ArchitectureView By Bob Barzan Who Knew Architecture Could Be So Much Fun?
There is something inspirational, informative, and fun for everyone of every interest and age at this year’s Modesto Architecture Festival: more than 120 tours, exhibits, international movies, bike rides, workshops, speakers, installations, interventions, children’s activities, and special events with dozens of community partners. All events and activities are free except the video workshop. The festival’s mission is to celebrate architecture and urban design, and celebration is exactly what will happen in this nine-day city-wide event.
The festival opens on Saturday, September 13th with exhibits; tours; a talk by Murray Silverstein, At Play in the Fields of Architecture and Poetry; an afternoon of fun free activities for families and kids; and an opening night reception. Events will continue daily through the following week and weekend including an evening of architecture movies at the State Theatre; guided and self-guided walking, biking, and driving tours of Modesto’s heritage architecture; a movie about the architecture of Antonio Gaudi, Liquid Stone, at the Carnegie Center in Turlock; and an evening tour and exhibit at the newly renovated post office building.
Many of the festival events will take place at the new Modesto Architecture Festival Center in the Modesto Design District at 1009 J Street including an exhibit of historic blueprints and drawings of some of Modesto’s iconic buildings. For the first time ever, see drawings by renowned 20th century architect Bernard Maybeck for the Modesto Gas Company, part of Unbuilt Modesto, and exhibit of projects that never made it off the drawing board.
Spirit of Space from Germany and Chicago returns to lead a workshop and free café on architectural video. This year will also see an expansion of Park(ing) Day. The world-wide event on Friday, September 19th, will bring several temporary parklets and the installation of new public art in the city’s design district.
A trailer video about the festival can be seen at
The American Institute of Architects, Sierra Valley Chapter and the Modesto Art Museum host the festival funded in part by a generous grant from Artplace America and support from Justin W. Capp | Engineering + Design. For complete festival details including a daily schedule see http://modestoarchfest.com/.
