Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

“Non-Fiction Sculpture: Tom Stafford talks with Denny Reed about hot rods” by Tom Stafford, Writer, Springfield News-Sun

While watching his bandmate Denny Reed build a hot rod, Tom Stafford of the Springfield News-Sun was struck by how much building a car from scratch is like writing a story. That led him to write a couple of columns about the process, including one that provides the title for this lecture, “The Hot Rod as Nonfiction Sculpture.” Using a question and answer format and photographs taken during the making of the hot rod, the two of them will explore creativity, decision-making and problem-solving involved in the making of a car that began as a drawing on a small chalk board in a Springfield garage.

The car will be on site for the event.

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

“My experience with design as an artist” by Michael Major, Artist

“Design is a central theme in my life's work. As a visual artist I continue to explore design possibilities and have developed deep appreciation for the influence of good design in my life. I will share images and discuss the topic of design during my presentation. These images include artwork as well as my home and studios. I will also discuss the Westcott House specifically and why my appreciation for it has grown.

Wednesday July 22nd, 2009

“The Natural House: A comparison of Frank Lloyd Wright’s thoughts 100 to 50 years ago with current ideas” by Erik Lindsjo, The Westcott House Foundation

The aspect of the Westcott House and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture that interests me the most is his idea on sustainable architecture and the natural house. With this in mind I wanted to explore how his ideas hold up today 100 years after he built the Westcott House. During this lecture we will explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s idea of a natural house, but also look at what a natural house might look at today.

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

”Katharine Wright: Remarkable Sister of the Wright Brothers” by Dawne Dewey, Head of Special Collections and Archives & Director of Public History, Wright State University Libraries

Katharine Wright may have been the younger sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright, inventors of powered flight, but she was a remarkable woman in her own right. Born into a family with conservative values, but forward thinking beliefs about women’s rights and education, Katharine lived a life full of contradiction between the reality of the role of women in the age she lived in and the life she might have entered under different circumstances. Dawne Dewey, Head of Special Collections and Archives for the Wright State University Libraries will share Katharine’s story through photographs and passages from Katharine’s letters.

August 5th, 2009

"Ridgewood - In the Country Club District." by Tami Dallenbach, Public Historian, The Turner Foundation

In 1916 the talk of the town was the new residential development – Ridgewood. Located near the increasingly fashionable Springfield Country Club, Ridgewood was the first restricted subdivision in Springfield. Nationally prominent real estate tycoon Harry S. Kissell traveled the country and studied the nation’s best upscale suburbs before laying out his picturesque new neighborhood. Come and learn about the history, residents, and architecture of this charming early twentieth-century suburb.

The Westcott House Summer Lecture series are Wednesdays at 12:00-12:45pm, free and open to the public, July 8th – August 5th, 2009.
No reservations are required. Guests are welcome to bring a bag lunch. For more information please call 937-327-9291.

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