“Film” Follows Form & Function

Chicago has a magnificent skyline and amazing architecture, and we owe much of it to Louis Sullivan. That may seem like a bold statement, unless you know that he’s the father of the skyscraper and that he focused on creating a new, distinct style, foregoing the standard neo-classicism and instead designing with the tenet “form ever follows function”. Despite his importance, like many visionaries Sullivan died poor and alone.

The architect’s story and his struggles have been captured in the new film “Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture“. The independent project is being screened for the first time in Chicago on March 14 at 11:30am at the Gene Siskel Film Center. According to the wonderful Chicago History Journal, seating is limited to 200 people and a donation of $15 is requested. The screening is not listed on the Film Center’s website, so if you’d like to attend you must donate through this link.

Chicago Stock Exchange entrance detail from Library of Congess