Asides

LEAP Ambassadors Make it to Carnegie Hall!

Carnegie Hall

Not everyone can say they made it to Carnegie Hall–but, following a recent trip to the Southern Legislative Conference, the LEAP Ambassadors can! While in the charming historic town of Lewisburg, West Virginia, Ambassadors toured the downtown and its curtilage, coming across Lewisburg’s own Carnegie Hall, one of four continuously used Carnegie performance halls in the world.

While the Hall was actually closed, the organization’s Box Office Manager, Sheila Hutchinson, cheerfully offered us a tour, allowing us to see the building and learn about its operation. The Hall was originally constructed in 1902, with almost $27,000 coming from Andrew Carnegie, and another $10,000 coming from the local community.

For the past 35 years, the Carnegie Hall Inc, a non-profit organization, has operated the building.

The repurposed building now serves as a performance venue, gallery space, and arts education programming open to the community–and passersby, including ourselves! 

As we entered the 400-seat auditorium, we were had the pleasure of meeting Cathy Rennard, the president of the non-profit; and Mary Leb Foster, the Performance Director. They were extremely kind to share their experiences from working at Carnegie Hall, including their preparation for their upcoming musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Their work involves not only the things you typically think about when running a theatre (sets, sales, casting), but also community building, something close to our heart. The staff work hard to earn community buy-in, to collaborate with community stakeholders, and to offer a point of pride for West Virginia.

Thank you for the tour and your commitment to the Lewisburg community! 

Caving In: Discovering the Wonders Beneath West Virginia

Whenever LEAP Ambassadors have the opportunity to travel, we make the most of it. So it was that on an off morning of conference sessions, we stepped foot into the Lost World Caverns which, for many of us, was the first time stepping foot into a cave.

Discovered in 1942, these caverns have become a popular destination, offering a fascinating glimpse into the subterranean world carved out over millions of years by the relentless force of water.

Originally, the only way into the cave was through a hole in the ground, and “visitors” had to be lowered in by rope, and then hauled out in reverse.

For us, it was much easier. We entered through a man-made opening, we were immediately struck by the chill in the air, a stark contrast to the surface temperatures. The sound of dripping water echoed (literally!) around us, setting the stage for the natural wonders we were about to witness.

Inside, the caverns revealed spectacular dripstone speleothems, including stalactites and stalagmites.

These formations, created by the slow deposition of minerals from dripping water, were breathtaking. We were particularly fascinated by the columns referred to as “soda straws” or “pencil stalactites,” delicate formations that looked as though they could be easily snapped. 

The formations themselves, with whimsical names like the “Pig Tail,” and “The Veil” left us in awe. Each turn in the path revealed a new and stunning sight, and it was hard not to be overwhelmed by the beauty and intricacy of the cave’s interior.

I didn’t really know what to expect, but from the beginning, it was clear that this was a unique and special place.

The views were unlike anything I had ever seen before, with each rock formation appearing both immense and intricately detailed.

It’s amazing to know that the Earth presents its beauty not only on the surface but also beneath it. Most importantly we all had fun caving in to our sense of adventure!

Falling for West Virginia

Hiking Adventures

Exploring the great outdoors offers a fantastic sense of adventure and discovery, especially when it involves chasing waterfalls. Accordingly, we embarked on a series of hikes to some of West Virginia’s most picturesque trails, each boasting its own unique charm and natural beauty.

Albert Falls, nestled in the formidable forests of West Virginia, captivated us with its tranquil atmosphere and stunning cascades of water. The trail meandered through lush greenery, and despite an amusing mishap where our professor took an unexpected plunge (much to everyone’s amusement), the experience was unforgettable.

Sammy, our trusty hiking companion, added to the camaraderie, making it a day filled with laughter and shared memories. 

At Blackwater Falls State Park, anticipation built as we approached the main attraction: Blackwater Falls–a breathtaking, thundering waterfall framed by rugged cliffs. The name, “Blackwater,” derives from the water, which is darker because of the chemicals in the leaves that populate the trees in the State Park.

We made our way down a boardwalk that leads to several overlooks, offering views of the 57-foot tall waterfall. While there, we had opportunities to (1) race our professor and (2) see a beaver doing its thing. We even saw its home, a dam downstream from the waterfall, prompting Chrissy to say, “It has its own little Fallingwater”!

But our water fall adventures were not complete. Also in Blackwater Falls State Park is Elakala Falls, which provided a more tranquil yet equally captivating adventure. The trail wound through a tranquil forest, leading us to a smaller but still beautiful waterfall. Venturing into the river’s edge, we explored underneath the falls, marveling at the sheer power of nature. The slippery rocks added an element of excitement, reminding us to tread carefully while soaking in the beauty surrounding us.

Before the night ended, and before we left the Park, we also had the opportunity to enjoy the sunset!

Each of our adventures offered a glimpse into the natural wonders of West Virginia, from serene forest trails to dramatic waterfalls to a beautiful sunset. These experiences not only rejuvenated our spirits but also strengthened our bond as adventurers seeking to uncover the beauty of our world, one trail at a time.

