"Abyssinian Cyber Vernaculus," 2019. 3-D generated terrain of Lalibela region in Ethiopia. Courtesy the artist. From the 2020 individual grant to Miriam Hillawi Abraham for "Abyssinian Cyber Vernaculus."
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts has announced its slate of 2020 Grants to Individuals, a set of 52 awards totaling $320,800 in funding for research endeavors that highlight a multiplicity of architectural, urban, and social perspectives.
As in years passed, the 2020 cohort of grantees offers a spread of fascinating architectural topics currently being investigated by the selected architects, scholars, writers, artists, designers, curators, and filmmakers who are "working worldwide on urgent issues that further the contemporary understanding of the built environment," as the Graham Foundation tells it.
Photographer unknown, Ethel Madison Bailey Furman (1893–1976) with fellow architects at the Hampton Institute’s “Negro Contractors’ Conference,” Richmond, VA, 1928. Courtesy the Ethel Bailey Furman, Papers and architectural drawings, 1928-2003, Accession 41145. Personal Papers Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va
Among the selected topics are a virtual exhibition offering a "didactic and reflective journey on the life and death of the Jaragua Hotel" in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from architect Alex Martínez Suárez; a multifaceted VR gaming experience from Addis Ababa-based designer and artist Miriam Hillawi Abraham that follows archetypal historian "heroes" throughout the Medieval monolithic churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia; a book exploring the life and works of 19th century sanitary engineer George E. Waring, Jr. by City College of New York educator Catherine Seavitt Nordenson; and work on the The Black Architects Archive (BAA), a collection highlighting the works of Black architects across history from Northeastern University historian Jay Cephas, among many others.
In a statement highlighting the winners, Graham director Sarah Herda explains that “Now more than ever, support for challenging ideas is essential to realize change. The Graham Foundation invests in people working to reimagine and push the boundaries of architecture. From addressing issues such as systemic racism and injustice; to the impacts of colonialism, geopolitics, and climate change; and raising awareness of under recognized figures and bodies of work, the 2020 grantees demonstrate new possibilities for the field.”
The full set of winners is highlighted below and on the Graham Foundation website.
Special issue of "Muang Thai" pictorial magazine celebrating Constitution Day, December 1941. Courtesy the Government Department of Public Relations, Thailand. From the 2020 individual grant to Lawrence Chua for "Bangkok Utopia: Modern Architecture and Buddhist Felicities, 1910–1973"
Exhibitions
Cathy Hsiao, Chicago, IL,
Prem Krishnamurthy, New York, NY.
Figure: James Leng and Jennifer Ly, San Francisco, CA
Zoe Leonar, New York, NY
Future Firm: Ann Lui and Craig Reschke, Chicago, IL
Alex Martínez Suárez, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
No Comments
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.