The Distinct Modernism of San Diego | Art History Lecture Series | Presented by Dr. Mark Hargreaves & Hallie Swenson | Athenaeum Music & Arts Library

Wednesdays, October 16, 23 & 30; November 6, 2024
7:30 PM

This four-part lecture series tells the story of the emergence, development, and lineage of architectural modernism in San Diego. It has long been recognized that the West Coast of the United States made a significant contribution to architectural modernism, but attention is invariably focused on Palm Springs, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. San Diego’s modernism has several characteristics which, when taken together, give rise to a distinctiveness that goes all the way back to the work of Irving J. Gill (1870–1936) at the beginning of the last century.



These lectures are designed to highlight San Diego’s contribution to the field. Not only did San Diego’s modernism have its own roots in the work of Gill, but it also had an unusual set of circumstances in the post-war period, when an enormous amount of construction took place without the constraints of an established city fabric. San Diego attracted a very talented, yet modest, group of architects who spent their whole career working here and left a legacy upon which others have built. Each lecture features the work and characteristics of certain architects who played a significant part in that story, highlighting those qualities by example of an architectural project.

October 16: Irving J. Gill, Richard Requa, and William Kesling

October 23: Lilian Rice, Lloyd Ruocco, and Frederick Liebhardt

October 30: Sim Bruce Richards (guest presenter Keith York)

November 6: Kendrick Bangs Kellogg (guest presenter Dave Hampton)

About the presenters:
Presenters include Dr. Mark Hargreaves, Rector of St. James-by-the-Sea in La Jolla, Hallie Swenson an architectural designer in San Diego, Keith York, an architectural writer and real estate agent specializing in architect designed homes, and independent curator Dave Hampton. Hargreaves, author of The Sacred Architecture of Irving J. Gill. (2023), was inspired by a lifelong interest in the visual arts to complete a master’s degree at The National Gallery and King’s College in London on the topic of Christianity and the arts. Since moving to San Diego, he has had a keen interest in capturing the architectural history of San Diego.



Hallie Swenson studied traditional architecture and urbanism in England at University of Buckingham, the architectural history of England at the University of Cambridge, King’s College, and Roman architecture at the University of Notre Dame, Rome. She contributed an essay to Clive Aslet’s book The Academy, which celebrates the work of renowned traditionalist architect John Simpson.

A native San Diegan, Keith York, is an expert on the city’s postwar modernist movement in architecture and design, writing frequently on the subject. For KPBS, he produced documentaries and feature reports on architects Irving Gill and Richard Requa and artist-craftsman James Hubbell. He has served as a volunteer, donor, curator and consultant to the San Diego Architectural Foundation, San Diego Museum of Art, La Jolla Historical Society, San Diego History Center, Oceanside Museum of Art, Balboa Art Conservation Center and Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO).



Dave Hampton is an independent curator focused on San Diego’s postwar art and architecture community. His book, San Diego’s Craft Revolution, accompanied a 2011 exhibition at Mingei International Museum as part of the first Getty-sponsored Pacific Standard Time initiative. Dave and Gayle Kauihou live in Ken Kellogg’s 1967 Ledbetter residence.

Series Tickets: $56/76
Individual Tickets: $16/21

The lectures will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each lecture.