In honor of the Year of the Woman in Maryland and the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, the non-profit Liriodendron Foundation is hosting free online special presentation on Wednesday, August 12 from 7:00-8:00 pm, celebrating women who contributed their design talents to Maryland’s built environment at a time when few women were in the profession. Many of the women practiced through the lean years of the Depression and World War II, designing buildings in Maryland and across the country, serving as a story of perseverance and determination.
The presentation is given in conjunction with the “Early Women of Architecture in Maryland” traveling exhibit on display at the Liriodendron Mansion’s galleries until August 26, 2020.
One of the twelve women showcased in the exhibit is Poldi Hirsch (1926-1987), a resident of Havre de Grace and the first female member to own her own firm in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Baltimore Chapter. Over 25 modern structures still stand in Harford County as a testament to her professional perseverance and pioneering legacy. Some of her artwork and architectural drawings are also on display and can be viewed with the exhibit during Liriodendron’s Open Houses hours between 11am-3pm on Sunday, August 9th and between 1:00-7:00pm on Wednesdays August 12th, 19th and 26th or by appointment by contacting 410.879.4424 or info@liriodendron.com.
The special presentation on August 12 will be given by the curator of the exhibit, Jillian Storms, AIA. Ms. Storms received BAF’s Roger Redden Award and Preservation Maryland’s George T. Harrison Volunteer Award in recognition of her extensive work in organizing the exhibit research and programming done in conjunction with members of the Women in Architecture (now EQUITY) Committee of AIA Baltimore and students from Morgan State University. She has a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Urban Studies and Planning from Goucher College, and once served as president of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, which sponsored the exhibit through a Maryland Humanities grant matched with generous contributions from architectural community and its allies.
If interested in the August 12 presentation, PLEASE RSVP so we have a sense of how many will be on the Zoom call.
Join on your computers via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81525668670
Or use one-tap mobile: +13017158592,,81525668670# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,81525668670# US (Chicago)
The Liriodendron Mansion, located at 502 W Gordon St, Bel Air, MD 21014, is a design wonder in itself to see and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by the firm of Wyatt & Nolting Architects in 1898 as the summer home for the family of Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly, one of the four founding physicians of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Medical College. The estate, comprised of multiple buildings and 108 acres of property, is now owned by Harford County. The Liriodendron Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, manages the property for the public benefit as a center for Harford County history and cultural arts, as well as offers the venue for wedding and conferences.
This exhibit is the first cultural event offered since the pandemic curtailed operations this spring. Don’t miss it!
For more information and updates, please visit https://liriodendron.com.