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BIOGRAPHICAL DATA -- Alexander H. Girard
Alexander H. Girard of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a graduate of the Royal Institute of British Architects; Royal School of Architecture, Rome, Italy; and New York University.
His career as an architect/designer spans a period of 45 years and includes the designing of residences, offices, interiors, textiles, furniture, murals, exhibitions, restaurants and other public spaces. He has also acted as consultant to numerous other architects, including the late Eero Saarinen.
A few of his major contributions include:
1951-52 - Color Consultant -- General Motors Research Center, Detroit, for Eero Saarinen, Architect, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
1952 - Fabric Collection -- for Herman Miller Furniture Company, Zeeland, Michigan.
1955 -"Textiles and Ornamental Arts of India" Exhibition -- for Musueum of Modern Art, New York City
1959-60 - Restaurant--"La Fonda del Sol"--located in new Time and Life Building, New York City -- for Restaurant Associates, Inc.
1961 - Textile and Objects Shop -- New York City, for Herman Miller, Inc.
1962 - Nativity Exhibition -- using objects from the Girard Foundation. Sponsored by Hallmark Cards for the benefit of People-to-People, The Nelson Gallery and Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri.
1964 - History of Agriculture Mural -- Deere & Company Administrative Center, Moline, Illinois.
1965 - Braniff International Airlines -- graphics design.
1965 - "L'Etoile" Restaurant, New York City. 1966 - "The Compound" Restaurant, Sante Fe, New Mexico.
1968 - Folk Art Toy Exhibit -- San Antonio "Hemisfair".
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Mr. Girard has a strong feeling about preserving the wealth of Victorian architectural detail in downtown Columbus. He hoped that the Washington Street storefront project would eliminate the jungle of competing signs, emphasize the subtle differences in the detail of each building and encourage owners of old buildings to take pride in them.
Mr. Girard in speaking about the past in his book "The Magic of People" said, "We can, and I firmly believe we should, preserve evidence of the past, not as a pattern for sentimental imitation, but as nourishment for the creative spirit of the present, so that we, too, may evolve customs and shape objects of equivalent value in our own way, in our own time, taking advantage of the many new methods and means at our disposal. In this way we will neither ignore nor forget the spirit of individuals who have died, the spirit of people. We will remember them by their unique voices, which echo still out of their creations, and we will be inspired by them."