Maciej & Stanislawa Nowicki Symposium & Exhibition
Opening reception and Symposium Friday, September 13, 2024
North Carolina State University James B. Hunt Library
1070 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27695
Exhibition Dates: September 13-23, 2024
Symposium: Friday, September 13, 2024 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM EDT
RSVP Here or on Instagram @ncstate_architecture
Free and open to public
“If time had allowed his genius to spread its wings in full, this poet-philosopher of form would have influenced the whole course of architecture as profoundly as he inspired his friends.”- Eero Saarinen 1910–1961, Finnish-American architect and interior designer, one of the most prominent figures in American architecture of the 1950s.
The exhibition opening reception and symposium on Maciej and Stanislawa Nowicka architectural practice and legacy will take place on Friday, September 13, 2024. Maciej Nowicki and Stanislawa Sandecka-Nowicka are two significant figures in American and Polish architecture history. Stanislawa was a talented graphic artist and designer and the first female professor of architecture in the history of the United States, while Maciej collaborated with renowned architects on prestigious projects whose implementation was interrupted by his tragic death. Their story is a fascinating tale of creative passion, their life together during the dramatic history of their homeland at the turbulent beginning of the 20th century. Their lived experiences, and strong vision for a better future laid the foundation for an innovative curriculum and architectural designs that changed the history of this profession.
Presented by the NC State School of Architecture in conjunction with the Polish American Club of the Triangle, North Carolina State University Libraries, the Polish National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, Warsaw (NIAiU) and the Polish Cultural Institute New York (PCINY) The symposium will begin on Friday, September 13 with a conversation featuring Peter Nowicki, son of Maciej and Stanislawa, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Moderated by Burak Erdim, Ph.D. and Wanda Urbańska, this session will provide personal insights into the legacy of the Nowickis. Following this, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, a panel discussion on “Poland and Modernism in North Carolina” will take place. David Hill, FAIA, will moderate the discussion with contributions from experts Mark Fountain, Ph.D., Philip Szostak, FAIA and George Smart, HAIA. Attendees can enjoy sandwiches and refreshments during the lunch session, thanks to the generous support of the Polish-American Club of the Triangle. The afternoon sessions will continue with a focused exploration of Dorton Arena, one of Maciej Nowicki’s most famous works. Wayne Place, Ph.D., will present on the arena’s design, form, and function from 1:40 pm to 2:30 pm, with Kristen Schaffer, Ph.D., moderating. The symposium will conclude with a session titled “Nowickis: A Humanist Modernity,” running from 2:45 pm to 5:00 pm. This session, moderated by Burak Erdim, will feature presentations by Grzegorz Piątek, Magdalena Zaborowska, Ph.D. and Lukasz Stanek, Ph.D., who will contextualize the Nowicki’s’ life and work within the social, political and professional contexts of interwar and post-WWII periods in Poland, Europe, the United States and the decolonizing world. Attendees will be treated to coffee and tea during this time. The evening will feature the official opening of the exhibition dedicated to the work and legacy of Maciej and Stanislawa Nowicki. An exhibition walk led by Kacper Kępiński and the NC State Library-Special Collections team will take place from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Opening remarks will follow at 6:00 pm, featuring speakers including David Hill, FAIA, Mark Hoversten, Ph.D., Adam Krzywosądzki, Polish Deputy Chief of Mission, Peter Nowicki and members of the Nowicki family, Kacper Kępiński, and Karolina Czeczek. A reception with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will follow, allowing attendees to engage in further discussion and networking. The event will conclude on Saturday morning, September 14, with a guided tour of Dorton Arena, led by Wayne Place, Ph.D., from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. This tour offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most iconic examples of modernist architecture in North Carolina, designed by Maciej Nowicki. This symposium and exhibition provide an exceptional opportunity to reflect on the enduring influence of Maciej and Stanislawa Nowicki in the fields of architecture and design. Open to the public, the event will appeal to architects, historians and anyone with an interest in the rich cultural heritage shared between Poland and the United States.
The exhibition will be on view to the public from September 13-23 in Hunt Library.
