Summer Lecture Series: An Attendee’s Perspective

As Fall begins to cast its influence over NYC, adding briskness to the air and making leaves fall, I am reminded of the regional beauty of the New York landscape that is preserved in Hudson River School style. Over the summer I attended the ICA & CA lecture series featuring the Hudson River School, finding the influence of the natural pervasive in everything from Classical to Contemporary. At Scofield Historic Lighting, we use some of the same values the painters and architects used to compliment the natural charm of the area. Our lighting derives from classical and natural designs, by way of Europe and rooted in Northeastern soil. The lecture series made the progression of historically influenced styles we use in our lighting more transparent and a rational movement to timeless style.

In case you missed these excellent talks, I wanted to share the pearls of wisdom I took away and reflected upon over the course of the summer.

Dr. David Schuyler led the first conversation, cementing the idea of landscape as a Colonial America as a culturally viable icon of America’s continued identity. Through viewing images of the Hudson River, one can only be stunned by the superhuman autonomy of the land and authority of the natural expanses. The lecture featured a slideshow of contemporary photographs alongside original maps, where the medium of land in itself is not in itself Classical but shares the same excellence in proportions and vision.

Dr. Linda Ferber then continued the series by exhibiting the masters of the traditionally understood “Hudson River Style” and showed how Schuyler’s “Sanctified Landscape” was pictured in a manner she termed as “Geography of the Ideal.” In a whirlwind summary, the lecture moved from representation images of nature to the more interpretive. Asher Durand and Albert Bierstadt depicted shifting images of the ideal as society dictated changed ideas of the ideal (during the period they created, Victorian values are evident in the execution).

Dr. Gregory Long spoke next about the role of historic homes as a continuation of the Hudson River School style. Although the Hudson River trajectory of styles is similar to the styles of Northeastern homes but truly complimented the beautiful panoramic we visited in the first lecture. The Gothic Revival and Picturesque gained dominance from British influence exuded during Colonial times, but really fit the drama of the surroundings. The talk also emphasized the importance of the Federal style, although; I almost see this style as a juxtaposition of the setting.

The final talk really impacted me, as my background focuses on contemporary adaptation of classically influenced styles. Architect, Michael Dwyer, spoke of the renovations and projects he was involved with at Edgewater (the majestic Federal-style house with a Doric portico on the Hudson River. The point made clear throughout the talk was in how the building used Classical and European design but was distinctly American. Additionally, Dwyer made a point to say that his restorative work required the same innovation of modern design. The Classical is truly a living, ever breathing phenomena wherein nature at its most elementary level is of influence.

At Scofield Historic Lighting, we have always coveted the ideas of historic design as anything but a static study, rather a breathing, dynamic study and use the setting of the Northeast to inspire our minds and designs. Thank you, ICA & CA for providing a wonderful outlet for the trade to continue learning.