Fuller Dome 50th Anniversary

81 Circle Drive,Edwardsville IL 62026

22 October, 2021

Description

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Fuller Dome with dance, music, art, architecture and artifacts expressing the dome's history & future. Friday, October 22nd, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the day that Buckminster Fuller dedicated his dome on the SIUE campus by reading his essay "Geoview." The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability is marking the Fuller Dome's 50th anniversary by inviting you to join us in the dome for an evening celebrating it's history while looking to the future. The evening starts at 6PM with a program comprised of: A reading of "Geoview" by Fuller's, family, friends, colleges & devoteesA dance tribute from the Katherine Dunham Dance TroupeAn exhibition of art and artifacts donated from the Fuller EstatePlus live string and piano music from the SIUE music departmentThe 50th Anniversary Exhibition opens at 7:30 PM following the program On October 22nd in 1971, Buckminster Fuller and Shoji Sadao dedicated the geodesic domed Religious Center that they had designed and built together for the newly created Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Campus. At the dome that day, Bucky read an essay he had written for the occasion. The essay is titled "Geoview, Go In To Go Out" and it describes Bucky's intention for the Center's design as well as the Center's connection to our planet's 90th longitudinal Meridian. The Center is topped by a translucent, three-quarter-sphere, miniature-earth, geodesic dome that perfectly straddles the planet's 90th Meridian. Bucky was able to align the miniature-earth dome's 90th Meridian with the actual 90th Meridian so that when you stand in the center of the dome and look up, you are looking at the place that you are standing on the actual planet. In doing this, you see your place in the world from vantage point of the heart of the planet, and since the miniature-earth dome is translucent, you look out to the heavens and see the world's place in the universe. Providing this immediate sense orientation of the human individual with-in the universe is a remarkable architectural achievement and the Center is in many ways Bucky's master work. Today the Center is named the Fuller Dome and it is managed by a non-profit organization, the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability. www.fullerdome.org The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability is an independent, not-for-profit organization located in a geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller on land leased from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Since 1971 the Center has served the University and area communities as a place for multifaith and interfaith activity.  A variety of educational, cultural and social events are held throughout the year inside this landmark structure. Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Baha’i and Native American faith traditions hold devotions, celebrations and public programs at the Center. A “Celebration of World Faiths” is held annually, highlighting various faith traditions and interfaith issues. The Center also hosts an annual awards ceremony honoring two awardees each year. One award is presented for spiritual leadership and another for leadership in sustainability. These annual dual awards allow the Center recognize those who have shown leadership values that reenforce the Center's mission to promote humanity's sacred connection to the Earth and each other.