CEL – Center for Architecture + Design presents a talk by artist Benjamin Lowder, opening the exhibition of his work, Self-similarity: with reference to Buckminster Fuller. Mr. Lowder will speak about how nature’s geometric patterns and proportions have informed the legacy of Buckminster Fuller and other modern architects like Eero Saarinen, as well as Mr. Lowder’s own artwork.
Benjamin Lowder promotes the legacy of Buckminster Fuller as a Creative Consultant for the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability, located in a Fuller-designed geodesic dome on the campus of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Lowder also serves as a board member of the Fuller Dome Home historic site which is the geodesic dome that Bucky lived in at Carbondale, Illinois.
For 15 years after studying at SIUC and the University of Illinois Lowder worked as an award winning commercial artist. He turned to fine art after building his own family’s home using ancient building techniques, an experience that revealed to him the powerful beauty and efficiency of design that is rooted in the sacred geometry of Nature.
This passion for design and architecture rooted in Nature has lead Lowder to create a body of artwork built from reclaimed barn wood and vintage metal signage that echo the patterns of natural geometry – the same patterns found in Bucky’s geodesic domes and in Lowder’s own home design.
Local architecture to be covered in this talk includes:
Buckmister Fuller’s 1972, geodesic domed cathedral for the SIUE campus
The mile-wide dome for East St. Louis called “Old Man River City” designed by Buckminster Fuller at the request of local community leaders
The evolution of modern American architecture through local examples like Louis Sullivan’s Wainwright Building, Gyo Obata’s St Louis Abby, and Eero Saarinen’s Arch.
CEL – Center for Architecture + Design
3307 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103
Friday, Feb 3, 2017 – 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
