Extension Of Shadow Box...

After the critique of our last project, we were then asked to cut our shadow box apart in some way-it was our discretion as to how it would be done. I decided to cut mine diagonally across its frontal face, to take the most advantage of the objects I would be basing the next project off of. Using those objects from the first box, we were to build a new model off of the lines of extension of the part of the box we cut. This new model had to fit into a 10''X16'' area, but was not limited as far as height. My model is above, and my guess is, that we will be using these models as a basis for our last project before Thanksgiving.

Shadow Box Precipitates Weekend Off

The same weekend as my voyage to Chicago, I was supposed to be working on a shadow box for studio based on the work of Jospeh Cornell (think 1940s-1960s). Cornell used events in his life, most often relating to theater, to create representations of the world in which he lived. His interactive boxes, often employing metaphorical meanings, made use of water, mirrors, sand, simplicity, detail, and color to relay Cornell's ideas to his public. All the pieces, made entirely at his home, were part of the life he created during some of the more difficult times in America's history (many of his earlier pieces were created right after the start of the Great Depression). But our job was to create, from a literary excerpt from a classmate, a response metaphor and later a shadow box based on the Cornellian style. And let me say, I received the worst possible excerpt possible. By Robert Frost. I hate Robert Frost. Hate him. If I wanted to write like Robert Frost, I could do so without much effort:

My name is Robert Frost and I love the trees and the earth. In fact, I came upon a golden wood last night and found that the two roads diverged and I went left and fell off a cliff and died a violent death and the world rejoiced.

So that's not how he would really write, but that's a summary of my sentiments on Robert Frost. My real excerpt was:

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both."

The metaphor I made up was:

"To take every path is read every book on the shelf of life."

Basically, one can attempt to take every path, can try to internalize everything they learn, but it is entirely impossible. Based upon our upbringing and education, we inevitably develop points of view and our outlook on life. We cannot take every path, but figure who we are based upon what we learn along the way. We should not desire to take every path, but to lead the best possible life in the time we have in the areas that we are knowledgeable in.

Anyways, using a parti (basic architectural form/shapes of a composition or design) I made the following shadow box:


The piece is meant to be overwhelming-all the different colored pieces represent different paths in life. It its impossible to internalize each and every path because there is so much going on within the box. The pendulum represents the passing of time and the possible changing of values or paths in life with age. All the shapes come from the parti.



This, one of two points of view into the box from the side, shows a cowboy wielding a gun (representing war) and a cross (representing Christianity).



The other point of view visually represented above, contains a gorilla (representing evolution, the contrasting view of Christianity) and a peace sign (the opposing view of war).

All of the different representations furthered the understanding of different paths in life, or different views one may hold based upon what they have experienced in their life.

After all this intense thought, all the architecture students were released for the weekend without another project! Yay! But I am sure one will follow on Monday...

Trip To Chicago!

I recently was lucky enough to be able to travel to Chicago over "fall break"-a lousy three day weekend Miami University allows its students in the middle of October-but nonetheless I had fantastic time. Before this trip, I had only been in the tiny, cramped neighborhoods of South Chicago and had not ventured to the northern suburbs or much downtown other than to the Field Museum (BIG fun to be had at the Field Museum-not). However, I was surprised by how clean downtown Chicago was (and how relatively void of homeless persons), the ease of use of the transportation system, and the striking array of building styles within its boundaries. Not to mention the excitement of the Magnificent Mile...


The development along the waterways within downtown seemed to be very strong. There was a TON of construction happening the day I toured with people from MU. This included work on Donald Trump's new tower and Santiago Calatrava's spire that supposedly will be around 2,000 feet tall (I think it was supposed to be finished in 2011-I'm not so sure).


This picture is of Trump's new hotel directly on the water. By the time it is finished it should stick out well on Chicago's skyline-our tour guide said it will be about twice as tall as it is in this picture (see far right).


The Wrigley Building (home to the Wrigley Company) is one of my favorite buildings in downtown Chicago. Not overly ornamental, it proudly displays an American adaptation of the French Renassiance style of architecture. Its beautiful craft and the gleaming white of its 250,000 terra cotta tiles allow it to stand out from its surrounding buildings. At the head of Northern Michigan Ave, it is also prime real estate.


I am fast-fowarding for the sake of time to the Sears Tower. From the water on the tour boat it was somewhat difficult to get a great picture of such a tall structure-but on the way back I took this shot. Such a simple design, the Sears Tower still is awe-inspiring and captivating. The movement from its base to each successively smaller piece to the white antennas at its top, the Sears Tower is the tallest building in the U.S. From its skydeck, it is claimed that one can see into four states (Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois).

*It should also be noted that I found my future home in Lake Forest, IL, about an hour north of Chicago. On Lake Michigan, it would most likely go for around $25,000,000. I'm sure my starting salary will cover that-no problem.

Building The Dream

This blog may have been created to appease my English teacher, but that doesn't mean that it can't be somewhat useful. Not only do I have to create my own website later this year for architecture studio, but I have to be skilled at the art of online etiquette. This blog will allow me to do just that...kinda test the waters, practice what works and what doesn't-not to mention see the reactions of other people. But most of all, it will allow me to show some of what we have worked on in freshmen studio at Miami University in Ohio, and discuss architecture in general. A diverse and constantly changing field, even now, I could never imagine myself doing anything else.

*No studio projects will be posted until I have permission...I do not want to do something I will later regret.