By Richard McCoy
I’m thrilled to start 2016 by announcing that we’ve created Landmark Columbus, a new organization in Columbus, Indiana, one whose mission is to care for and celebrate the world-renowned design heritage of this remarkable place. Landmark Columbus was created as a program of Heritage Fund -- The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
To start the year off right, and to position Landmark Columbus for the future, we’re becoming a “Friends Organization” of Docomomo US. We’re awfully proud to be connected to Docomomo US and to be supported by so many inspirational folks within it. We’re grateful to Docomomo US for all of the support they've provided and are looking forward to some truly big events in 2016 and 2017 (stay tuned). We’d love it if you signed up for our monthly newsletter on our web page, or connected with us on Facebook.
Looking back, in 2015 we accomplished a lot in the process of creating this organization with the community. We formed an “Advocacy and Education Committee” tasked to create fun and free events in partnership with other organizations in the community. One of our most impactful efforts was to organize two “landscape clean ups” at North Christian Church, designed by Eero Saarinen and Associates (1964), with landcape designed by Dan Kiley. Late this summer around 100 folks from the community came out to help clear downed limbs from a storm, weed the many flower beds, and even trim some of the beautiful magnolia trees.
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Towards the end of 2015, we worked with the Columbus Area Visitor Center and other partners to host the annual board meeting of Docomomo US. After celebrating the Citation of Merit at the Cummins Irwin Conference Center over cocktails and appetizers, the board got down to serious business in their meetings, but also took some time to go on a tour that was facilitated by Louis Joyner Architect and Ben Wever of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Recognizing the opportunity of having the Docomomo US Board of Directors in town, we organized the “2015 Columbus Conversation” at First Christian Church, designed by Saarinen and Saarinen (1942) to discuss effective ways to raise awareness for our the cause of caring for. This public conversation featured Docomomo US board members Theodore Prudon and Flora Chou, the president of Indiana Landmarks, Marsh Davis, the curator and archivist of the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives, Tricia Gilson, and the last president of Preserve to Enjoy, Jeff Baker. We created a short video from our hour-long event that I hope you’ll watch.
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So, here’s to 2106, and here’s the start of something positive in Columbus and being connected with you all!
For more information about Landmark Columbus and how to get involved email richard(AT)landmarkcolumbus.org