The Broward Trust and Mid -Century Modern Architecture:
Exhibitions and Publications
Mid-Century Modern is a post-World War II architectural phenomenon that flourished from 1945 until 1972 in many parts of the United States. Most notably in Las Vegas, Nevada and Palm Springs, California, along Route 66 in the Southwest, in Wildwood, New Jersey and in Pensacola, Miami Beach, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its architectural vernacular reflects visual glamour, space age optimism, and the freedom of the winged automobile to race along interstate highways that were beginning to crisscross the nation. Society was open to spontaneity, portability, informality and flexibility. As the result of a huge growth spurt immediately after World War II, Broward County soon had a plethora of this style.
The Broward Trust recognized that fifty years later, the area's signature architectural style, was being demolished at an alarming rate. It was apparent that not only did public officials fail to protect its legacy of this style, municipal governments had no public policy for saving mid-century buildings. The Trust decided to become an advocate for preserving what it could.
In 2004 it commissioned architectural photographer Robin Hill to record some of the best examples of the County's mid century architecture. The result was the exhibition 'Going, Going, Gone?" which has been shown several times.
BACKGROUND
Today photographic exhibitions, lectures, periodicals, books, walking and nautical tours celebrating this period are popular. One of the first in Florida ( October 1-December 16, 2001) was "MiMo, Miami Modern Architecture" organized by the Urban Arts Committee of Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation Gallery, The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue Miami Beach. Some others:
March 13-May 8, 2002. "Beyond the Box: Mid-Century Architecture in Miami and New York," was presented by the Urban Arts Committee in Miami Beach and the Municipal Art Society of New York. Photography: Robin Hill, Arthur Marcus, Thomas Delbeck.
October 15 , 2004 - May 5, 2005 "Mid Century Modern Architecture in South Florida, The New Shape of Motion" , was shown at the State Museum of History, Tallahassee for seven months as a comprehensive selection from "Going, Going, Gone?" and with Miami Dade's "Beyond The Box" .
July 8 - October 30, 2005, "Going, Going, Gone?" Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale.
April 2-24, 2006 , "Going, Going, Gone?" Broward County Main Library, Gallery Six, Fort Lauderdale, Florida .
June 11- August 20, 2006, "Going, Going, Gone?" Historical Museum of Plantation, Florida.
February 8 - March 28, 2008 , "Going, Going, Gone?" Old Davie School Historical Museum, Davie, Florida.
RECOMMENDED PUBLICATIONS ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA MID-CENTURY MODERN ARCHITECTURE
MIMO, Miami Modern Revealed, by Eric P. Nash and Randall C. Robinson, Jr. Chronicle Press 2004.
Populuxe by Thomas Hine, Alfred A. Knopf, 1986.
Florida History and the Arts published by the Florida Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, Summer 2005 Issue.
HOME Fort Lauderdale, HOME Miami Magazines published by Bonnier Corp.
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