Long‑time Baltimore architect Steve Ziger, a founding partner of Ziger|Snead Architects, is retiring after a 40‑year career that helped shape the city’s built environment. His projects include the Baltimore Museum of Art, Center Stage, the SNF Parkway Theatre, the Brown Center at MICA, and several buildings at Friends School.
To mark his retirement, Ziger is publishing a coffee‑table book titled While Away. The volume blends visual memoir, travel guide, and drawing manual, and features an introduction by acclaimed writer Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, who offers a concise portrait of Ziger’s life and work.
From farm fields to cityscapes
Ziger recalls that his urge to draw began on his grandparents’ farm in Central Mississippi. The “foreignness of the landscape” sparked a desire to capture the world beyond the familiar suburban sights, turning sketching into a portal for full‑time presence.
The book is organized chronologically, showcasing sketches of buildings, cityscapes, and landscapes from each stage of his life. Some images are paired with brief explanatory notes that add emotional depth. For instance, a sketch of the Palio di Siena race is accompanied by a personal note that a friend’s birthday trip to Italy was cut short when cancer prevented her attendance.
Evolution of a sketching style
When asked how his technique has changed, Ziger explains that early drawings were “more analytical, tighter” and could take up to 45 minutes. Over time he loosened his approach, aiming to capture the essence of a place in about twenty minutes—especially when traveling with companions.
He emphasizes that sketching is a thinking tool, not a finished product. “Every sketch makes me see something I would otherwise have missed,” he says, noting that while photographs capture reality, drawing forces the mind to register details.
Inspiration and future plans
Ziger’s travels have taken him from a study year in Versailles—the first overseas trip for his family—to annual visits to Venice for 25 years, and more recent trips to Bermuda, Lebanon, and Egypt. He recently concluded the book’s narrative in Egypt and plans a month‑long sketching trip to Japan in November, bringing four sketchbooks for the journey.
His partner and lifelong business collaborator, Jamie Snead, has been a steadfast supporter. The couple, together since the early 1980s, retired from the firm within the past few years and now share a 24/7 partnership both at work and at home.
Publication and launch
The book found a home quickly after Ziger sent sample images to Oro, a publisher known for architect sketchbooks. The launch event will be held at the Ivy Bookshop on Thursday, October 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring a conversation with Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson. The Ivy’s owner, Emma Snyder, expects a standing‑room‑only crowd and plans a follow‑up talk in the spring. Pre‑orders are already available through the shop’s website.
In addition to the book, the Ivy will stock the same sketchbook and pens Ziger uses for his talks, encouraging Baltimore residents to pick up a pen and explore their own surroundings through drawing.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
