Dr. Alicia de Fisher
was an architect with more than 20 years of experience as
a senior lecturer and adjunct professor teaching the history of architecture
to graduate students at well-known French and Argentinean Universities.
During this period she produced a substantial body of innovative work within the
field of architectural reconstruction and construction.
She earned two Ph.D.'s: One from La Sorbonne in 1985 and a second from
the Université de Grenoble in 1987. She had already become a Licensed
Architect and Urban Planner at the Universidad de Buenos Aires in
Argentina while serving as a senior professor in architecture history
and theory. During this time she was also professor of creative workshops
and a member of the student examination board.
Dr. de Fisher was later nominated as associate editor for
the publication "Magazine de Arquitectura," Belgrano University
Press in Argentina and coordinator of the Professor and
Student European Exchange Program at Belgrano University.
The D.F. Sarmiento Museum Board, in Buenos Aires, named her an expert for
her research and re-construction on the preservation of the museum's
conference hall built in 1853.
In Paris she was lecturer professor at La Sorbonne and adjunct
professor and lecturer for the "CEAA Les Métiers de l'Histoire" at
Grenoble University. She also became a board member for masters' degree
certification at La Sorbonne, Paris-Belleville.
Her publication, "L'Église Abbatiale Saint Ouen de Rouen,"
was underwritten by the Comite de la Recherche et du Developpement en Architecture.
Presses Universitaires de Grenoble selected her to be the principal coordinator for
the "Journal de l'Histoire de l' Architecture, No 2" entitled
"La question du role: Constructif des Nervures Gothiques."
A breakthrough occurred when she, and Princeton University
Professor Robert Mark, delivered a presentation in 1988 at
the School of Architecture in Grenoble, France; within the
framework of an international Symposium entitled "Les
Nervures Gothiques et leur Histoire: Demonstration de
Photoelasticite". (Gothic Ribs and their History:
Demonstration of Photoelasticity) with top level researchers.
The purpose of the study was to determine the structural role
of such elements as the vault ribs in French Gothic cathedrals
dating as far back as the 1300's. This presentation was
repeated at the School of Architecture in Geneva, Switzerland.
Considered a groundbreaking study it continues to have widespread
applicatio
n.
Dr. de Fisher worked as chief historical architect for a
study on the reconstruction of the Hotel Mansart de Sagonne, located in
Le Marais, Paris. (Constructed from 1667 to1670 by Jules Hardouin Mansart,
architect to King Louis XV). This reconstruction was supervised by the
French Government through La Caisse National des Monuments Historiques
et des Sites; thereby reflecting the project's status as a cultural
heritage. The French government has designated the Hotel Mansart de
Sagonne an historical monument.
She was selected by "La Caisse Nationale des Monuments
Historiques et des Sites" to be exhibit coordinator for the Centennial
Birthday celebration of the renown architect Le Corbusier. The exhibition
was called "Le Corbusier: Le passé a reaction poétique" and required
working with government and cultural officials to prepare for the opening on
December 8th, 1987, at L'Hotel de Sully, Paris.
Dr. de Fisher was an active participant in architecture workshops during
the early years of Imagina, the first European Congress on Computer
Graphics in France and Europe sponsored by L'Institut National
del'Audiovisuel (INA). INA played a leading role in the development
of computer graphic technologies. From 1976 to 2008, along with research
and teaching, she was involved in numerous international symposia and
still works actively in architecture heritage and postgraduate education.
In November of 1969, during an international competition at the 10th UIA
Congress (International Union of Architects Congress), Dr. de Fisher received
a Third Prize and First Mention for the design and construction of two different
pavilions.
She received a grant from "l'Agence Française pour l'Aménagement et
le Développement a l'Etranger" (the French Agency for Planning and
Development Abroad) for an on-site study of supervisory construction practices
along the Ivory Coast of Africa.
