Design - Theater Sets

Just about done with the first set design experience. It's something I've wanted to get in to for years but haven't found an opportunity.

It's definately been quite the experience. Set design is very conceptual, which is something I really like, but like anything that you design, you can't fill in the gaps until you're building and to some degree using the design. In the case of the play, as we've finally got the major structures built we're realizing that we have gaps due to the ability of a few major things:
The desire of those with the knowledge to build to actually build the thing
The time
Not having worked closer with the Director and Assistant Director (due to the gathering of us so late in the game)
Struggle for control
Non-volunteer (meaning paying job) deadlines

I think the most frustrating and exciting part of the experience is thinking about how in future plays we might worker closer with the production team and really have the set be an integral part of the movement of the cast. This seems desirable b/c that way they wouldn't have to:
Close the curtain (particularly important when there are multiple quick scene changes
"Turn down the lights" which leads to the ability to see the set being changed

I'll follow this post with an image of a backdrop not being used in the play due to the theater not having available fly's in the places we need. The back drops are 32' long x 8' high (four panels each at 8'x8'). Once the play actually opens (Thursday) then I'll get some more photos of the set actually up. It's very minimal, abstract and at the same time Bauhaus, or at least that's how I see it.

Cheers!

Defining Yourself

I am a dancer.
I am a climber.
I am a designer.

Who are you?

Link of the Day - It's the Economy Stupid

Fake inflation numbers masked crisis

followed by the book:
Wall Street versus America by Gary Weiss

and for my friend Martin per your request...a photo of me :)

Christmas Entertainment

Only so much television can be watched in 24 hours before your brain starts to become mush and you find that time surfing on the internet may be a reprive prior to getting out of the house and actually doing something which requires thought and/or physical activity.

Here is your segway to the great outdoors...1 video, 3 versions much like a resume, current first:

Beyonce
Single Ladies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g">


Unk
Walk It Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjN-kvO_fLA

Gwen Verdon
Mexican Breakfast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2HmAnIk5Ug

Passing

I thought it would be days before I posted again but as I'm sitting here in an empty office (closed due to snow) news was given that the founder of our firm passed away. He was a wonderful man and was always supportive of our careers. He instilled the morals and values upon which this firm still functions today - honesty, integrity, solid design, community relations.

Since coming back to the office six months ago I've had the privilege of seeing him three times and again was inspired by him. He led me to push to achieve before I thought I would push. I know you may not know him but he's done great things for the architectural community and the community at large and I hope you'll spend two seconds and give a thank you.

He will be dearly missed.

Thank you Jim McGranahan for all you did - and for that knowing smile when you passed through the office.

A SMALL part of his legacy:

• McGranahan Architects
• WWII Veteran Memorial, Olympia, WA
• Tacoma Dome

Musings on Jealousy & Poop

It dawned on me again for the umpteenth time in the last who knows how long that I spend an awful lot of time comparing myself to others. In particular to others accomplishments, skills, experiences, etc. I've throughout my life thought that this was a good thing because it made me want to be better, try harder, do more. What I'm realizing as I get older is that what it accomplishes now is self-sabotage.

This thought occurred twice today for two reasons. The first was as I was reading through my friends blog and thinking, "Wow, she really is a wonderful writer. So engaging and personal without being TOO personal. I want to write like that!" The second was while reading Architectural Record (December 2008). The archrecord2 article focuses on Ammar Eloueini and his research based work. While reading the article I was thinking about another entry I'm working on about material research and thinking, "I want to do that! How can I start designing installations?" After a series of reminders about how "it takes years Caroline" and "calm down, you're just getting started," and "for f's sake Caroline - learn how to focus on something for longer than two minutes and you may actually accomplish something," I managed to flip through another seven pages and stopped again. William Morgan reviewed the book Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design by Michael Bierut, and he includes a quote, a quote so adequate for this ridiculous wining I've been subjecting my brain cells through that it actually made me stop - and write this entry. The quote you ask?

...the more things you are interested in, the better your work will be

Is it true? I think that yes, to a point it is, but there's something to be said about being able to zoom in on something and really follow it through. To have the patience to explore one thing, one thought, one - something. To be able to commit to truly understanding rather than throwing it out like the wrapping paper you use once and even though you know you've not developed it to its fullest potential there's that shiny new wallpaper over there waiting to be tried.

I enjoy knowing a little bit about alot of things, more so than I think I would knowing alot about a few things, but it seems that this way of thinking, of doing, of being, will place limitations on where I can go in my career and so perhaps what I need to do is figure out where I WANT to go and learn how to walk a gray line between committing and flitting.

Patience is finally occurring in my life, perhaps focus will too.

So perhaps the point of all this is that I'm going to try to quit comparing myself to others and focus on MY strengths - like the fact that I can hold a two minute conversation with anyone, that I can spend years making a decision and somehow get people to think it's spontaneous when I finally do something about it, that I can read AND follow 3, 4, 5 books at one time and that I'm an idea person. An idea person. THAT is what I like about me.

Now on to my favorite story about the built environment from the news this week:

PIGEON POOP BLAMED FOR AWNING COLLAPSE

Seriously, you've got to love the AP for some of the newsworthy items they cover, and believe it or not, it is newsworthy!

Think about this, it's a design issue. Was it a canopy such as this or an awning such as this? My hunch is the former (this post may lead to a future post on how irritating it is when people don't follow the definition of a word - I know I'll probably get called on this sometimes and PLEASE feel free to do it) is what they meant and while the article from the Associated Press tenders the idea that the collapse is due to 4-5 inches of pigeon poo collecting I've got to wonder if maybe its due more to the corrosive effects of bird waste than it is to the weight of it.

Either way, there are seem to be two design issues here (the world is occurring in two's today)

1. The "awning" was designed in such a way as to allow for birds to have their happy hour rather than taking in to account that a perch is a perch and if you're gonna provide it they're gonna use it so let's try to find a way to either NOT provide the perch or...


2. The "awning" was not designed in a way which allowed ease of maintenance (ooh, this gets me thinking about my current project at the office, I may have to think about that over my vacation)

I could continue to elaborate on this but it's late, I'm tired and even though the office is closed tomorrow (today) I don't get to stay away because well, it's difficult to say you can't get there because of the snow when you live across the street

The Leap

I suppose you can say I've made a number of these over the last 11 years or so. I guess we all do in the course of our lives. The significance is perhaps contextual - physical, psychological, etc.

This leap is into the - what's the word - "blogosphere." Really an annoying sort of word don't you think? It's like "starchitect." Some pop phrases just really shouldn't become mainstream.

Anyway, I've no idea how well I'll do keeping this up to date but I WILL tell you what I'm here for. I'm here to make sure I stay on top of what's happening in the world of design, to test ideas, share theories and I suppose through writing and researching, find my own little place in the world.

Topics I may cover are Architecture (I hear an "of course" from those of you who know me), urban living (public transportation, gardening, art, etc.), political theories, fashion, furniture making, sewing and who knows what else.

Cheers!