Episode 108: Lilian Swann Saarinen

 
Lilian Swann Saarinen
She Builds Podcast // Gābl Media

The time was 1912, the place New York City, Lilian Swann was born. As a child she was interested in art, particularly in drawing animals. Her mother supported her artistic pursuits, allowing her to study under notable artists like Alexander Archipenko and Heinz Warneke.

She attended Cranbrook Academy, where she studied under Carl Milles and met her future husband, Eero Saarinen. Together, they collaborated on various architectural projects, with Lily contributing sculptures that were integral to the designs. One of her significant early commissions was for a civic center in Flint, Michigan, where she designed a pillar with animal sculptures, considering the space's use and context.

Among Lily's notable projects, we can find the Crow Island School in Illinois, where she created 40 animal sculptures that were thoughtfully integrated into the architectural design. Despite her significant contributions, she often did not receive public credit for her work.

Lily and Eero married in 1939 and had two children. They collaborated on several projects, including the St. Louis Arch design team in 1947. After their divorce in 1954, Lily continued her career, producing architectural sculptures, including a piece for the Harbor National Bank in Boston in the 1960s. Despite the challenges, Lily's work left a lasting impact on architectural sculpture.

During her lifetime she taught at the Pratt Institute in New York City, MIT, and the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston. And she won various awards including the Rome Collaborative Competition, the A.H. Huntington First Prize, and, I.B.M. Competition to name a few. She passed away on May 22, 1995 at the age of 83

Caryatid: Ada Tolla

Ada Tolla, co-founder of the firm Lot-Ek with Giuseppe Lignano, merges architecture with art, focusing on sustainability and material reuse. Ada and Giuseppe met in Naples, Italy, and have worked together since 1993. Their projects often involve upcycling. For example, they transformed a 40-foot shipping containers into livable spaces. Their motto, "We start with the things we find," reflects their creative process. Ada is also a professor, her resume includes Syracuse University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture. She continues exploring innovative design and material experimentation through her work and teachings.

References

Architect Magazine. “Video, Alla Tolla, LOT-EK.” Architect, 23 Sept. 2013, www.architectmagazine.com/videos/ada-tolla-lot-ek. Accessed 2 Sept. 2024.

Clark, Jennifer. Who Am I? Children’s Book by Lily Swann Saarinen. Artifact of the Month for January 2013 - Gateway Arch National Park (U.S. National Park Service). 1 Jan. 2013, home.nps.gov/jeff/blogs/who-am-i-childrens-book-by-lily-swann-saarinen-artifact-of-the-month-for-january-2013.htm. Accessed 2 Sept. 2024.

“Lilian Louisa Swann Saarinen.” Facebook, 12 Feb. 2013, www.facebook.com/LilianLouisaSwannSaarinen. Accessed 2 Sept. 2024.

Lilian Louisa Swann Saarinen  (1912-1995) - Find A... 17 Apr. 1912, www.findagrave.com/memorial/199071646/lilian_louisa-saarinen.

OBJECTS — LOT-EK ARCHITECTURE and DESIGN. lot-ek.com/OBJECTS.

“Oral History Interview With Lilian Swann Saarinen, 1979-1981 | Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.” Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-lilian-swann-saarinen-12593.

“We Start With the Things We Find.” We Start With the Things We Find, westartwiththethingswefind.com.

Wikipedia contributors. “Lilian Swann Saarinen.” Wikipedia, 17 Dec. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilian_Swann_Saarinen.

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Episode 109: Ruth Adler Schnee

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Episode 107: Loja Saarinen