"El
Comite de la Vivienda de la Municipalidad de Buenos Aires" (the Local Housing
Committee of Buenos Aires City Council) offered her a grant for supervisión of
construction work on 9.000 apartments, four nursery schools, two elementary schools,
one secondary school and one technical college.
She moved from France
to New York in 2001 to study online research strategies for architectural
history and art. She also curated several Latin American exhibits in New
York and Florida. In recognition Dr. de Fisher was granted an Arts and Art
History degree from Queens College of the City University of New York.
Jointly, with the Peruvian Mission at the United Nations, she organized an
homage to the renown Peruvian Artist Fernando De Szyszlo to commemorate his
80th anniversary. This important event took place at the Anita Shapolsky
Gallery in New York City during the retrospective "Latin American
Visionaries". Dr. de Fisher also curated works by the artists Pedro
Coronel, Agustín Fernández, Edgar Negret, Rene Portocarrero and Fernando
de Szyszlo.
At the same gallery she was curator for the exhibit "Contrasts in Latin
American Art: Works from the 1960's to the 1980's" featuring
the artists Agustin Fernandez, Perez Celis and Gian-Carlo Puppo.
Celebrating the Millennium, Dr. de Fisher organized "Perez Celis Paints
the Millennium," an exhibit at the Elaine Baker Gallery located in
Boca Raton, Florida. In the Kendall Campus, of Miami Dade Community College,
she created a presentation using the artwork of painter Perez Celis –
an homage to the writer Walt Whitman, "Visual interpretations of Walt Whitman."
Professional Organizations:
Dr. de Fisher belongs to the following professional organizations:
-
Royal Institute of British Architects. RIBA, since 1990, United Kingdom,.
- Society of Architectural Historians, since 1989, Chicago, USA.
- Syndicat de la Presse Artistique Française, since 1988, France
- Bibliothèque Nationale de France, since1987, Paris.
- Conseil de l'Ordre des Architectes. Membre du Conseil National et Régional d'Ile de France. (Paris and surrounding departments), since 1986.
- Bibliothèque Forney. Paris, since 1985.
- Consejo Profesional de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, since 1972, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Selected Publications:
de Fisher, A, (2003). Content written for the Anita Shapolsky Gallery website:
de Fisher, A. (1993).
''Jules Hardouin Mansart, architecte du Roi Luis XV.'' Passions
International, Art et Décoration. XVIV, 38-41.
de Fisher, A. (1991).
"Entre court et jardin. L'Hotel Mansart de Sagonne.'' Vieilles
Maisons Françaises, 138, 101-103.
de Fisher, A. (1989).
''Quelques Réflexions sur Études et Réflexions de Luis Carlos Curcio.''
Journal del'Histoire de l'Architecture. Presses Universitaires de Grenoble, France. 2,
32-47.
de Fisher, A. (1988) ''Henry Hobson Richardson et l'École des Beaux-Arts.'' La Sorbonne, Paris-Tolbiac.1-19.
de Fisher, A. (1988) "Le Style Roman Richardsonien ou L'Eclectisme Pittoresque.'' La Sorbonne, Paris- Tolbiac. 1-9.
de Fisher, A. (1987) ''L'Église Abbatiale Saint-Ouen de Rouen.'' École de Architecture de Grenoble. 1-72.
de Fisher, A. (1987). ''Les Villes Américaines.'' Cahiers Histoire des Villes. 1-17.
de Fisher, A. (1985). ''Remarques a propos de l'Architecture Banale Domestique, étude des trois
immeubles.'' La Sorbonne, Paris-Villemin. 1-69.
de Fisher, A.,
Trabucco, M. (1984). 'El Clasicismo en la Arquitectura Occidental.''
Editorial Universitaria de Belgrano. 1-15. Argentina.
de Fisher, A.
(1983). "Un Modelo para el estudio de la Historia." Editorial
Universitaria de Belgrano. 1-35.
memorial@aliciadefisher.com