The Contemporary Arts Center Celebrates Its 20th Building Anniversary Through Book Club: “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?”

The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) celebrates 20 years of their building in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. 

 In honor of their 20th building anniversary, the CAC and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Women’s Group presents a book club event based on the novel “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” by Maria Semple.  

According to Sarah Kleiner who is a part of the AIA Women’s group, the CAC’s current building downtown was designed by Zaha Hadid who is an internationally known architect was.  

However, she passed away in 2016 according to Britannica.  

Kleiner explained that the CAC building was critical to Hadid’s career. “It’s also the first museum to be designed by a woman in the United States,” she said.  

The building was finished in 2003 according to the CAC website.  

As stated by the AIA, only 17% of registered architects are women. Despite this statistic, Kleiner explained that there are numerous students in school who are majoring in architecture, but there seems to be a disconnect in getting licensed.  

The book club event based on the novel “Where’d you go Bernadette?” will provide a space to discuss a variety of issues and topics stemming from women in architecture for anyone in the community to have a chance to connect with others.  

According to Kleiner, she would describe the novel as enlightening.  

“I just think that she hits a lot of notes. It challenges a lot of society’s ideas and rules of what it means to be a female, a mother, an architect, and a genius,” Kleiner said. 

According to Shawnee Turner, the Director of Interpretation and Visitor Experience at CAC, this event is an opportunity for people to have a connection with their everyday lives. 

“You don’t have to be an architect to understand what it’s like to be pulled in a lot of different directions or someone who feels like they aren’t completely appreciated at work. Or feels that they aren’t getting paid equitably,” said Turner. 

Turner explained that anytime we can see another person’s perspective or put ourselves in another person’s shoes it allows us to broaden our perspectives even more.  

Although the event has a focus on women in architecture, all backgrounds are welcome, and all perspectives are welcome according to Turner.  

“I hope everyone can find this as a relaxing way to kind of dive into something a little deeper,” Turner said.  

Reading the book or watching the movie prior to attending the event is not required according to Kleiner.  

The book club event: “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” will take place on August 24 at 5:30 PM in the Contemporary Arts Center. In order to register for this free event click here.