SMALL AT LARGE

MY WORK COMES FIRST, THAT IS MY LOVE !

I MAKE IT VERY CLEAR UPFRONT WHAT IS THE PRIORITY IN MY LIFE.

I HAVE THREE MARRIAGES, FIVE BLOOD OFFSPRING, THREE GRANDCHILDREN AND A TON OF RELATIVES.

CONTEMPORARY COMPUTER AGE LIFE IS SO COMPLEX THAT AN ARCHITECT NEEDS A LOVING MATE THAT HE TRUSTS AND LOVES .

MY PRESENT ARTIST WIFE CHRISTIAN, WHO IS FROM NICARAGUA AND A JOY TO BE MARRIED TO FOR FIVE YEARS, COMES STORMING AT ME A FEW WEEKS AGO SAYING SHE HAD A FRIEND DOWNLOAD MY BLOG smallatlarge.com AND READ EVERY WORD AND THERE WAS NO MENTION OF HER NOR HER WORK.

I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THIS WAS A BLOG ON MY ARCHITECTURAL WORK, AND WHEN I GET TO THE SECTION ON NICARAGUA I WILL BRING HER INTO THE BLOG. SHE ERUPTED WITH A REPEAT TIRADE AND COULDN’T CARE LESS ABOUT THE FUTURE OTHER THAN WHEN I GET TO NICARAGUA TO NOT SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE.

WE ARE ANIMALS, I READ A STATISTIC RECENTLY OF HOW MANY TIMES A DAY THE NORMAL MAN IS AROUSED. IT WAS ASTRONOMICAL.

BUT ARCHITECTS ARE A SPECIAL BREED OF ANIMAL. THEY SEE EVERYTHING. THE TABLE, CHAIR, TABLE CLOTH, CHINA, GLASSES, SILVERWARE, NAPKINS, NAPKIN RING, FOLDED NAPKIN PATTERN, CENTER PIECE, FOOD ARRANGEMENT, PLATE, CANDLES, LIGHT FIXTURES, RUG, WALL COLOR, TEXTURES, EVERY DETAIL OF THEIR MATES CLOTHES, FIGURE, MAKEUP , JEWELRY AND THE SETTING OF HOUSE, LANDSCAPE, RESTAURANT, MUSEUM, STREET SCAPE, CARS, CITY ETC. IT IS ENDLESS. AND THEY HAVE CONCLUSIVE OPINIONS ABOUT IT ALL. AND TO TOP THAT OFF THEY ENVISION HOW IT ALL COULD BE DIFFERENT AND PROJECT THEMSELVES INTO WHAT THEY ENVISION. ARCHITECTS ARE OVERLOADED WITH THE VISUALS AND STARE AT GRAPHICS, BEAMS, CEILINGS, CONNECTION DETAILS, GLAZING, VENTS, ETC. THAT NORMAL PEOPLE ARE OBLIVIOUS TO.

THIS VISUAL WORLD IS NORMALLY FEMALE TERRITORY, SO THE MATE OF THE MALE ARCHITECT MUST BE RECEPTIVE TO STRONG DESIGN OPINIONS. MOST MEN ARE CLUELESS TO THIS VISUAL WORLD AND WELCOME THE DIVISION OF HONEY TAKING CARE OF ALL THAT STUFF. AT FIRST THE VISUAL ARCHITECT IS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATIONALIST, SO MANY COMMON INTERESTS FOR DISCUSSIONS, BUT SOON DIFFERENCES OF OPINON ARISE AND THESE DISCUSSIONS CAN BE VERY SPIRITED AND CONFRONTATIONAL.

I WAS IN LONDON WITH A LOVE , TEN YEARS AGO, AND WE VISITED AN ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT AND ALL I COULD TALK ABOUT WAS THE UGLY DRAIN PIPES AND SPACE FRAME . MY LOVE COULDN’T HAVE CARED LESS. I WAS JUST A BABBLING ANNOYANCE.

