Lee Lawrie's Prairie Deco is a meticulously researched and annotated study of Lee Lawrie, a phenomenally prolific and admirably talented designer and architectural sculptor and one of the leading lights of the art deco movement in the USA. Released in 2018, this is an impressive study of a massively talented designer and architect.
Millions of people have visited the massive landmark statue of Atlas at Rockefeller Center. It's an instantly recognizable iconic image. I was unfamiliar with the artist behind Atlas, though I'd visited it on more than one occasion, and this volume is full of images of this and other extremely well known sculptures, friezes, building, and facades from Lawrie's genius and passion.
The book is split into three sections: early biographical detail from his birth and details from his life, collaborations and commissions, and a comprehensive survey of the art deco movement and Lawrie's place in its history. The book includes well collated and annotated references, bibliography, a cross referenced index, and many many photos and facsimiles of historical documents.
I found it an interesting and enlightening read which kept my interest and never descended into pedantry.
Five stars. Really well done.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
This is a long overdue review about a work of literature that brings the works of American (of German birth) sculptor Lee Lawrie to life. I purchased this book about 2 1/2 years ago and I've revisited it several times over those years and I've found new and interesting nuggets each time. This was a well-researched book with an even better written and pictorial presentation of this great man's works, especially as they relate to the Nebraska State Capitol. The Art Deco/Prairie Deco connection to Lawrie is enlightening. Clearly a labor of love by a Nebraska native son and a fitting tribute. I've not visited the Nebraska Capitol, but I have seen in person Lawrie's Atlas sculpture in Rockefeller Center, a favorite of mine, without even making the connection that this was a Lawrie creation, until this book. This book is a charming and historic slice of Americana. I highly recommend this book. Brava Mr. Harm! Well done.
I am so pleased with this book! The Nebraska State Capitol is one of my favorite buildings, and this book is a wonderful addition to the other written materials about the building. The author presents the information in a beautifully designed format that includes historic and contemporary photos, and well-researched details. The engaging narrative and order of this book weaves the building’s history, and that of its designers, nicely into the broad Art Deco context.
This is an impressive undertaking. The depth and breadth of the research is great and the tone and writing are clear and personal and the photography of Lawrie's works reflect that research.. Lee Lawrie is an unappreciated influence on the whole world of art deco and this is a great way for anybody who has an interest to enjoy and understand Lawrie's contribution.
5.0 out of 5 stars Celebrates and details the work of an American Master.
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
This book is a national treasure, illustrative of our American heritage and aesthetic. It is a work of great passion by Mr. Harm, and a book of remarkable beauty and design. The author has used painstaking detail and historical photography to document Lee Lawrie's artistic storytelling in stone of American ideals, grit and history. Highly recommended and not to be missed!
This book is a must if you love art deco architecture and ornament. The photos are beautiful and the text is a well written and researched look at great American sculptor Lee Lawrie and the Nebraska State Capitol Building. I give this work my highest recommendation.
“‘For many Americans, Nebraska is written off as being 'flyover country.' But in the nation’s midsection, there is a little-known historical treasure.”
In the fourth edition of Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco: History in Stone at the Nebraska State Capitol, Gregory Paul Harm, MA has constructed a beautiful homage to Nebraska’s greatest collection of Art Deco and state pride as well as the wonderful mind behind its creation.
The first section of this book tells the story of Hugo Belling (Lee Lawrie) from birth to creator of many sculpted elements within more than 100 buildings. Some of those elements include statues and architectural details such as fireplace mantels and the decorative features on the roofline of the buildings.
While Lawrie’s actual birth is undocumented, Gregory Paul Harm’s extensive research and dedication to Lawrie has uncovered a lifetime of previously unknown works of art. Through original letters of correspondence, work orders, newspaper articles, photographs, Lawrie’s unpublished autobiography, and on-the-ground research, Gregory Paul Harm gives readers the actual timeline of Lee Lawrie and the how and when he created pivotal pieces of art — namely the Nebraska State Capitol.
The second section of Harm’s book focuses on the hows and whos of Lee Lawrie’s greatest works — Nebraska Capitol Building and Rockefeller Center to name the top two. Harm explains the logistics of how Lawrie was able to work on several large, and extensive projects, simultaneously, including giving background to his fellow sculptors, architects, and artists. This section really brings to life the time period in which Lawrie was working and how utterly astounding his works are in terms of available methods of communication, travel, and art tools.
