Thursday, February 12, 2009

Historic residence exhibit at Christ Church Cathedral

Great Cincinnati Families at Home, an exhibition showcasing the homes of four prominent Cincinnati families, is now on view in the North Corridor Gallery at Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E Fourth Street, Downtown.

Created by the Betts House Research Center, the exhibit features an intimate look at the private residences of the Taft, Probasco-Rowe, Hauck, and Huenefeld families.

Historic prints of the interiors and exteriors of the homes are combined with contemporary photographs by Alice Weston.

The nearly 20 homes, ranging in architectural styles from early-19th century Greek Revival to late-20th century Late Modern, represent neighborhoods such as Avondale, Clifton, Downtown, East Walnut Hills, Indian Hill, Mount Auburn, and the West End.

Well-known local and national architects such as Samuel Hannaford, James W. McLaughlin and James K. Wilson were commissioned to design the homes, and many feature craftsmanship by the Fry and Pitman art-carvers and the artists of Rookwood Pottery.

Great Cincinnati Families at Home is co-curated by Walter E. Langsam, architectural historian and adjunct associate professor at the University of Cincinnati, and author of Great Houses of the Queen City; and historic preservation consultant Beth Sullebarger of Sullebarger Associates and contributing author of Architecture in Cincinnati.

The exhibit is made possible by grants from the John Hauck Foundation, the William S. Rowe Foundation, the Jeanne Anderson Trust, and contributions from anonymous donors.

The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to noon.

The exhibit runs through March 9.

Before moving to Christ Church Cathedral, the exhibit was on view at the Betts House and, most recently, at Park + Vine.

A second exhibit of Great Cincinnati Families at Home is scheduled to begin at the Betts House in April.

Previous reading on BC:
Langsam to present lecture series (6/11/08)