I COME ACROSS INITIALLY AS A PASSIONATE SENSITIVE GUY. I’M FUN AND THE TYPICAL MIDDLE CLASS MALE. THE KIND THAT YOU CAN INTRODUCE TO YOUR FAMILY. BUT WHAT EMERGES AFTER AWHILE IS THAT I AM A REBEL. I AM APPALLED AT WHAT IS BEING BUILT AND HOW THE PLANET IS BEING RAPED. THAT GOES FOR MY POLITICS AS WELL, ALWAYS WANTING TO SOLVE, HUNGER, HOUSING , HEALTH, JUSTICE, EDUCATION AND ECO SYSTEMS. IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, HOW CAN YOU DO THE POSITIVE THINGS TO CHANGE THEM?

THE ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSION HAS A HIGH DIVORCE RATE AND IS A STRESSFUL PROFESSION. ARCHITECTS ARE HEAVEN OR HELL TO BE AROUND. THEIR CONCERNS ARE SO REMOTE. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THEM. THEY NEED MONEY, BUT DO NOT LOVE MONEY, AND OFTEN CARE LESS ABOUT MONEY. THE PAY IS RIDICULOUS.

AFTER 3 MARRIAGES AND A NUMBER OF SERIOUS RELATIONSHIPS, THE CLOSER YOUR MATE IS TO BEING AN ARCHITECT OR A PERSON IN THE VISUAL ARTS THE BETTER. LIKE ARTISTS, SCULPTORS, INTERIOR DESIGNERS ETC., THESE VISUAL MATES ARE MORE EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND BEING UPSET ABOUT AESTHETIC THINGS AND THE RADICAL SWINGS OF AN ARTISTS TEMPERAMENT. WHEN VISUAL PEOPLE CRIT EACH OTHER IT MEANS SOMETHING. WHERE AS A NORMAL PERSON’S OPINION DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING.

AT THE SAME TIME ARCHITECTS RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY TO PRACTICE THEIR ART, SO A MATE THAT MAKES CLIENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE AND ACTS AS THE GO BETWEEN TO EXPLAIN AND SMOOTH OUT THE ROUGH EDGES OF THEIR ARCHITECT MATE IS A PLUS. CLIENTS CAN BE A BORE. SO KISSING UP TO THEM IS A CHALLENGE THAT A SENSITIVE MATE MAKES HAPPEN, RATHER THAN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE. A GOOD MATE CAN BRING AN ARCHITECT BACK TO REALITY. MRS. WRIGHT HAD TO TELL FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT NOT TO INSIST ON BUILDING THE JOHNSON WAX OFFICES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE HE WANTED, BUT BUILD IT WHERE THE JOHNSON WAX PEOPLE WANTED IT IN TOWN, OTHERWISE HE MIGHT BLOW THE DEAL.

THERE IS A FEAR MATES HAVE WITH ME, THAT IS AT ANY MOMENT I WILL SAY SOMETHING ALARMING. IN NICARAGUA I WAS BEING SHOWN A RECENTLY COMPLETED HOUSE BY A COUPLE WHERE THE WIFE HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND FURNISHING. I TOLD HER SHE NEEDED AN ARCHITECT. I WAS BANNED FOR LIFE FROM HER WORLD AND SHE WAS WELL CONNECTED. THAT HAPPENED IN OREGON WHERE A TALENTED FAMOUS ILLUSTRATOR AND GRADUATE OF ART CENTER, WAS SHOWING ME HIS EXTENSIVE ELABORATE NEWLY COMPLETED STUDIO. I TOLD THE ILLUSTRATOR HE NEEDED AN ARCHITECT. HE WENT CRAZY ON ME AND POLLUTED THE COMMUNITY WITH HATE TOWARDS ME. IN BOTH CASES THE SUGGESTION OF ARCHITECT WAS MENTIONED BY ME TO GIVE THEM SOUND ADVISE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL THEY ARE ARCHITECTS AND GET CONTRACTORS WITH LIMITED SENSITIVITY TO CARRY OUT THEIR DESIRES. ME BEING DIRECT, GETS PEOPLE REELING WITH ANGER.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS IN FRANK GEHRY, I HAVE A NUMBER OF STORIES TO TELL ABOUT HIM. MOST MATES DO NOT WANT TO HEAR NEGATIVE STORIES ABOUT HIM AND THEY POINT TO THE SHAPES THEY LIKE AND THE FAME HE HAS. MATES LOVE POSITIVE THINGS. NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE ENORMOUS ADMINISTRATION FILE CABINET BUILDINGS FRANK BUILDS NEXT TO HIS MUSEUMS TO SHOVE THE STAFF INTO. I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT. THE MATES COUNTER, WELL DO YOU LIKE ANY ARCHITECT? I RATTLE OFF A LIST OF ARCHITECTS AND END WITH MY FAVORITE, MYSELF. THIS ALWAYS SETS THEM OFF. A HEALTHY EGO IRKS THEM.

