Julia Morgan 2012

OWA member and architect, Sandhya Sood, is calling for participants to work with her on a statewide celebration honoring the work and life of California's first architect, Julia Morgan. Sandhya is a member of the JM2012 committee along with California preservationists, historians, architects and Julia Morgan site stewards. She will be working with Mimi Morris, Executive Director of California Cultural and Historic Endowment (CCHE) who is leading JM2012.

Julia Morgan 2012 is the pilot project of a new statewide collaboration (of Landmarks California: the Places of our Diverse Histories and Cultures program) designed to raise awareness and appreciation for historic and cultural preservation in California. Julia Morgan 2012 honors California's first female licensed architect, Julia Morgan through three primary components scheduled for the latter part of 2012:

1) an education component that will include toolkits for teachers to use in elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms to help them introduce Julia Morgan and her work to their students;
2) an elegant yet simple and affordable book on Ms. Morgan's life and architectural works; and
3) a six-week statewide festival of activities in Julia Morgan-designed structures and in other museums and non-profit organizations. Activities may include visual exhibits, performing art exhibits, films, seminars, etc.

The goal of the project is to demonstrate the many positive outcomes of historic preservation: environmental and financial sustainability, a means of telling the many stories that comprise California's diverse history, and a social fabric strengthened by a sense of pride and belonging to the community.

There will be an informational session on Wednesday, August 24th, at the Berkeley City Club. Those interested in this project can contact Sandhya at ssood@accentarchitecture.com