Urban Sustainable Design Studio--Summer 2006

darnit missed it for this summer but i'll definitely be trying to check this out this Urban Sustainable Design Studio for next summer.

TRANS

"What happens in an exhibition where the traditional boundaries—between art and activism, theory and practice, origin and diaspora, science and aesthetics—are not an organizational theme, but a point of departure? Imagine a space that takes us beyond the “in-between” and toward the generation and practice of viable integrations of art, history, math, science, theory, practice and activism. We seek submissions of visual and performance-based work that complicates, negates, exceeds, or reflects the gray areas between and within academic disciplines, theoretical models, and methods of creative production. Submissions from a variety of disciplines and areas of study/practice are encouraged. The exhibition will be an integral part of the TRANS Visual Culture Conference at the UW-Madison in October 2006. See http://www.visualculture.wisc.edu/Conference/call.htm for submission directions and complete exhibition description. Direct any questions to visualculture@education.wisc.edu" DUE 8/15

urban works

i had the priveledge to meet with someone from this amazing firm yesterday. it was pretty cool to talk about a bunch of projects in multiple neighborhoods that i have lived and worked in. i think teaching is still going to be good for the fall...however for doing some work in the summer/s or after teaching runs its course...i was pretty excited to learn about their work, and guiding principles. in the course of my meeting i started to think there is a need for a liason between community organizations and architectural firms...particularly ones that do this type of work. i might look at that kind of work as something to pursue as a consultant. i dunno. i sort of got the impression that the civic blueprint does that kind of work.

BSA Research Grants in Architecture

This program supports original research projects that clearly delineate a proposed research methodology. It encourages projects that investigate the definition of architecture research, as a proposed topic in itself and also in relation to any proposed topic of research. Projects that are not original research and/or that duplicate research already completed or underway will not be funded. We are interested in innovative, practice-based and practice-oriented research that expands the definition of research in the profession and the industry (e.g., research that is genuinely multi-disciplinary, not solely academic, etc.). We encourage proposals that bring together those in practice and in academia, either by including professionals and academics on the project team, providing opportunity to engage students through research studio projects, or by other means of joining research efforts across the field of architecture.

Submissions from anyone interested in supporting and contributing to this expanded knowledge base are encouraged. Grants in amounts up to $10,000 to individuals, collaborative teams or organizations (and up to $2,000 for students) are possible. Up to $10,000 may also be awarded to support research studio projects. We expect to award approximately $75,000 in funds in the 2006 grant cycle. Applicants must currently live in the U.S. to qualify for these grants.

AIA Diversity Committee

The AIA National Diversity Committee is seeking self-nominations from interested parties to serve on the committee for 2007. The AIA National Diversity Committee appointments are made by the 2007 AIA President. Please submit your letter of interest and a copy of your resume/cv to diversity@aia.org no later than July 13,

Teacher Fellowship Program | Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

Through lectures, visits with outsider artists, tours of outsider art collections and environments, and access to Intuit's Study Center, teachers gain the necessary background, tools, materials, and information on how to integrate teachings about intuitive and outsider art into their curriculum.
Teacher Fellowship Program | Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

i recently accepted a teaching position for the fall for high school architecture. in previous posts, i've written about how the CPS in partnership with the chicago architecture foundation is revamping its old school architectural drafting curriculum for more of a holistic, relevant and sustainable architecture curriculum. i think it is an exciting alternative to working in a firm. i've been on several interviews for firms. this pays more, has a shorter work day, summers and the same school holidays that my children will have off and i get to inspire the next generation of architects...and expand their conception of architecture. incidentally, i think catching people before they get to college is part of reconciling the gross underrepresentation of architects of color. The school has every possible computer program you could imagine so worst case scenario, i'm coming out knowing much more about cad, and 3-d modeling than i ever did because i have to teach it! not to mention it keeps my work neighborhood based and keyed into real life issues. a perfect connection between my past work in youth development and education in design.

anyhoo...this intuit teacher fellowship seems like something that could explore artists and untrained self builders a.k.a. "outsider architecture" too. i think i will apply.

move over mcmansion

read more here about this new trend against monstrous homes.

check out urban typhoon

if you're looking for a participatory design conference in tokyo in a nother week or so.

