Lisle Heritage Society to host May 4 program on ‘Our Lady of the World’s Fair’

The Lisle Heritage Society will host a program on “Our Lady of the World’s Fair” at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at First Congregational Church, 1006 Ogden Ave., Lisle.

Two of the most influential men of their day, urban planner Robert Moses and Francis Cardinal Spellman shared a vision: to display Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Pietà, in the Vatican’s pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City.

Presenter Ruth D. Nelson’s gives a captivating recounting of these power brokers’ perseverance in the face of skepticism, fierce criticism, and huge logistic challenges, ultimately achieving their cultural coup. Millions of fair visitors had the opportunity to view the iconic sculpture.

Nelson holds a Master of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Illinois in Chicago. In 2018, she was selected as an Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar. She teaches art history at College of DuPage. She is the author of the book “Our Lady of the World’s Fair.”

First Congregational Church of Lisle has asked the Lisle Heritage Society to help them preserve their church building. Learn about the congregation and project progress at lisleheritagesociety.org/index.html.

Note, the church has some steps to navigate.

There will be light refreshments. Admission is free. Make a reservation at LisleHeritageSociety.org.