MAILBOX
I enjoyed reading the article about Mariane Strengell [“Structure and Surface,” Vol. 10, No. 4]. My aunt, Lilyan Santo (née de Caro), worked with her at Karastan Rug Mills. Lilyan de Caro graduated from Cooper Union in 1924. Through their knowing each other, in the mid 1960s as an aspiring furniture maker living and working in Henniker, New Hampshire, I was introduced to Olav Hammarstrom (Strengell’s husband), who was then involved in designing Christ the King Lutheran Church in Nashua, New Hampshire. I ended up making the altar furniture, including a large oak cross that hung over the chancel area. Marianne Strengell designed the colored glass windows in the church; the story was that the church was too poor for traditional stained glass. Other than The Chapel of St. James the Fisherman in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, I do not know much about Hammarstrom’s work. It would be interesting to see more of his work in an article. I enjoy Modernism and have been a subscriber from the very early days of the magazine.

-John McAlevey, Warren, ME

Exploring the work of lesser known designers is very important to us. Thanks for the
great suggestion.


Regarding Jake Gorst’s recent article, “Designing Raymond Loewy: Elizabeth Reese Remembered” [Vol. 10, No. 4], I disagree with his conclusion. Betty was a close family friend for many years and I knew her well. In Gorst’s article he states, “But without her, Loewy’s influence might not have been so enormous and our world might look and work very differently.” Clearly, as my father’s publicist, Reese knew her craft; however she is not responsible for Loewy’s design genius and foresight. She packaged the man to the media, but the package was Loewy’s own talent, influence and style. By the way, Dad’s custom ‘41 Lincoln Continental Coupe, featured on page 54 of the article, brought $455,000 at the Gooding & Co. Scottsdale Auction on January 19th, proving that good styling is timeless.

-Laurence Loewy, Marietta, GA


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