can't call me doctor, but you could call me master!

it's over baby! defended the thesis:

on june 9. walked june 10th and have a few edits to apply before turning the document.

charter of oppositional architecture

i love that i found out about this (courtesy of andres)...BUT...dont you just hate when you spend a year working on something thats already done? well i shouldn't say "done" i think where my work contributes is in the form of a formal typology for direct action architecture. but still don't you hate when you find out about something super significant, a week before your thesis presentation. yeeaaah i hate that. unfortunately many of these things are found in public art journals and literature than architecture.

damn i wish...

i was a chicago public school teacher right about now. cuz, the Museum of Contemporary art is sponsoring a paid summer institute for chicago public school teachers focused on green architecture/renewable resources. wtf. timing is a bitch.

The Institute will introduce teachers to the ideas presented in the MCA’s upcoming exhibition Massive Change: The Future of Global Design. The exhibition asks, “Now that we can do anything, what will we do?” Design affects all aspects of our lives and holds the possibility of changing the very nature of human life itself. Massive Change is a celebration of the human capacity to change the world and a call to recognize both the power and the responsibility of design. The exhibition addresses the fundamental role of design in all aspects of human life including providing shelter for all, bringing energy to the entire world, eliminating the need for raw material and banishing all waste, and eradicating poverty.

Institute participants will explore these ideas through cross-disciplinary field trips, speakers and hands- on activities. The whole metropolitan area will be our classroom. Possible components include meeting the curator of Massive Change, Bruce Mau, touring City Hall’s roof top garden, visiting a newly constructed green home, learning about contemporary artists working with ideas of change, riding a Segway and experiencing its radical design, and visiting a planned community. The goal is for teachers to be ready to return to their schools to inspire their students to become agents of change by starting an after school Change Makers Club and by infusing these ideas into their curriculum. We welcome teachers from all disciplines and the formats of the clubs can reflect the students’ interests and the teacher’s specialties. A Change Makers Club could look like an art club or a science club. The only requirement is a focus on the potential for change in designing our world.

The Institute will be limited to 20 Chicago Public High School teachers from any discipline. Participants are eligible for 3 hours of Lane credit and CPDU’s.
Participants will be paid a stipend of $350 for participating in and completing the two week Institute. Lunch and transportation to all sites will be provided each day of the Institute. Participants may be eligible to receive up to $1000 dollars in in-kind resources and materials from the Department of the Environment for their after school club projects. email education_consultant_1@mcachicago.org or call 312-397- 4067 for info. the app is due tomorrow. WEDNESDAY.

Civic Blueprint

I discovered the Civic Blueprint today. sounds like an awesome idea/org. i think i'm going to try to set up informational interviews with folks like this to inform my next steps following graduation (which is...eeek...2 weeks away).

"you should call yourself an 'artitect' or something"

this is a quote from one of my thesis interviews.

it pops up in my mind #1 cuz i'm feverishly writing the conclusions to my thesis and #2 because as i consider my future employment it seems like a poignant consideration. so for financial reasons i pretty much need to start working immediately following graduation. but the thing is i have pretty much found it absolutely nerve wracking to work on finishing my thesis AND look for a job (which involves also working feverishly on my portfolio). so mid-june FT employment? yeah...not going to happen. in the mean time, i am going to spend the summer being an "artitect" of sorts. I'll be the lead artist on a project with the chicago park district (humbolt park in particular) working with a group of teens in an investigation of tectonic sculptural renewable energy proposals inspired by wind turbines. I'm excited to see where this goes. I'm hoping to take this project outside the park and do some wind activated "interventions" in the built environment.

"however comma" (as my sis would say) what happens after that? i had an interview last week and one this next week. i've sent some stuff out to a few firms who's ethics and philosophies i really believe in like landon bone baker who is so actively involved in archi-treasures and the highschool architecture curriculum (which i also really believe in) but by and large i am finding it a little hard to find firms that i really want to work for...i'm also not doing an exhaustive search either. i mean there are a number of boutique architecture firms who's work i really enjoy aesthetically...and there are several others that do affordable housing stuff but i am sort of looking for something in the middle i guess...or something else all together. there's always joining the carpenter apprenticeship program and learning how to become a contractor...there is a community driven construction company (humbolt construction company owned by bickerdike redevelopment corporation) around the neighborhood that i might try to get up with.

