First Christian Church : interior detail view of nave lighting fixtures

Title : First Christian Church
Creator : Saarinen, Eliel; Saarinen, Eero
Creator role : Architect
Date : 1941
Current location : Columbus, Indiana, United States
Description of work : "First Christian Church (1941), originally named Tabernacle Church of Christ, is one of the first Modern religious buildings in America and the first Modern building to be constructed in Columbus. Nationally recognized at the time of its construction, it had an impact on church design in the post-World War II era. First Christian Church was one of two churches designed by the firm of Saarinen and Saarinen, consisting of Eliel Saarinen and his son Eero. Saarinen answered questions about the suitability of a Modern design for a religious building by saying: 'Our forefathers and we ourselves have been using the dead styles of alien cultures. We have combined them in thousands of different ways until the last drop of expressiveness has been squeezed out.' Many believe that First Christian Church is a synthesis of the father's and son's work, and of their independent approaches: Eliel's focus on materials, craft, and relationship of the building to the user; and Eero's Modern aesthetic. In 1941, Time Magazine described the building as, 'the costliest modern church in the world, planned by Europe's most famous modern architect and his son.' Newsweek, in 1942, noted, 'In style, the new Tabernacle is utterly unlike the seventeen other churches in Columbus or, for that matter, in almost any other city in the world.'" (Source: "National Historic Landmarks Program: First Christian Church", tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1695315809&R..., Accessed June 8, 2009) For an exhaustive description of the building, including pertinent history, the architect's biography, and bibliography of evaluative articles, please refer to the National Historic Landmark nomination form submitted for the building available at www.nps.gov/history/nhl/designations/samples/in/1stchris.pdf
Description of view : Looking up towards the ceiling, detail view of the bottom of a sanctuary lighting fixture.
Work type : Architecture and Landscape
Style of work : Modern
Culture : American
Materials/Techniques : Metal
Source : Pisciotta, Henry
Date photographed : April 2009
Resource type : Image
File format : JPEG
Image size : 3072H X 2304W pixels
Permitted uses : This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses are not permitted. For additional details see: alias.libraries.psu.edu/vius/copyright/publicrightsarch.htm
Collection : Worldwide Building and Landscape Pictures
Filename : WB2009-0122 ColumbusIndiana.JPG
Record ID : WB2009-0122
Sub collection : religious buildings: churches
Copyright holder : Copyright Henry Pisciotta

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Taken in: United States / Indiana / Columbus / Garden City (show map)

Taken on: April 22, 2009

Tags:

religious buildings: churches

Sets appears in: • Spiritual Centers: Churches • First Christian Church, Columbus, IN

Camera: Sony DSC-W80, f/5.0, 1/40 sec, 15.1mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony DSC-W80
Aperture:	f/5.0
Exposure Time:	0.025 sec (1/40)
Focal Length:	15.1mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
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