Inpsired by: Architecture

After wanting to be a geologist in elementary school and then wanting to be a football player into my early Junior High years, I became very passionate about architecture a year or two before high school. I carried this passion for architecture through high school taking as many drafting, architecture and art classes as I could. My senior year of high school I hoped to take the construction class as well — but this would have meant having 9 classes a day with no lunch. I opted for lunch.

I went to college and began studying architecture. However, like so many of my peers I changed my major. I switched to studio art and graduated with a BFA. My reasoning (over which I agonized for an entire summer) may or may not have been entirely informed, but I don’t regret the decision in retrospect.

My passion for architecture has not waned. In fact, it has become more intense. I do think of going back to school for a masters degree in architecture or urban planning from time to time, but this isn’t realistic in light of our (my wife’s and mine) other goals in life. Thus, I hope on the New Earth I can study and practice as an architect and planner — among other things.

My fascination with architecture stems in part from the ubiquitous nature of design, planning and buildings and therefore our daily interaction with these buildings. The need for knowledge in a broad number of disciplines — culture, sociology, psychology, engineering, the arts and crafts, design, even geology in some cases — causes my interest to deepen further. For a building or community to be planned and executed well, this broad knowledge base must be utilized.

As my last Inspired by: post indicated, it’s somewhat difficult to point out in a palpable way how this influences my own mixed media sculpture. As I am able to get back into the studio on a more regular basis and produce work, my passion for architecture may become visible. But even if it does not become visible, it will remain a powerful influence in my life.

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