All The (Recent) News
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 » By James Connolly » See more posts from ALL THE NEWS
Our complete fall update can be downloaded here.
The building renovation projects begun last spring were completed by mid summer. With the new roof in place, the dark cloud of concern that hovered over staff with each storm since 1997 has vanished. The building feels sturdier after re-pointing and parapet repair. In its newly refreshed state the Daily News ad identifies the building boldly and reminds us of Roger Brown’s incisive responses to current events in his paintings, as a kind of “daily news” artist. Brown’s former studio and workroom (our orientation and work spaces) have new track lights. The garage is now fully illuminated with new industrial lighting appropriate for the Mustang. The orientation space has been upgraded from folding chairs to Caper chairs, an old table to a new desk, and the old AV system will be replaced with a ceiling mounted digital projector, speakers, and new screen by the start of spring semester. All thanks to Ron Kirkpatrick, Tom Buechele, and IRFM (Instructional Resources and Facilities Management) staff for making this all happen!
The nomination for 1926 N. Halsted Street to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, authored by Historic Preservation grad student Susannah Ribstein, was reviewed on December 2 by the City of Chicago Landmarks Commission Program Committee. Alderman Vi Daley and the Committee endorsed it heartily. Susannah and I traveled to Springfield on December 10 (Roger’s birthday), where Susannah presented the nomination to the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council. The Council voted to approve the nomination unanimously. Although 1926 has been in the National Register’s Sheffield Historic District for years, we’re excited to have the site landmarked individually, for Roger Brown’s significance as an artist. Kudos to Susannah, who worked uncountable hours on the nomination––an excellent articulation of the building’s significance and a fine contribution to the scholarship on Roger Brown.
-Lisa Stone