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM DETAILS:
Friday, September 13
Symposium Schedule – Hunt Library
10:30: Session 1: A Conversation with Peter Nowicki (IEI – 4th Floor – Hunt Library)
Maciej and Stanislawa Nowicki at NC State and the University of Pennsylvania
Interview moderated by Burak Erdim, Ph.D. and Wanda Urbańska
12:00: Lunch and Session 2: Poland and Modernism in North Carolina
(IEI – 4th Floor – Hunt Library)
Refreshments
12:30: Introduction: David Hill, FAIA
- Mark Fountain, Ph.D. Honorary Consul – Republic of Poland – North Carolina
- Philip Szostak, FAIA, Szostak Design, Chapel Hill, NC
- George Smart, HAIA, and NC Modernist website/organization
- Q+A / Discussion
1:30: Break
1:40: Session 3: Dorton Arena – Form and Function: Wayne Place, Ph.D. (IEI – 4th Floor – Hunt Library)
- Introduction: Kristen Schaffer, Ph.D.
- Film screening and presentation by Wayne Place
PBS Segment on the Dorton Arena: https://video.pbsnc.org/video/our-state-dorton-arena/
- Q+A / Discussion
2:30: Break
Coffee and tea
2:45: Session 4: Afternoon: Humanist Modernity: (IEI – 4th Floor – Hunt Library)
- Introductions: Burak Erdim
- Grzegorz Piątek, Warsaw reconstruction and the Nowickis
- Magdalena Zaborowska, Ph.D., Identity, Race, Politics, and Migration
- Lukasz Stanek, Ph.D., Polish Architects/Engineers, Diaspora, and Postwar World Order
- Q+A / Discussion
5:00: Exhibition and Reception Open to Public with archival materials from Special Collections on display (2nd Floor – Hunt Library)
Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments
5:30: Kacper Kępiński, walkthrough of exhibition with invited guests
6:00: Exhibition Opening Remarks: (2nd Floor – Hunt Library)
Introduction: David Hill, Head of Department of Architecture
- Mark Hoversten, Ph.D., FASLA, Dean of the College of Design
- Adam Krzywosądzki, Polish Deputy Chief of Mission
- Peter Nowicki and the Nowicki family members
7:00: The Nowickis and the Exhibition: Past, present, and future: Kacper Kępiński, Curator, National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning; and Karolina Czeczek, Only if – Architecture
7:20: Concluding Remarks: David Hill and Burak Erdim
Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments
Saturday, September 14
10:00am: Tour of Dorton Arena with Wayne Place
Food and Refreshments: Generously provided by the Polish-American Club of the Triangle.
More information and registration: https://go.ncsu.edu/nowicki-symposium. or on Instagram @ncstate_architecture
About the School of Architecture
Since its founding, the School of Architecture has been a leader of innovation in design. Today that
tradition continues with programs centered on design excellence and unique approaches to contemporary urban, environmental, and ethical challenges. Our fully accredited program provides a
rigorous professional education paired with multidisciplinary and self-directed design and research
opportunities.
About the NC State College of Design
The NC State College of Design prepares students for a career in design through interdisciplinary
engagement, innovative exploration of technologies, and a core foundation of design thinking and
practice. The College of Design offers undergraduate, graduate, doctor of design and Ph.D. in
design degrees and currently has over 930 enrolled students. In response to an ever-expanding
global interest in all disciplines of design, the college’s curriculum incorporates relevant practices
reflecting both the university’s Tier 1 Research status and its land-grant mission. Effective design
requires attention and sensitivity to the social, economic, political, cultural and behavioral
understanding of the environment and people. Our graduate and undergraduate programs in
Architecture, Design Studies, Graphic & Experience Design, Industrial Design, Landscape
Architecture and Environmental Planning and Media Arts, Design and Technolog ,are intended to
develop a designer’s perception, knowledge, skills and problem-solving abilities to develop design
solutions for public interest and to serve the needs of all users and to impact the myriad of
sustainable and life-quality problems across the globe.
About NC State University
As a research-extensive land-grant university, North Carolina State University is dedicated to
excellent teaching, the creation and application of knowledge, and engagement with public and
private partners. By uniting our strength in science and technology with a commitment to excellence
in a comprehensive range of disciplines, NC State promotes an integrated approach to problem
solving that transforms lives and provides leadership for social, economic and technological
development across North Carolina and around the world.
College of Design Contacts
Christine Klocke, Director of Communications + Marketing
chklocke@ncsu.edu
office: 919-515-8311
Burak Erdim, Ph.D., Associate
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