google + sketchup = beautiful...

more here

stuff i saw this weekend

Hyde Park Art Center

their new building designed by doug garafolo right around the corner from one of my old higschools. he has a special interest in incorporating digital technology and architecture. i went for the open house but didnt get to see the "LED" facade thingy pictured. nice mix of design innovation with a down to earth community building. i wonder how the multifamily residential bldg accross the street feels about the LED but i assume its not that bright. despite the fact that it was an open house...the bldg was a ways from finished so...i'll have to take a trip back when its really done.

i also drove by and checked out this bldg. for the southshore drill team by john ronan (who's work i recently discovered and rather like)

have to go back with my camera and get a picture of the real bldg to post and also the context to see how wild it is to see a bldg like this where it is.

imagine living right next door...

my mom used to own a single family rehab project across the street from here. sounds odd right...the opposite side of the street is all single family homes. but the strip is really industrial with a lot of commercial bldgs. the bldg is exciting no doubt. again for a community bldg to be innovative always a plus. i don't like its treatment of the main street though...there aren't many windows at eyelevel and its a humongus wall. but props for taking risks and doing something different in the 'hood.

RIP Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs, Urban Activist, Is Dead at 89 - New York Times

i ran across this post on Jane Jacobs today while getting lost in a quagmire of kick ass feminist blogs in the course of looking into "feministing"'s call for new contributors below:

Feministing.com is seeking bloggers to join its
online team. We are looking for writers (not necessarily published and those familiar with blogging) to fill the following contributor positions: interviewer, reviews contributor and general contributor. contact: contribute@feministing.com

manifest: may 12

also mark your calendars for manifest

m7red: inundacion!

"buenos aires based architectural collective m7red has come up with a proactive tool for designers and planners called "inundacion! a board game that lets player try their own hand at solving the problems created by catastrophic disasters such as Katrina, tsunamis, floods and earthquakes. its not just a playful game but a project that is meant to foster conversations between experts and non experts. characters include: politician, policeman, engineer, anarchist, gaucho, immigrant etc. the game works using anywhere from 8 to 80 players divided in teams. each selects at random a previously established character, style and secret goal. team members must transform theseelements into a story which they present through icons on a map of for example, flooded buenos aires. styles range from the ecologically minded to the entrepreneurial, and secret goal can include any tak from starting a refugee angency to attracting tourist in the flood-stricken area."

courtesy of november 2005 art forum.

their profile on archinect reads:

Instead of designing buildings, we build forums that bring together both experts and non-experts to discuss the most pressing political and urban topics: from total economic collapse to healthcare in a post-welfare state.

In the past five years, we have used eclectic cultural forms – games, karaoke, conversation – to challenge the city-state monopoly on urban planning and urbanity. Since architecture is a social product, m7red creates situations for "site-itizens" to question the planning process.

house, home, identity

An evening of performance, visual art, and spoken word Lincoln Park Community Shelter guests and students from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Contemporary Practices: Art in the Hood class present their collaborative project, House, Home, Identity.

Monday, May 1
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church
600 West Fullerton Parkway
Chicago, Illinois 60614

The goal of House, Home, Identity? This project focused on the use of multiple art forms to examine oneself and one’s place in the world, and to participate collectively as makers of public image rather than as passive recipients of other people’s perceptions or misperceptions.

Chicago Artists Resource

just last week i saw a building up for sale a few blocks away with storefront, a studio behind and 2 apts above...i called to see how much it was given our in our never ending quest to find our dream live/work/exhibition space it was 489K. whoa. i'm sure thats a great price but...um. yeah, we realized thats a little ways off. then the next day thanks to our friend ton, we discovered CAR's Creative Chicago Space and Housing Expo over the weekend at the Chicago Cultural Center. The Expo featured over 70 exhibitors and 12 workshops all targeting “Chicago Creatives” – individuals and organizations in visual art, music, dance, theater, film, fashion, and media. The workshops provided an introduction to topics like: owning a home; starting a non-profit organization; financing a creative business; opening a theater; constructing a recording studio; storefronts for live/work and performance space, handling and installing art, and more. it looks like a great city resource...one to bookmark and check often.