Alden B. Dow Home and Studio
Contact
Lisa Quinn- Marketing and P.R. Coordinator
Alden B Dow Home and Studio
1-989-839-7444
Quinn@abdow.org
www.abdow.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release

Mid-Century Modern Midland Organization Invites You to Participate
The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio invites all those interested in Mid-Century Modern architecture and design to join Mid-Century Modern Midland, an organization devoted to the preservation, celebration, sharing, and perpetuating of Midland’s architectural heritage. The main goal of the organization is to further our knowledge of Midland’s rich Mid-Century Modern heritage by offering a forum to feature articles, presentations and research focused on architecture and design as well as opening the doors to some of the Midland’s architecturally significant structures with annual tours.  

The first meeting of the organization will be held at the Grace A. Dow Auditorium on Sunday, September 25 at 1:00 pm.  The meeting will outline the objectives of the organization, announce a schedule of events for 2017 and will welcome questions and comments from the participants.

“Alden B. Dow, Jackson Hallett, Francis Warner, Robert Schwartz, Francis Beech, Robert Goodall and many other architects created over 250 Mid-Century Modern buildings in our community.  They created the definitions of what buildings are and how they function for Midland.  We have a heritage in Mid-Century Modern Architecture that is unparalleled in our country,” said Craig McDonald, Director of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio.  “We need to preserve and carry it into the future as it can have a huge impact on tourism and economics in this region.  Living in Midland we are all a part of this heritage.” 

Because the work of these architects is so beautifully woven into the Midland community it can be seen as just a part of the landscape.  People interact in Mid-Century Modern homes, churches, schools, offices, stores and civic buildings each and every day.  Since this architecture is so much a part of daily life and has been for decades, people may not see it as unique or as special as it is. 

Alden B. Dow began challenging the built environment in the early 1930s. Like others, he longed to help create a new definition for buildings in the United States.  No longer wishing to use the architectural tenants of our European beginnings, he helped to define a truly new American aesthetic in architecture and design.   An appreciation and interaction of the structure to its natural surroundings, integration of new materials and technologies, far greater use of natural lighting, and clean, unornamented environments were all characteristics of this new Mid-Century Modern design theory.  He was one of many architects and designers that created new forms of expression that included Eero Saarinen, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, Ray Eames, and Mies van der Rohe, among others.   Midland has a well- deserved and important place in the development of the Mid-Twentieth Century Modern Movement. 

For details about the meeting please visit the Mid-Century Modern Midland, MI Facebook page or call the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio at 989-839-2744. 

Robert Schwartz Residence by Robert Schwartz

James Kendall Residence by Jackson Hallett

Alden B. Dow Home and Studio by Alden B. Dow