Special Exhibit in the North Carolina Room
August 1 through 31
Anthony Lord: Artist, Architect, Craftsman
In conjunction with the month long Anthony Lord exhibit,
Pack Memorial Library will present
“Let’s Talk About Anthony Lord” on
Thursday, August 28th at 6pm
The North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library remembers the many talents of Asheville native Anthony Lord with an exhibit showcasing his paintings, architectural drawings and iron work. The exhibit will run from August 1 through August 31, 2014. There will also be a program on his life and work at Pack Library on Thursday, August 28 at 6pm. The library thanks the many gracious people who have loaned their Anthony Lord pieces for the exhibit.
Anthony Lord was born in Asheville in 1900, the son of Helen and well-known architect William H. Lord. After graduating from Yale University in 1927 he spent a year travelling and painting in Europe, bringing home with him more than seventy sketches in watercolor, ink, and pencil, and hundreds of photographs.
Fishing Boats, Le Grau-Du-Roi, Bouches Du Rhone Watercolor, 1927 On loan from Miegan and Chan Gordon
Returning from Europe he joined his father’s firm in 1929, it becoming Lord and Lord. During the depression, Anthony opened Flint Architectural Forgings and produced metalwork for the National Cathedral in Washington and Yale University as well as for area homes.
Partial view of wrought iron gate for a door on home in Biltmore Forest. On loan for the exhibit from the collection of Peter Austin.
In 1933 he resumed practicing architecture. In 1941 he helped found Six Associates, a leading Southeastern architectural firm. He designed the Asheville Citizen Times building in 1938 which is still in use today by the company.
Asheville Citizen-Times Building shortly after construction, circa 1939-40
Lord also designed the Dillingham Presbyterian Church and the D. Hiden Ramsey Library at UNCA and other buildings at UNCA, Warren Wilson College, Western Carolina University and UNC-Greensboro.
Dillingham Presbyterian Church, Dillingham, NC
D. Hiden Ramsey Library on the campus of UNCAsheville, 1963.
Anthony Lord also designed the Kenilworth Doan Ogden/John Cram residence and the Biltmore Forest Charles D. Owen home. Lord retired in 1971.
Seeing urban design as a source of wellbeing and comfort, he was an early advocate of trees in cities, siting a single Sycamore tree at the entrance to Wall Street. As early as 1956 he had a letter published in the Asheville Citizen-Times stating that if the city council would approve replanting trees in the business district, he would give two trees for Pritchard Park.
Anthony Lord was many things. An architect, an ironworker, a community activist, a leader of the public library, a flutist, a lover of nature, water-color painter, photographer and traveler. He earned the designation Anthony Lord, Renaissance Man. Lord died in Asheville in 1993 at the age of 93.
In conjunction with the month-long Anthony Lord exhibit, Pack Memorial Library will present “Let’s Talk About Anthony Lord” on Thursday, August 28th at 6pm. A few of Anthony Lord’s friends will speak briefly about his work and what he gave to Asheville. Light appetizers will be served.
The speakers will be:
- Peter Austin — The ironwork of Tony Lord
- Dianne Cable — A look at the watercolors and sketches of Tony Lord
- Elizabeth Kostova — Working with Tony on the book, “1927: The Good Natured Chronicle of a Journey”
- Terry and Cathy Davis — Photography and the influence Lord had shaping their careers
- John Rogers — Anthony Lord the architect
For more information on either of these programs, contact North Carolina Room staff at 828-250-4740, or email packnc@buncombecounty.org.
