Stuck in a studio rut? Then its time to Art Binge!!!

I am currently in architecture design studio II our studio is the students within my studio our competing for a real world project. We have been divided into teams each team is designing several Villas the winning teams villas will be construed in a development outside of New Delhi. I would to say more- but the contract I signed says that I can’t. Oh well, boo-hoo.

However that I can tell you that I am, and my competitors classmates are, experiencing studio burn out.

So in order to rekindle my creative energy I ventured out of our studio for a fine art binge.
I started at the Pei Ling Chan Gallery with Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Pulse spiral, an immense interactive lighting installation that responds to visitors heart beats. It was beautiful sensitive and extremely personal. The interaction between the art work and observer was intense and sublime. Watching those lights blink in time with my heart was a powerful experience.

Then I went to the Gutstein Gallery to see artwork by Mark Bradford, Andy Goldsworthy, and Do Ho Suh. The piece by Do Ho Suh , Gate- Small, 2003 was the high point of this stop. My stint as an intern at Art Pace, in San Antonio, familiarized me with the work of Do Ho Suh.

Then I warped up the evening with a lecture by Marina Abramović, the world renown performance artist. She read us her Artist Manifesto and told us about her life, her art, and the purpose and future of performance art.

a brief overview of the past few months......

I know it’s been a long time since I last updated my poor blog but I have had a very full plate and in the battle between life and blog life tends to come out on top. So I will try to fill you all in on what has happened over the last few months.

Last quarter I finished architecture studio 1. Our studio had an interesting project a renovation/total redesign of the SCAD Dormitory Oglethorpe House. Last year I had the displeasure privilege of living in this hotel turned dormitory, so needless to say I had very strong opinions about how this facility was the worst excuse for student housing in existence could be improved to enhance the academic experience and foster a sense of community among the residence.

We were given a lot of leeway with this project. We only had to retain about 40% of the buildings original structure and our final designs had to be compliant with ADA. I was very happy with my final design, and one of my final renderings was taken by the dean (I’m not 100% sure were or why he took it- he told me wanted to hang it in the building but I have not seen it since. Maybe it’s in storage with the NAAB selections, maybe its hanging in some deserted corridor; your guess is as good as mine)

(⇑ the "abducted" rendering ⇑)

Over the Christmas break I had some exiting hands on learning opportunities. I visited a materials yard and helped pick out materials for a little landscaping project in Live Oak County Texas. This was a wonderful opprotunity because it allowed me to see the real world cost of materials- which is a lesson they dont teach you in school, and knowlege clients will greatly appreciate.

I learned how to operate a bobcat track loader. I then got to apply my knowledge in practical applications like clearing brush, moving copious amounts of dirt and crushed granite, and loading railroad ties into truck- you know your everyday girly problems.

I also got my first real world design opportunity. My father is renovating an old ice house and turning it into his new office. Construction is wrapping up right now I will post final picture of the building as soon as I have them. For now construction images shall do.