Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago played host to the Society of Fellows’ Gatherings Series in the first half of 2023. With its latest round of events, SOF continues to bring fellowship, culture, and discussion to friends across the country.
The first event was at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In February, fellows enjoyed a tour of the exhibition Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980. The tour was led by Wendy Kaplan (2000 Fellow), who heads the museum’s Decorative Arts and Design Department, and Barbara Bestor, the architect who designed the installation. Capping off the afternoon was a reception hosted by Rosa Lowinger (2009 Fellow) at her home with prosecco, wine, and appetizers.
Modern Italian history was the subject of the second Gatherings event, this time in New York. In early March, SOF collaborated with the Center for Italian Modern Art to host a conversation between Franco Baldasso (2019 Fellow) and Nicola Lucchi, the center’s executive director. The discussion focused on Baldasso’s new book from Fordham University Press, Against Redemption: Democracy, Memory, and Literature in Post-Fascist Italy (2022), which explores the debates over Italy’s postwar transition to democracy from 1943 to 1948. A reception followed the event.
Rounding out the first half of the year, the Chicago artist Richard Rezac (2007 Fellow) opened his studio to the SOF community in June. An abstract sculptor, Rezac presented his recent work and discussed his approach and inspiration. Attendees enjoyed seeing the connections between Rezac’s sculptures, drawings made as part of his creative process, and references to his Rome Prize fellowship. After the tour, attendees gathered for a reception on the roof terrace (“the crown”) of Chicago’s Tribune Tower. AAR Trustee Henry Johnson and his wife Susan graciously hosted. SOF President and Chicago native Phu Hoang (FAAR 2017) was in attendance and reflected on the event: “It was terrific to put Chicago art and architecture squarely in conversation with fellows, and of course, with the Rome Prize fellowship.”
The Society of Fellows exists to celebrate the work of fellows, residents, and anyone with an interest in the American Academy in Rome. Join our email list at societyoffellows [at] aarome.org (societyoffellows[at]aarome[dot]org) and follow us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) for invitations and new programming.