An Architectural Tour in Southwestern Pennsylvania

Working on little sleep, and following an eighteen-hour first day, LEAP Ambassadors arose at 6am to explore architecture in and around Pittsburgh, with a stop at PPG Place, a mural by Richard Haas, and two major works by Frank Lloyd Wright.

PPG Place

Our first stop was PPG place, a six-building, “glass gothic” design by Philip Johnson.

As part of our LEAP travels, we had seen Johnson buildings in Houston, and we had watched a documentary on him in preparation for this trip, but PPG place was a place like no other.

Completed in 1984, its towering glass spires and sleek facades embody Johnson’s signature postmodern style, blending classical elements with contemporary materials. Its gothic detailing pay homage to Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage, its all-glass encasing embraces the future with innovative design, and its central plaza allows for a nice place to gather, which we did!

Richard Haas Mural
As a teenager, Haas spent a summer apprenticing for Frank Lloyd Wright, so it is no surprise that his murals take on an architectural quality. Indeed, Haas’s website describes him as an “architectural muralist,” an apt sobriquet.

We know Haas primarily through his 15 works in Huntsville, but we’ve also seen his work in Fort Worth, which is a masterpiece. So it was with excitement that we tracked down his Pittsburgh mural, which is near the corner of Sixth and Fort Duquesne Boulevard.

As you might expect, it features an industrial scene, an homage to Pittsburgh steel-making history, with nods to its central location at the juncture of multiple rivers.

It’s always a pleasure to see Haas’s work, but this was especially true today, when we would also have a chance to see the work of his former boss, Frank Lloyd Wright.


Kentuck Knob

The first of our Frank Lloyd Wright site visits was to Kentuck Knob, which is nestled in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania. Designed in 1953, Kentuck Knob embodies Wright’s principles of organic architecture, seamlessly blending with its natural surroundings–and, in this case, adorned with a healthy helping of artwork, by artists such as Anthony Caro, Scott Burton, and George Rickey. We learned much of this thanks to our wonderful tour guide, Jan.

Among Wright aficionados, Kentuck Knob is known as a “Grand USoNian.” Wright’s USoNian homes were designed for middle-class residents. They were, relatively speaking, affordable, while still serving as an interesting, sculptural domicile.

Kentuck Knob had Wright’s characteristic overhanging eaves…

…adorned with clerestory windows;

…a double carport (he hated garages, which he regarded as receptacles for junk); and a “compression and release” entrance to the house.

The home follows is structured as a series of parallelograms, giving the home an interesting look and an aesthetic cohesiveness.

We were particularly struck by the beautiful living room with floor-to-ceiling windows (which could also serve as doors to the patio), beautiful Wright-designed furniture, and the unique touches for which Wright was famous.

But it was the way the home interacted with the environment that we most enjoyed. The home is about five miles from Fallingwater, and the owners wanted their own “water element,” so they added a small rockfall and pool on the patio. The home is also perched on the brow of the hill, not atop the hill. Wright did this to ensure that the home merged with the environment (rather than overtaking the environment), and with a short walk along the property, we were able to see the beautiful art-adorned grounds and a view that even real-estate agents could not exaggerate.

Fallingwater

After visiting Kentuck Knob, another of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces, we headed to Fallingwater. Seeing Kentuck Knob had piqued my interest, and I was even more excited to explore another of Wright’s creations.

Frank Lloyd Wright was a fascinating and complex architect, known for his innovative USoNian homes—affordable, stylish, and functional houses for middle-class Americans. He also pioneered organic architecture, harmonizing structures with their natural surroundings, which Fallingwater epitomizes. Designed in 1935 and built directly over a waterfall in 1938 for the Edgar J. Kaufmann family, this house, which blends stone, concrete, steel, glass, and wood, celebrates what Wright termed “organic architecture.”

With the help of our tour guide, Millie from West Virginia, we approached the house. At first sight, Fallingwater was magnificent. Wright’s design philosophy was evident in the “hidden” doorway, a narrow entrance that transitioned into open spaces meant to connect inhabitants with nature. The structure is supported by concrete beams that project out over the waterfall, creating an impression of weightlessness.

The entrance repeated Wright’s “compression and release” philosophy, and he continued the cantilever motif, making much of the furniture and design elements an echo of the home’s overall design. The living room’s open design encouraged social interaction while the more intimate upstairs rooms offered privacy. The master bedroom, with its large balcony over the waterfall, provided a serene and breathtaking view.

We noticed Wright’s attention to detail, such as the seamless glass-to-glass windows, which eliminated barriers between the indoors and the natural world, as well as the art work in the home–much of which also repeated the cantilever design.

Indeed, art was a theme throughout the house, with a Picasso, several Audubon works, and a Diego Rivera (Frida Kahlo was a guest at the house!).

Our tour concluded with a view of the waterfall from across the home, capturing the full splendor of Wright’s integration of architecture and nature.

We all sat momentarily, taking in the beauty and snapping photos, cherishing the experience.