OWATONNA: FROM LOUIS SULLIVAN TO FRANK GEHRY $55, maximum 50 participants
Please see our Conference Blog for specific information regarding transportation arrangements.
The National Farmers’ Bank of Owatonna, Minnesota was designed by Louis Sullivan, with decorative elements by George Grant Elmslie. Built in 1907-1908, it has been called a 'jewel-box of the prairie,' and is considered to be one of Sullivan's outstanding surviving masterpieces. Especially noteworthy are its distinctive art glass windows and terracotta ornamentation. At the nearby Gainey Conference Center, tour participants will then enjoy a catered buffet luncheon (included in the tour price) before having an opportunity to view Frank Gehry's Winton Guest House, newly-restored on the grounds of the Norman-style Gainey Home, designed by Edwin Lundie.
ST. JOHN'S ABBEY $55, maximum 50 participants
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This renowned Benedictine abbey and university campus features the world-famous Chapel of St. John the Baptist, designed by Marcel Breuer, with impressive stained glass and liturgical objects crafted in the modernist tradition. The abbey is also home to the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, among the nation's outstanding collections of historic manuscripts. Our visit will feature a guided introduction to the Manuscript Library's rich holdings given by the collection's curator, along with an opportunity to view portions of the magnificent Saint John's Bible, the first hand-written, hand-illuminated complete biblical text produced since the Middle Ages. The St. John's Bible features calligraphy by Donald Jackson, and is illustrated with original artwork in an amazing variety of styles, media, and materials. (Note: A private buffet luncheon in campus dining facilities is included in the tour price.)