Mornings with O’Keeffe | Houses that Grow
A Look at Earthen Architecture and O’Keeffe’s Home & Studio
Hear from Francisco Uviña-Contreras, Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning, and Giustina Renzoni, Director of Historic Properties at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, to learn about the rich history surrounding adobe architecture in New Mexico.
This conversation begins with a historical overview of adobe from Professor Francisco Uviña-Contreras, who expores the ways in which this versatile building material intersects with culture, construction, and conservation. Giustina Renzoni then brings this context to a discussion of how adobe is represented in Georgia O’Keeffe’s New Mexico properties, particularly her Abiquiú Home & Studio.
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This talk was recorded as part of our free ‘Mornings With O’Keeffe’ lecture series on the first Wednesday of every month.
About the Speakers
Francisco Uviña-Contreras | Assistant Professor, School of Architecture + Planning, University of New Mexico
Francisco Uviña-Contreras, a well-connected professional, received his Master of Architecture and Graduate Certificate in Preservation and Regionalism in 2009 from the University of New Mexico, where he graduated with distinction. Francisco worked for Cornerstones Community Partnerships, a non-profit organization, from 1994 to 2008, where he assisted in the Preservation of Earthen Structures in the Southwest US and Mexico. His expertise and network in the field are further demonstrated by his membership in PHI-USA, Proterra, and TICRAT workshops. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning.
Giustina Renzoni | Director of Historic Properties, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Giustina Renzoni oversees the teams at the Welcome Center and the O’Keeffe homes in Abiquiú and at Ghost Ranch, using her 15 years of experience in the art world, leading interpretation of the homes and developing innovative exhibitions related to the historic properties’ collections, working closely with related departments in Santa Fe.
Prior to joining the O’Keeffe Museum in 2018, Renzoni held various positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the Denver Art Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. As a contemporary art curator, Renzoni organized exhibitions highlighting up-and-coming local artists for galleries in Massachusetts and Colorado. She received an MA in Art History from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Northeastern University, Boston.
