Are you in the mood for fun, quirky and quite fantastic architecture? So are we! At times misunderstood when constructed, modernist buildings are now considered the “new historic,” with a whole new audience of enthusiastic building-huggers awakening to the creative spirit that is embodied in modernism. From the long, horizontal lines of the International Style employed in the 33rd Avenue School in Gulfport to the festival of fountains and screens that W.W. Easley used to create the extraordinary Falk House in Jackson, Mississippi has a wealth of modernist treasures just waiting to be explored.

The Mississippi Heritage Trust, in partnership with the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Mississippi Development Authority, is proud to announce the kick-off of a new project entitled MS MOD (www.lovemsmod.com), a celebration of Mississippi’s daring modernist banks, dry cleaners and churches. Stuart Rockoff, Director of the Mississippi Humanities Council, lauded the new initiative, “The Mississippi Humanities Council is pleased to be able to support the Mississippi Heritage Trust’s MS MOD project, which seeks to educate Mississippians about the many architectural treasures around our state that are often overlooked. Thanks to the fine work of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, more people will realize that buildings need not have columns or be ante-bellum to be historically significant.”

With the launch of the MS MOD web-based application, featuring photographs, stories and videos of much-loved civic buildings, such as Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson, to endangered modernist treasures like the Meridian Police Department, everyone can learn to appreciate the finer points of MS MOD. Malcolm White, Director of Visit Mississippi of the Mississippi Development Authority, invites folks to get in the mood for mod, “Visit Mississippi is proud to partner with the Mississippi Heritage Trust’s MS MOD project. This one-of-a-kind project explores Mississippi’s great culture and aesthetic through the modernist architectural movement in our state. By expanding Mississippi’s architectural story beyond the oft thought of Greek Revival style, MS MOD is helping the world to better understand the diversity of our people and our places.”

Visit www.lovemsmod.com to get hooked on Mississippi’s exotic, exuberant and oh so hip modernist masterpieces and learn about upcoming MS MOD tours and events.

MS MOD Schedule of Events:

Through December 2014

Modern MS MSU Student Photography Exhibit, Charnley-Norwood House, 509 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs

Tour Dates:
Thursday, November 20, 1-4 p.m.
Thursday, December 4, 1-4 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 1-4 p.m.
Thursday, December 11, 1-4 p.m.
Thursday, December 18, 1-4 p.m.

Admission is free.

December 13, 2014

Mad Mod Affair-Meridian
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Join MHT for a tour of Meridian’s fabulous modernist architecture. Jennifer Baughn, Chief Architectural Historian for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and Dr. Michael Fazio, Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Mississippi State University, will put us through our paces as we uncover the roots of Meridian’s fascination with modernist architecture. The tour will commence and end at Crestwood School, 730 Crestwood Drive. Lunch and transportation will be provided.

$25 a person, space is limited. Visit www.lovemsmod.com to sign up.

February 26-27, 2015

Mad Mod Affair-Eastover

Tickets available in January. Visit www.lovemsmod.com for more information.

Categories: Jackson, Meridian, Mississippi Heritage Trust, Modernism, Ocean Springs, Preservation People/Events

Tags: Featured