The Blessing in Disaster: Notre Dame de Paris

On April 15, 2019 Notre Dame de Paris burned in a serious fire that nearly destroyed the cathedral. In 2016, I made a photograph of Notre Dame de Paris that exposed some of the interior and showed the rose window illuminated from within as if from the light of god. Little did I know that this would begin what I anticipate to be a lifelong relationship with this sacred building and its stewards. The fire demonstrated that the building's power reaches well beyond the Catholic faith, and France. This talk will focus on the physical, political, historical, architectural and human aspect of the Cathedral's extraordinary rebirth. Over the last decade I have watched this saga unfold personally through the media, fundraising efforts, visits before and after the restoration. This is a celebration of a job well done.

Speaker:

As a photographer, a craftsman, a registered architect and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Tom Rossiter’s images reflect his experience as a maker and a lover of history, nature, culture and architecture. Through his commissioned work, Rossiter tells powerful architectural stories through the eyes of the architects for awards, publication, and presentations. His fine art work aims to synthesize his experience coupled with an overarching love of nature, the night, and how they are experienced in time. The work takes the form of still images, intricately composited images, timelapse meditations, video and documentary works.

Join us for a glass of wine at 6:00PM, followed by the presentation, and more conversation afterwards.

Since this is a FREE program, with limited seating, please cancel your reservation if you are unable to attend.

Venue:
This lecture takes place at the Charnley-Persky House Museum, a National Historic Landmark building located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Designed by famed Chicago architect Louis Sullivan with assistance from his at-the-time junior draftsman Frank Lloyd Wright, the Charnley-Persky House (1891-1892) is recognized as a pivotal work of modern American architecture. We look forward to welcoming you into this unique space for an enlightening talk about preservation. In the meantime, take a virtual tour of the house.

Host or Publisher Society of Architectural Historians