Mid-Century Architecture

This is a collaboration across a team of three professionals: Tampa-area poet Joshua Davis, Sarasota photographer Nicholas Ferris and Architect Carl Abbott. In addition to creating a broadside with postcards, the project resulted in an event in June 2021 for the Selby Library celebration of the Sarasota County Centennial.

Joshua’s statement: “What the Eyes Want” responds to Nick Ferris’s photograph by examining its subject--the Van Wezel--from an oblique point of view. Just as Nick’s image focuses on the building’s unusual combination of geometric shapes and organic shapes, the poem enacts the process by which an onlooker’s desires transform an inanimate structure into a breathing being.

Nicholas’ statement: The photograph is a response to learning about the building’s history and design from Carl. We all focused on this idea of re-imagining this iconic building on Sarasota’s Bay, of breathing new life into what is so familiar to the community.

 Carl’s statement: Creative architecture has become symbolic of the culture of Sarasota. The internationally recognized Sarasota School of Architecture is one of Sarasota's most important cultural exports. In some special cities, there are iconic buildings that speak to the culture of the place – the Van Wezel is Sarasota's icon.