Introduction
Attempting to concisely yet comprehensively select and exhibit
the highlights of more than three decades (1964-1999) of Donald Singer’s
prolific and masterful architectural accomplishments is a challenge
any curator would relish taking on with great anticipation and
apprehension. In over thirty years of practice, the body of work he
has created is voluminous and awe-inspiring.
The 77 items in the exhibition profile Singer’s career chronologically from 1964 to the present day. Included are sketches, preliminary drawings, finished drawings, renderings, study models, finished models, photographs, magazines, books, awards, other art works, and personal memorabilia, all from the collection of the architect.
Donald Singer came of age in the early 1960s during an era that imposed revolutionary social and political change on American society. A mandatory aspect of informal 60s education included an automobile trip “on the road” to seek out one’s muses. Indeed, while Singer was still a student, he made several expeditions across the country visiting buildings designed by well-known architects, including an obligatory pilgrimage to the West to call on Frank Lloyd Wright and to see the Taliesin studio. He never managed to meet FLW personally but, during that and subsequent cross-country road adventures, he was able to visit many of Wright’s residential and commercial buildings. Singer later became an avid collector of FLW printed materials and objects and three items from his collection are included in the exhibit (#74-76).
Even though he was profoundly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideas and structures, Singer’s artistry is all his own. His architectural “style” is quintessentially modern. His buildings reflect the best theories of 20th century modernity and are constructed with distinctive 20th century materials. His edifices are elegant, clean, spare, orderly spaces that are sensitively and economically integrated into their surrounding environments and that are perfectly suited for 20th century living and working.
Both architecturally and in terms of community service, Donald Singer is a true pillar of the community. He has spent most of his life in South Florida, and has served on the governing boards of many Broward County institutions including, to name just a few, Broward County Art in Public Places; the Museum of Art; the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk Sub-Committee; and the Fort Lauderdale Historic Preservation Board. Professional honors include, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects; AIA Fort Lauderdale, Past President; AIA Florida Chapter award in 1997 for Firm of the Year; and the Broward Cultural Affairs Council Moretti Award for outstanding contributions to the arts.
Acknowledgements
I would like to extend to Donald Singer and the following members
of his staff: Teen Woon, Project Manager; Michael Ashworth, Intern
Architect; and Jenifer Johnson, Business Development Manager, my
profound gratitude for the enormous amount of hard work and creative
energy they expended in helping to select and install the exhibition
and in gathering and preparing much of the preliminary text for the
published catalog. Thanks also: to Margaret Bing, Bienes Center
catalog/curator, for assisting in all aspects of preparing and
installing the exhibit; to Dianne and Michael Bienes, and to Kay
Harvey and the Broward Public Library Foundation for their continued
financial and moral support.
James A. Findlay, Librarian
Bienes Center for the Literary Arts