3939 E Grand Ave
Fair Park is one of the country’s finest collections of Art Deco architecture, but it is so much more: the embodiment of Texan swagger; it is a testament to the Texanic task of creating a dazzling spectacle in the darkest days of the Depression. This illustrated lecture by David Bush and Jim Parsons, authors and photographers of Fair Park Deco, tells the story of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition and how dozens and local and national architects and artists transformed the state fairgrounds into an Art Deco wonderland. During their talk, Bush and Parsons will discuss the design and construction of the “Magic City” using historic and current photos and archival newsreel footage. They’ll also introduce some of the fair’s most colorful stories and people, including Mademoiselle Corrine, the “Apple Dancer,” whose performances were the talk of Dallas.
David Bush, Preservation Houston’s Executive Director, developed his interest in historic architecture in his hometown of New Orleans. He holds a master’s degree in historic preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. He has worked professionally in preservation since 1990, spending most of his career with Galveston Historical Foundation and Preservation Houston.
Jim Parsons, a native of Baytown, puts a passion for the state’s history and architecture to work coordinating programs and educational outreach as Programs Director for Preservation Houston. In addition to his preservation work, Jim has written about and photographed cities across the United States as a freelance author, editor, and photographer.
David and Jim are the authors of four books on Art Deco architecture in Texas, including Fair Park Deco: Art and Architecture of the Texas Centennial Exposition (TCU Press).
David & Jim will be signing and selling copies of their books at this event.