The Sarasota Architectural Foundation Presents "SarasotaMOD Weekend"

SARASOTA, Fla., July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF) announced today the first SarasotaMOD Weekend, a four-day festival of the region's iconic mid-20th century architecture. The event will take place October 9-12 in Sarasota, located on Florida's Gulf Coast, the epicenter of the style-defining Sarasota School of Architecture. Leading architects, designers, historians and authors will explore the ongoing impact of this movement through presentations, panel discussions and tours at various locations throughout Sarasota.

"It's all about context. There's a reason a globally significant architectural movement grew up in what used to be a sleepy seaside town by the Gulf of Mexico," said Janet Minker, board chair of the Sarasota Architectural Foundation. "Not every city with beautiful sandy beaches and palm tree-lined streets inspired an architectural movement that actually takes the city's name. Sarasota did. During SarasotaMOD Weekend we're going to explore why."

SarasotaMOD Weekend's speakers will include leading modernist architects such as Carl Abbott, author of Informed by the Land; John Howey, author of The Sarasota School of Architecture: 1941-1966; Joe King, co-author of Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses; Lawrence Scarpa, pioneer of sustainable design; and Tim Seibert, designer of many iconic Sarasota School of Architecture structures. Presenters will also include acclaimed landscape architect Raymond Jungles and author, critic and filmmaker Alastair Gordon.

Guided trolley, boat and walking tours will explore Sarasota's mid-century legacy by land and sea. Many of the festival's events will take place in acclaimed modernist structures.

"The spirit of the place is key. The place can transform the architect," said Sarasota-based architect, Carl Abbott. "A good architect always returns the compliment. There's a reason only a handful of communities in the world stand out for architectural innovation. Sarasota is one of them. You really do have to see it to believe it."

Festival tickets vary for each event and are sold separately. For more information about the festival, including a schedule of activities, speaker bios and ticket pricing, please visit www.sarasotamod.com.

Media Contacts:
Janet Minker, 941-487-8728
Dan Snyder, 202-256-9880
[email protected]

SOURCE Sarasota Architectural Foundation