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“Claude Bragdon and the Beautiful Necessity is a superb catalogue and a highly engaging collection of essays that explores the multifaceted work of an almost forgoen American architect. Through a mix of philosophy, his- tory, theory, and anecdotes, the essays trace the contributions of Brag- don’s thinking from the everyday to the esoteric, from the practical to the aesthetic.” Marco Frascari Director, Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism Carleton University “ ‘Modernism’ in American architecture at the turn of the twentieth cen- tury was peculiarly involved with geometric elaboration, whether as Sul- livan’s ornamental lacework, Dow and Ross’ ‘Pure Design,’ Wright’s grid- ding, or (most fascinatingly) Fuller’s ‘geodesy.’ It was consistent. It was very deeply felt. The architect-polymath Bragdon worked at the nerve center of this enterprise; first in the Eastern Great Lakes region, then in New York City, linking Chicago radical design with popular philosophy to create extraordinary crystalline ornament clothing an obstinately tradi- tional architectural body, later finding his métier as an innovative theatre designer. He stood in the middle of this development, helped by his ex- traordinary breadth of curiosity. This book of detailed essays explores his complex contribution from the many standpoints it demands.” DaviD van Zanten Mary Jane Crowe Professor in Art and Art History Northwestern University eugenia victoria ellis is associate professor in the Department of Architecture & Interiors of the Westphal College at Drexel University. She is also a principal at Bau Architecture. anDrea g. reithMayr is the Rare Book Conservator at the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries and a Curator of collections in- cluding the Bragdon Family Papers. RIT CARY GRAPHIC ARTS PRESS 90 loMB MeMorial Drive rochester, new york 14623 Claude Bragdon & the BEAUTIFUL NECESSITY Edited by Eugenia Victoria Ellis & Andrea G. Reithmayr Claude Bragdon & the Beautiful Necessity Ellis & Reithmayr
