It all began with Cole
It all began with my husband, Cole Smith, and his study of architectural history and decorative arts through Parsons School of Design in Europe. For several summers he studied, eventually taking his entire staff, architects and administrators alike, to study with him and share his excitement and exposure to the bases of western architecture. As we were collaborating on several projects, he encouraged me to share in this adventure, including several of my designers on trips to Italy for two summers in a row. Cole also induced a number of other local architects and designers to join in these studies, stimulating lifelong enthusiasms in many Dallas area design professionals.
It was intoxicating and inspiring to study and draw the architecture of Palladio in his home town, to tour the palazzos of Venice with scholars who taught as they walked, to see the Pantheon with teachers who challenged each student to see it with new eyes, to find the meaning of its architecture.
After studying with wonderful teachers for a few years, Cole and I lamented the fact that so few people got to experience these educators’ lectures, to learn from those with such deep knowledge and passion for the architecturally beautiful and significant. Wouldn’t it be great, we wondered, if those speakers could come to Dallas and teach us here, sharing them with clients and friends and fellow lovers of decorative arts and architecture? Janis Coffee, who was my business partner at the time, responded, “Well, why not?” Then the three of us just did it. In 1989 the first of a half dozen symposia was held, bringing our favorite teachers from around the world to lecture on French decorative arts and architecture. These symposia were held over three days each year, with special events held in houses that featured some aspect of the subject being covered. The first year featured Dr. Maria Conelli and Anne-Marie Quette, as well as architect Joel Saunders, then at Princeton University. Our first reception was held at the magnificent classical French home of Jinger and Dick Heath.
In subsequent years the topics included The Beautiful and the Sublime in English Architecture, Italian Architecture, the influence of Palladio on American, English and French Architecture, the modern architecture of North and Central America and other similar subjects. There were speakers from England, France, Mexico and Italy as well as all over the United States, but none proved more popular than Anne-Marie and Maria who both spoke at more than one Symposium.
So we decided to have a reunion of sorts, to learn from and enjoy very special speakers: Anne-Marie Quette, visiting from Paris, where she has guided many of us through the back rooms and treasures of the Louvre and Versailles and Dr. Maria Conelli, now director of the Folk Art Museum in New York. On Saturday, November 7, we will commemorate the twentieth anniversary since that first symposium by hosting “Un Petit Symposium: Les Fêtes de Versailles, French Splendor in the 18th Century” at the Dallas Museum of Art. An event we hope will celebrate many years of continued learning and great love for architecture and beautiful objects of every style.”
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