Exhibitions

Old Carnegie Library Building

Carnegie Building

Current DC Main Public Library

Proposed site plan
by Notre Dame first-year
graduate student
Kalinda Brown

Proposed main elevation
by Notre Dame first-year
graduate student
Grant Saller

In 2007 the Society approached the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame about pegging a design studio to the expansion and renovation of the old Carnegie Library Building in downtown Washington. This beaux-arts landmark ceased to serve as the city’s main public library in 1972, being supplanted by a much larger Mies van der Rohe-designed facility.

The Carnegie is now occupied by the Historical Society of Washington, DC. But there is general agreement that the building fails to adequately exploit its spacious, high-profile downtown site, Mount Vernon Square, while the Mies building has proven unpopular with library users and staff alike. City leaders have discussed the possibility of moving the main library branch back into an enlarged and improved Carnegie building.

Notre Dame architecture professor David Mayernik took an interest in the site and arranged for his Fall 2007 first-year graduate studio to focus on designing the Carnegie’s expansion in a sympathetic classical manner. The design studio focused on improving the building as opposed to settling the issue of its future institutional use.

The Society hosted Professor Mayernik and his seven students at a dinner in October. A lively and productive discussion of various aspects of the design problem resulted. On the morning of December 12, a jury review of the student designs took place at the Carnegie building. Merrick T. Malone, chair of the Historical Society’s board of trustees, graciously agreed to serve on the review panel. After lunch, the student work was exhibited to the public in the Carnegie building, and that evening the Society hosted a private reception for Professor Mayernik and his students at which the designs were again displayed to an enthusiastic audience.

Inaugural Exhibition

DIANA AND FOUR WOMEN
IN THE FOREST
EDWARD SCHMIDT

In 2004 the Society presented its inaugural exhibition of painting, drawing, and sculpture. The exhibition was on view from April 2 until May 15 at the Arts Club of Washington, which occupies the historic James Monroe House. This important exhibition presented a generous cross-section of contemporary traditionally-oriented art and design. The Society anticipates organizing another such exhibition in the near future.

Here is a list of the distinguished exhibitors:

Painting:
Neilson Carlin, Patrick Connors, Steven Gjertson, John Woodrow Kelley, James Langley, Robert Liberace, Benjamin Long, Edward Schmidt, Frank Strazzula, Ruth Stroik, William Swetcharnik, Richard Weaver, Will Wilson, William Woodward

Sculpture:
Jay Hall Carpenter, Michael Curtis, Anthony Frudakis, George M. Kelly, Brad Parker, Alexander Stoddart, Cheryl Wheat

Graphic Art:
Elliott Banfield, Randolph Melick

Washington Medal
by Michael Curtis

Architectural Drawing:
Steve Bass, Cecile Devemey, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co., Franck Lohsen McCrery, Milton Grenfell, David Mayernik, Thomas V. Noble, Steven W. Semes, Duncan Stroik

This exhibition was made possible in part through the generous support of Mr. Brett Rugo of Rugo Stone, Mr. Kevin Zeluck of Zeluck Architectural Wood Windows and Doors, and Mr. T.A.D. Tharp.