The largely student audience, composed of undergraduates from the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, didn't have to wait long to get an expert's thoughts on their intended professions' future -- the subject of the college's 125th anniversary symposium.
It took Henry Cobb, a New York City architect and educator, less than five minutes of his keynote lecture to make a conjecture: "I haven't a clue," he said.
Still, if anyone would have a knowledgeable prediction for the future of the professions central to the college, Cobb is the person. Not only is he an award-winning architect of many buildings and urban planning projects, he's also an award-winning educator, having once chaired Harvard University's architecture department.
Before returning to the central question, Cobb, the founding principal of the New York firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, spoke of the college and its beginning, which found the study of architecture moored to the College of Engineering. He said he was pleased with Cornell's teaming of architecture, art and planning, noting that many schools partner planning courses with sociology and economics.
"I'm happy the venue hasn't changed here at Cornell," he said. "That would deprive the need to confront imagination."
Cobb said the teaching of architecture, art and planning must continue to be done together for the future's sake, noting that all three are interconnected with the city.
"The city is destined to remain the human intervention par excellence," he said.
Cobb suggested that the college work to foster a closer relationship between these subjects. And he said the college should sponsor colloquia of faculty for all departments, offering the research and work of faculty members Val Warke (architecture), John Forester (planning) and Kay WalkingStick (art) as possible discussion topics. It is essential that faculty meet to discover, debate and discuss common interests, he said.
Before the end of his 45-minute talk, Cobb revisited the opening question and told the audience that "the future of our professions is in your hands."
The weekend anniversary celebration also featured presentations by architect Richard Meier, painter Frank Stella, planner Ann Markusen and critics Arthur Danto and Herbert Muschamp.
Muschamp, who writes architectural criticism for The New York Times, bemoaned the lack of spiritual roots in the art and architecture of today.
"Only a little over a century ago, writers and architects like Ruskin and Pugin felt not only comfortable but compelled to discuss religious issues in the context of art and architecture as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Anyone who tried to do that today would likely be considered a crackpot or a reactionary," he said.
"Religion was an area of culture that drove architecture through much of its history and an area in which cultural means were substantially grounded. And then, poof, it's all gone. It's history itself. Here a century ago, gone today."
Why? Muschamp answered: "Perhaps there isn't as high a degree of spiritual aspiration in the public realm today as in earlier times in history," he said. "Perhaps it's only possible to recognize that aspiration by getting past the symbolism. I think that may be the case in architecture."
However, Muschamp said a friend of his offered a more direct take on the matter, which Muschamp shared with the audience: "Architecture used to be driven by religion. Now it's driven by capitalism. That's what we believe. So there you are."
The weekend celebration brought many alumni back to campus. Students and faculty, including Anthony Vidler, the UCLA professor who will assume the deanship in January, celebrated the college's 125 years of accomplishment with a birthday cake served under a tent on the Arts Quad Friday.
Kroch Library exhibition salutes Architecture, Art and Planning's history