SAH/SCC is
delighted to announce that the first Merry Ovnick Fellowship recipient has been
selected: Luke Leuschner. Luke is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in
Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley.
Luke was the lead researcher for the
exhibition “Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist” at the Palm Springs Art Museum’s
Architecture and Design Center in 2024. He is currently writing a manuscript on
Rudolph Schindler’s architectural works in the Southern California desert. Luke,
himself, grew up in Palm Desert.
In his own words, Luke defines his
study interests as “the desert itself and which architects have utilized,
defined, or denied the qualities of the frequently misconstrued
landscape.” He has engaged in projects
that seek to expand the typical knowledge base of architectural history, always
attempting to imbue them with a critical lens. Luke’s work on R.M. Schindler,
FAIA, arose not because he was interested in the work itself per se, but
because it exposes a different chapter of the desert’s cultural history, from
eugenics to Queer history.
The Fellowship honors SAH/SCC Past President
and longtime Board Member, Merry Ovnick. It provides $1,000 annually to support
graduate student travel to the SAH Annual International Conference. In 2025,
the Conference will be held in Atlanta, GA.
Merry’s love and appreciation for
Southern California was palpable. Of the several applications we received,
Luke’s best reflected Merry’s legacy.
Please join me in congratulating
Luke on his selection and wish him safe travels to Atlanta and in thanking our
generous donors, including Emily Bills, Ted Bosley, Ken Breisch, John Ellis,
Michael Gibson, Lambert Giessinger, Stuart Leslie, Jay Platt, David Ross, and
Nancy Smith.
