June Jordan: Pleasures of Perspectives | 2022 WDA Conference
February 24, 2022 · 6:00 pm—February 25, 2022 · 4:00 pm · Betts Auditorium and Livestream
Womxn in Design and Architecture; School of Architecture
June Jordan’s visionary practice reimagines the role of the built environment in creating just futures. Deeply committed to human rights and political activism, she used language to design a model for pedagogy and activism centered on ecology, care, and justice. While Jordan’s literary contributions reflect her work as a poet, author, teacher, and activist, what does it mean to call June Jordan an architect?
Architecture is a form of storytelling. Using words as a medium, Jordan proposed designs ranging from the townhouse-scale interventions in her book, His Own Where, to the urban-scale, collaborative vision of “Skyrise for Harlem.” In 1970, she was awarded the Rome Fellowship Prize in Environmental Design. At all scales, Jordan’s work invites us to challenge and redefine prevailing socio-spatial constructs towards dignified spaces for all communities.
The sixth Womxn in Design and Architecture (WDA) conference at the Princeton School of Architecture (SoA) honors the life and work of June Jordan, Jamaican-American activist and feminist. Her expansive practice and inventive pedagogy continues to illuminate the intersectional influences of race, gender, sexuality, and ecology on the built environment. Building on the recent scholarship of Jordan’s visual and literary imagination, the conference asks: how does the work of June Jordan pave the way for the future of architectural practice and pedagogy?
Viewing Information
The conference will be hosted in Betts Auditorium at Princeton School of Architecture. In-person attendance is limited to Princeton University ID holders and conference participants. A public live stream will be accessible via the WDA website.
2022 WDA Conference Organizers include Sophia Diodati, Keren Dillard, Laura Fegely, Ellen Harris, Patty Hazle, Rinna Jiang, Jacqueline Mix, Lisa Ramsburg, Adrian Silva, Eunice Slanwa, Shoshana Torn, Priscilla Zhang.
Additional 2021-2022 WDA Members include Jocelyn Beausire, Jarincy Rodriguez, Sofia Rojo, Marie de Testa.
The WDA Conference is made possible by the Jean Labatut Memorial Lecture Fund. WDA is a recognized student organization by The Graduate School of Princeton University. The School of Architecture, Princeton University, is registered with the AIA Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) and is committed to developing quality learning activities in accordance with the AIA/CES criteria.
