Mike Wolanin | The Republic Richard McCoy, standing left, executive director of Landmark Columbus Foundation, reacts as Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon reads a proclamation for Matt Shaw, seated left, author of the book “American Modern: Architecture, Community, Ciolumbus, Indiana”, and Alex Lin, seated right, designer of the book, during the launch party for the volume at the former North Christian Church in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Mayor Ferdon declared July 10th American Modern Day in Columbus.
When author Matt Shaw dug into Columbus’ architectural foundation, he found a shovelful of late, longtime community leader and industrialist J. Irwin Miller’s passion: equality and justice for all, buried in a passage from the obscure, Old Testament book of Leviticus.
Part of the Scripture from Leviticus 19:15 reads in a modern version: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”
“That verse kept coming up,” Shaw said of his eight months of research.
He referenced his nearly two-year project for the just-released, exhaustive, coffee table book, “American Modern: Architecture, Community, Columbus, Indiana” commissioned by the nonprofit Landmark Columbus Foundation. Rick Johnson, a former foundation board chair, proposed the book, according to leaders.
City native Shaw opened his remarks Wednesday evening with the aforementioned Biblical wisdom, one of Miller’s favorite passages, at the local launch of the volume that has been available in recent weeks at places such as New York City’s Museum of Modern Art gift shop. The celebration attracted more than 200 people at Columbus’ former North Christian Church building — designer Eero Saarinen’s very structure that Shaw used to open the book’s introduction (and also Miller’s church later in life).
That intro outlines what Shaw terms an “almost hallucinatory small town.”
A second launch is slated to unfold today in Indianapolis, where Landmark also has been involved in some work.
Shaw, who lives in New York City and whose work has appeared everywhere from The New York Times to The Architect’s Newspaper, originally spoke from a semi-scholarly, national perspective at the gathering, outlining backdrops for Columbus’ architectural beginnings such as references to the mid-1960s The Great Society.
But, later, during a warm question-and-answer session, he offered perspectives more human and heartfelt about a town that he acknowledged he knew was significant even while he was a young student here in the Parkside neighborhood. Making his sharing even more personal was the fact that parents David and Suzie Shaw were in the audience.
The book’s graphics specialist Alex Lin of Studio Lin in New York City was also on hand Wednesday to share thoughts about the book and about the city — one that he said amazed him after Shaw gave him a tour before his book assistance began. As the father of a young son, Lin mentioned that he was especially struck by Columbus Signature Academy Lincoln Elementary School.
“It really blew me away,” Lin said. “I can just imagine parents dropping off their kids there and just marveling.”
Internationally celebrated architecture photographer Iwan Baan, whose photos grace the book, also was originally scheduled to appear, but could not make it.
But the celebration went on nonetheless as both author and artist praised Baan’s eye. Mayor Mary Ferdon praised the trio and Landmark Columbus Foundation with an official proclamation that heralded “American Modern Day” in Columbus.
“I know that you all demand excellence,” Ferdon said to the crowd, referencing architectural and related endeavors before the actual book signing began. “And I know that you support it. And tonight is just one more example of that.”
Too, that thirst for excellence locally could well be in good hands for the future. Beth Stroh of downtown’s Viewpoint Books was on hand selling the books in the building lobby when a preteen girl reservedly approached with a chuck of money she had saved for the occasion. Alas, her treasure didn’t quite match the book’s $75 price.
But Stroh hardly would allow the youngster to walk away — not when she saw how badly she wanted a copy. Stroh made certain she got one.
“It was absolutely amazing,” Stroh said.
Perhaps not that different, after all, from Columbus’ commitment through the years, to top quality, Modernist design.
