and during their travels. Though subject matter focuses on Lake Forest and Lake Bluff homes and gardens, there are also European villas and imagined proposed structures.
The drawings are on loan from the Lake Forest Library and from Special Collections, Donnelley and Lee Library, Lake Forest College. Several of the Foundation drawings will remain on permanent display at the Lake Forest Library in the business room and reference room. Exhibit visitors will have the opportunity to view these additional drawings with the aid of a self-guided tour booklet.
Also featured in the exhibit is a collaborative project between the Historical Society and Lake Forest College. Students from Lake Forest College conducted oral history interviews to further our understanding of local landscape history. Among those interviewed were residents who work in landscape or floral design, have built noted gardens, participate in garden clubs, or have contributed in other ways to the community’s natural beauty.
Lead sponsors for Nature By Design include Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, Inc., The Frame Forum, Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, Kathryn Quinn Architects, Mariani Landscape, Rocco Fiore & Sons, Inc., and Sue and Wes Dixon.
The exhibit is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society is located at 361 East Westminster, one block east of the Lake Forest Station on the Union Pacific North line of the Metra.
For more information, please call the Historical Society at 847-234-5253 or visit www.lflbhistory.org.
Recent Comments