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Mary Jane Colter: House Made of Dawn celebrates the life and career of a remarkable woman who built many of the region’s signature buildings. Some of her most innovative designs are in Arizona at the Grand Canyon – Hopi House, Desert View Watchtower and Phantom Ranch – small but powerful buildings that seem to grow out of the landscape. Colter was a distinguished figure in the intellectual society of St. Paul, Minn., where she was raised. Her imagination and determination were legendary, and her colleagues described her as intelligent, stubborn and meticulous. She was a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright; like him, her style had its roots in the Arts and Crafts movement, which fostered an "American" style that emphasized functionality, simplicity and regionalism. Her first project for the Harvey Company was at the Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque – a museum and gift shop that incorporated Spanish and Native American influences. Its success convinced the company that architecture could be used as a marketing tool to attract tourists, and they sent Colter to the Grand Canyon to build an Indian museum. This was Hopi House, a revolutionary design that re-interpreted local traditions and construction techniques to offer a glimpse of the "real" Southwest. Visitors loved it, and tourists came in droves to discover the canyon’s natural wonders and native cultures. Colter’s designs were inspired by local traditions and open spaces and she insisted on styles and materials that were appropriate to their surroundings. In rough pants, sturdy shoes and a "disreputable Stetson" hat, she rode horseback into isolated regions to explore, sketch and capture the sense of place that emerged in her architecture. For nearly 40 years, from Chicago to Los Angeles, Mary Jane Colter created buildings that shaped the image of the Southwest. Her favorite project was La Posada, an elegant hotel in Winslow, Ariz. Built in 1930, it was a showplace that welcomed the rich and famous, from movie stars to presidents. But after the war, Flagstaff became the state’s gateway to the north and rail traffic declined. When La Posada was closed, Colter said, "There is such a thing as living too long." She died a year later, in 1958, at age 88. She would undoubtedly be pleased to know that after years of neglect, the hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is currently undergoing a restoration that is faithful to her original design. In researching material for Mary Jane Colter: House Made of Dawn, filmmaker Karen Bartlett unearthed archival footage and prints, vintage postcards and spectacular pictures of the buildings Colter created during her long and productive career. Enlightening interviews, sensitive re-creations and a narration that includes Mary Jane Colter’s own words add to this fascinating portrait of an extraordinary woman who left an enduring legacy in the Southwest. Few architects have ever left such an indelible stamp on the popular identity of a place, but her inspiring story has remained untold until now. Mary Jane Colter: House Made of Dawn, is made possible in part by the KAET Program Partners. It is part of KAET’s acclaimed Arizona Collection, a continuing series of programs that explores the land, history and people of Arizona. Mary Jane Colter: House Made of Dawn is a Nemesis Production in association with KAET/Phoenix. For information on how to purchase a videocassette, visit the Arizona Collection Video Store. KAET-TV/Channel 8 is a part of Arizona State University. ### |
