toStephen Ross
dateMon, Mar 15, 2010 at 8:42 PM
subjectrevision
mailed-bygmail.com
hide details 8:42 PM (1 minute ago)
In my original proposal I wrote this:
“Through this study, I desire to incorporate my previous background and training in architecture with what I am doing now and the current path I have chosen to take in an effort to discover a new outlet and way to take everything in.”
The projects I assigned myself are not fulfilling this statement and are not what I want them to be. Simply ‘wanting’ stronger projects does nothing, I need to make it happen. The problem that I didn’t really think about and/or anticipate when I wrote this study was my access to the tools and resources to create good projects. I’m not in Austin anymore. (I’m not even in Naples anymore!)
I don’t have a studio space with pens, papers, desks, or exactos. I share a tiny studio apartment on Miami Beach lacking even the basics: desk, scotch tape, pins, pencils. No kitchen either (which makes my baking/cooking/recipe ideas out the window). I don’t have the woodshop. I don’t have the art/architecture stores in walking distance, like the Co-op or Asel or Breed’s. I don’t have a computer lab with the super fast and powerful computers with all those wonderful programs like Rhino or Adobe Suite, hooked up all those printers.
(Sigh).
I don’t even have a regular laptop, I have a netbook (no dvd/cd drive, no adobe suite, not much memory/speed, no printer). The unsecured wireless network at the apartment is weak and disconnects frequently, so I can’t even count on getting online at home most of the time. Miami Beach Public Wifi is inconsistent and blocks access to www.blogspot.com when I go to most coffee shops.
So the prospect of doing a project project, is definitely really difficult, and, well, expensive. These ‘little’ projects become big projects; they grow into these overwhelmingly giant architecture monsters. The three I’ve already done grew behind closed doors, in cabinets and under beds and I tried not to think about them until they came out from hiding (at the time I knew they would) and corner me and I thought/felt/screamed:
“Nooooooo! Please don’t eat me all up! Give me a sec, let me think…(how to feed you? How do I satiate your hunger…till next time?)”
I created these frankenstructures. I thought it would be super beneficial and intriguing to redo my old work, but it hasn’t been. It’s not that I’ve been counter-productive, but instead of redoing the past, I want to be present.
Proposition:
I want to study the built environment around me in Miami. There are amazing spaces, designs, movements, and buildings everywhere here, so I propose to submit small studies on them. I’ll go to the places and take pictures or walk or dance around and then do a little research about the history online and through public records. Then blog about it.
I’ll keep the same due dates and number of projects left (five) to start. If it turns out that the posts end up being really short and sweet, then I’ll do more of them. In addition, I’ll sketch something (whether it’s a figure from a magazine or a building or car) everyday. When I go home to Naples, I’ll scan my sketches in and post them.
It’s simple and might seem less ‘creative’ than the original proposed projects, but for me, right now, it makes more sense. I’m not going to be living here very long, and, obviously, I just moved here. So doing this will push me to get out and see and experience Miami instead of struggling to build/construct/create things in my tiny apartment out of materials I don’t have using tools out of reach with my hands tied behind my back. (And then beat myself up about the project not being on par with it's original.) And sketching--sketching will always be good for me.
Steve Ross, how do you feel about this?
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