Docomomo US has another chapter to add to its fold, this time it’s Michigan! The architectural historians, preservationists, and modern enthusiasts of Michigan have been talking about starting a chapter for years. However, it appears that moving slow and steady has been the best method in getting to the end of the race to a brand new beginning for advocacy, education, and outreach of modern design across the state’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
Mission Statement
Docomomo_US/Michigan hopes to raise awareness to the significance of Michigan’s modern resources and encourage their preservation and reuse. Their goal is to build on the recognition and importance of Michigan’s role in the modern movement through documentation, education, conservation technology and advocacy while continuing to support the role of SHPO’s Michigan Modern™ project (www.michiganmodern.org) and augment the activities of other mid-century modern interest groups in Michigan. In addition, Docomomo_US/Michigan wants to add to Michigan’s statewide inventory of mid-century modern architecture, landscape, urban planning and design, and encourage listing of significant resources on local, state, national and international registers. Through these efforts they believe that they will not only educate but also advocate for and assist in the protection of resources of the modern movement that are threatened with demolition, neglect, inappropriate change(s) or loss.
Members of Docomomo_US/Michigan will be at the Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s annual conference in Jackson, Michigan May 14-17, 2014, at the National Main Street Conference in Detroit, Michigan May 17-21, 2014, and at the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office’s Michigan Modern™: Design that Shaped America Symposium in Grand Rapids, Michigan June 19-21 2014 (http://bit.ly/1iOLPnz) if you are interested in meeting with members, have any questions about the new Michigan Chapter of Docomomo_US, or are interested in joining.
Follow Docomomo_US/Michigan on social media by tweeting them @Docomomo_MI or following them on Facebook at Docomomo_us_mi