The third and largest section of Harm’s book explains the background to Art Deco inside the Nebraska State Capitol. He not only details the historical relevance of the pieces, but the cultural, religious, governmental, and symbolic aspects of them. Harm takes the reader almost room by room inside the vast building, providing details of the pieces, their creators, and wonderful photographs to give the reader a true feeling for this building that is a montage to “Prairie Deco” as a form of Art Deco.
Opinion: As a native Nebraskan who has visited the State Capitol on more than one occasion, this book is not only fascinating but also eye-opening. I am one of many who have never heard of Lee Lawrie, and I was utterly astounded to learn that one of the great minds behind my State Capitol also has works in many well-known locations. I agree with Gregory Paul Harm that many view Nebraska as one of those states you can ignore, yet how can such a contribution to the great arts be ignored?
I really enjoyed the formatting of this book. Harm set up the main idea behind his writing, the life and work of Lee Lawrie, and then went back to the beginning to explain how he came to be the prestigious artist he was. Punctuated with full-color photographs of Lawrie’s work, handwritten correspondence of Lawrie and his partners, and documentation centering on Lawrie, the text flows easily, keeping you intrigued as you continue. Lastly, the inclusion of a special interview rounds everything out beautifully.
I would recommend this book to any Nebraskan, obviously, as well as anyone interested in art history or mid-western history.
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2020
Sometimes you can walk past beauty every day and never notice it. If you’re lucky, someone with a sharper eye and more knowledge points it out to you, and you wonder how you ever missed it. That is the case for me after a quick initial read of “Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco” by Gregory P. Harm, M.A. The work of Lawrie, an architectural sculptor who did much of his work in the first half of the 20th century, appears throughout the Nebraska State Capitol. Lawmakers, lobbyists, journalists and others walk past it every day, and few take the time to notice or appreciate it. But in this book, Nebraskans and others who have come into contact with Lawrie’s work – it’s at the U.S. Capitol, the Los Angeles Public Library, the Louisiana State Capitol and Rockefeller Center, among other places – have a chance to fully appreciate it. Along the way, they will learn a lot about the stories behind the Capitol, Lawrie’s role in its construction and a fascinating, rarely told chapter of Nebraska history. The author’s passion for his subject is apparent on every page. And the book doesn’t just tell the story, it shows it. It’s jam-packed with colorful examples of Lawrie’s art, attractively packaged along with the story and a wealth of facts, trivia and other items of interest. It’s the kind of book you can either read cover to cover or open at any page and find something interesting. A book about a long-dead sculptor and a Plains state capitol might seem like a niche work. But this book, like Lawrie’s art, will considerably broaden one’s perspective. —Frank H.
Lee Lawrie's Prairie Deco is a meticulously researched and annotated study of Lee Lawrie, a phenomenally prolific and admirably talented designer and architectural sculptor and one of the leading lights of the art deco movement in the USA. Released in 2018, this is an impressive study of a massively talented designer and architect.
Millions of people have visited the massive landmark statue of Atlas at Rockefeller Center. It's an instantly recognizable iconic image. I was unfamiliar with the artist behind Atlas, though I'd visited it on more than one occasion, and this volume is full of images of this and other extremely well known sculptures, friezes, building, and facades from Lawrie's genius and passion.
The book is split into three sections: early biographical detail from his birth and details from his life, collaborations and commissions, and a comprehensive survey of the art deco movement and Lawrie's place in its history. The book includes well collated and annotated references, bibliography, a cross referenced index, and many many photos and facsimiles of historical documents.
I found it an interesting and enlightening read which kept my interest and never descended into pedantry.
Five stars. Really well done.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Annie B.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book that everyone should read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2020
Growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska and visiting the State Capitol regularly, I honestly was not that interested in reading a book about the man who carved art into it's walls. But after I started reading, it's not just about the art. It's about artists who were dedicated to telling stories, through their art, to educate and inspire people who were lucky enough to discover it. And not for fame and recognition. It was their mission to create and fill a need in the people and places that they touched. Greg did an outstanding job of researching and presenting information about these men who made a huge difference in this world. It is my understanding that there has not been another book written about these artists. They were basically forgotten and the information about them was difficult to find. That makes this book even more worthy of attention. It was fun to read and left me feeling inspired. Beautiful illustrations and photos as well. You definitely do not have to be a fan of Art Deco or be interested in the Nebraska State Capital to enjoy this book. Put it on your list of must reads now.