ARCHITECTS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING BIG EGOS. IT DRIVES THE POPULOUS CRAZY. I JUST NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU START DELVING INTO SOMEONE’S  LIFE THEY USUALLY REVEAL A HUGE EGO THAT THEY KEEP CAMOUFLAGED. EGOS ARE NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL.

MILICA, MY SECOND WIFE, SAID BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVED, ” NOW GLEN – DO NOT SAY ANYTHING UPSETTING. YOU PROMISE? ” I WOULD THEN BLOW MY STACK. I WANT TO BE LOVED FOR BEING MYSELF.

PEOPLE RELATE TO ME BECAUSE OF MY DIRECTNESS, BUT IN THEIR PERSONAL WORLD THEY ARE SCARED TO HAVE ME AROUND. I ENJOY LET IT ALL HANG OUT CONVERSATION WHERE OUTRAGEOUS THINGS ARE SAID AND DEBATED, INCLUDING MAKING FUN OF ME. RECENTLY MY WIFE AND I WERE WATCHING TV ON A CLIP ABOUT A WOMAN IN LA WHO WAS 111 YEARS OLD. I SAID, I WANTED TO LIVE THAT LONG. CHRISTIAN JUMPED UP AND HUNCHES OVER TO MIMIC ME SHUFFLING ALONG MUTTERING I AM A GENIUS, I AM A GENIUS, I AM A GENIUS. I WENT INTO CONVULSIVE LAUGHTER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE KIND OF LAUGHTER THAT I FORGOT I WAS CAPABLE OF. THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL, WE TAKE OURSELVES MUCH TOO SERIOUSLY.

MY PLIGHT, AND I SEE THE CONSISTENT PATTERN, IS THAT I MUST HAVE A MATE WHO IS BEAUTIFUL, GREGARIOUS , AND INTELLIGENT. THESE WOMEN ARE NOT ONLY ATTRACTIVE TO ME BUT THE WHOLE WORLD. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THEM CONTENT. THEY NEED CONSTANT ATTENTION AND AFFIRMATION ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL AND DESIRABLE THEY ARE. IT IS A FOOD THEY HAVE TO HAVE. IT TOOK ME A LIFETIME TO REALIZE THEIR NEEDS AND GIVE THEM THE SPACE TO GET FED. BUT MY MACHO JOHN WAYNE SPIRIT OF GET AWAY FROM MY WOMAN, STILL REARS UP. LIKEWISE FOR SOME STRANGE REASON THEY ARE EXTREMELY JEALOUS AND NEED MUCH MORE FREEDOM THAN THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE.

THEY FEEL COMPELLED TO TELL ME ABOUT EVERY MAN THAT HITS UPON THEM. MAYBE THEY WANT TO BRAG ABOUT THEIR DESIRABILITY. I HAVE LEARNED, AFTER REPEATED SCOLDINGS TO NOT MENTION ANY FLIRTATIOUS HITS I GET.

I ENJOY THE ATTENTION THEY GET AND THE LAST DANCE SAVED FOR ME, BUT MY WORLD IS MY WORK AND THEIR WORLD LEANS TOWARDS THE SOCIAL SIDE. I WOULD RATHER LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWER THAN HAVE A BANAL CONVERSATION. FOR SOME UNEXPLAINABLE REASON MY MATES THINK THEY CAN CHANGE MY LOVE OF ARCHITECTURE TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR INTERESTS. MAYBE I AM TOO ATTENTIVE AND GIVING. I TAKE ORDERS WELL, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY THINK.

SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ARCHITECTURE. IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ARCHITECTURE. AN ARCHITECT MUST BE CONNECTED WITH THE SENSUALITY OF LIFE TO PRODUCE VISUAL BEAUTY. ARCHITECTS NEED TO BE SPONTANEOUS TO NEW IDEAS, CHANGE OF PLANS, CONCENTRATED WORK PERIODS, DISAPPOINTMENTS ETC. AN ARCHITECT NEEDS AN INTELLIGENT MATE TO SHARE HIS STRANGE WORLD . THAT IS ASKING A LOT. IT IS ALL SO COMPLICATED OUT THERE.

RECENTLY READING A BOOK BY LIBESKIND, HE TELLS THESE AMAZING STORIES OF HOW HIS WIFE ADVISES HIM WELL AND MAKES THINGS HAPPEN FOR THEIR INTERESTS. IN THE MOVIE POLLACK, HIS WIFE LITERALLY MADE HIS CAREER. A BOOK SHOULD BE WRITTEN ON THE SUBJECT, I NOTICE THAT LORD FOSTER’S WIFE OWNS A PUBLISHING HOUSE. NOT BAD TO PRIME THE PUMP. BUT IN MY CASE I HAVE WASTED A TON OF TIME, MONEY, ENERGY, BY DEMANDING A SENUAL WOMAN. THIS IS A DIFFICULT TASK WITH NO MONEY, QUESTIONABLE FITNESS, HUGE EGO AND WANTING TO LIVE IN A BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE.

CHRISTIAN MY WIFE IS PUSHING TO BUILT AN ALL OUT BIOMORPHIC HOUSE. TOUGH TO DO WITH LIMITED FUNDS AND A 73 YEAR OLD TIRED BODY.

I HAVE ALWAYS TINKERED WITH BUILDING FURNITURE AND MAKING REPAIRS AROUND THE HOUSE. THAT IS APPRECIATED BY ALL OF MY SERIOUS MATES. I GET BOWNIE POINTS FOR BUILDING THEM THINGS.

I WAS RECENTLY COMPLAINING TO AN INTELLIGENT STRONG SUPPORTER WIFE OF A FAMOUS ARCHITECT ABOUT MY STATE OF BANKRUPTCY, HOUSE FORECLOSURE ETC. HER REPLAY WAS, BUT YOU HAVE CHRISTIAN (MY WIFE). THAT IS TRUE. COUNT MY BLESSINGS.

MY ADVISE FOR THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS, BE IN NO BIG HURRY TO GET MARRIED. MATURE AND BUILD UP A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE AND ARCHITECTURE. WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MATE PERMANENTLY, BE SURE YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR LIFE . KIDS ARE WONDERFUL AND NEED UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. IF YOU DECIDE TO NOT HAVE KIDS, DO NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THAT DECISION. MAKE SURE YOUR MATE LOVES BEING WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL SIDE OF YOU AND CAN UNDERSTAND AND WORK WITH YOU. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL HUSBAND AND WIFE ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES.

THE RIGHT PARTNER IS ALL ABOUT COMMITMENT, SO THAT HAS TO BE PART OF YOUR MATING. I LOOK AT ARCHITECTS WITH LONG TERM PERMANENT MATE SITUATIONS AND ENVY THEM. THEY HAVE NOT WASTED A BUNCH OF TIME AND ENERGY CHASING THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM, BUT HAVE PUT IT INTO THEIR CAREERS AND STABLE FAMILY LIFE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AS ZOBO THE GREEK SAYS, “EVERYBODY NEEDS A LITTLE MADNESS”, AND MINE BEING FILLED WITH ADVENTURESOME TIMES WITH BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. IT IS GOOD TO BE ALIVE, WHAT FUN IT IS.

WISHING YOU THE BEST,

GLEN