My work preserving historic buildings takes me all around the country, and I find that the Nebraska Capitol Building is my all-time favorite. I must admit, I did grow up in Lincoln, visited the Capitol many time, and even had the chance to spend time there with some of the artisans who created the place, like Keats Lorenz the noted woodcarver. In this book I like the first-person style as Gregory tells the story of his quest for Lawrie's history and his discovery of the many details of Lawrie's background and growth as a little known artisan of national importance. Back stories on the people involved are very satisfying. I even like his speculations on motives and potential for future investigations and research. It has taken me months to plow through this book's fertile soil, but like the Sower atop the tower, Gregory has planted seeds in my mind that are already sprouting into a growing interest in Art Deco Architecture of the early and mid-twentieth century.
—John Leeke, American Preservationeer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, not just for art and architecture fans, but also history buffs like me
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2021
This is fantastic book. Greg Harm brings long overdue recognition to Mr. Lawrie whose sculptures grace not only the Nebraska State Capitol but also Rockefeller Center, Boys Town, the LA County Library and dozens of other landmark buildings across the country. Beautiful photos of Lawrie’s work along with background detail on each sculpture and how it fit in with the larger project. Did you know that fasces from the Roman Empire and the swastika, both of which Lawrie incorporated in some works, had positive connotations before appropriated by Mussolini and Hitler? Great for art and architecture fans, but also history buffs like me
—Allen Fen
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about an architectural treasure!
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2018
The book itself is a beautiful Art Deco piece of work that would make a lovely coffee table book. But there’s much more to it! It presents sculpture art in the Nebraska State Capitol building and beyond covering the art of the little known sculptor, Lee Lawrie. I’m not a history buff but I was fascinated with the stories of Omaha’s Boys Town and the connection between the capitol and New York City’s Rockefeller Center. It wasn’t a quick read for me. I wanted to study every picture, caption and note of interest included. I’ve lived in Lincoln for nearly 50 years, visiting the capitol building many times, always in awe of the architecture and art within. Still, I had no idea there was so much history presented on the exterior of the building! That will be my point of focus on my next visit. If you have plans to visit the Nebraska State Capitol building for the first time or the 50th time, I would highly recommend this book. Thank you, Gregory Harm, for sharing your passion with others!
—Joanna & Don
5.0 out of 5 stars This high-quality book honors the art and legacy of Lee Lawrie and the Nebraska State Capitol. BRAVO!
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2018
The Nebraska state capitol is my favorite building. I grew up near it, and I visit it as much as I can. So far, no book has ever captured the magic of this building like Harm's book does. The architecture and design of Bertram Goodhue provides a perfect canvas for Lee Lawrie's beautiful art. There are plenty of interesting facts in this book about both men - and the building - that I didn't know before. This book is not cheap, but I can tell you that it's worth every penny. The paper quality is high and the full-color photos really pop. Harm clearly wanted to honor the work of Lawrie with this book.
—Jonathan F. Jamison
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2020
I went to high school with Greg and have kept in touch via FB. I have the 3rd edition as well. I was always fascinated with the Capitol growing up and now even more so. It is well researched and read something new every time I pick it up.
—Sheryl L. Blakemore
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful exploration of an artist and his motivation.
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2018
A well-written and researched book on Lee Lawrie. Beautifully illustrated, Gregory Harm's work tells the complete story of a great artist and the back-story to what shaped his life and his career. Art is not created in a vacuum; knowing the experiences, influences, associations, and the culture of the times helps to understand the motivation of an artist. Harm tells a fascinating side story of the philosopher Hartley Burr Alexander’s involvement in the design of the Nebraska Capital. A must read book!
—D. Price
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020
An excellent depiction of the unique architecture surrounding Nebraska State Capital by Lee Lawrie. The indepth description and detail of each pictured carving brings this historic building's background to the forefront of our modern day history seekers. A must read!
A very informative book that describes many of the Nebraska state Capitol’s hidden treasures. Even growing up in Lincoln and visiting the Capitol many, many times, Mr. Harm’s book provides a remarkable in-depth review of many architectural details that were new and exciting to learn about. A must read for anyone.
