SCI-ARC WAREHOUSE 20011 L.A. ON THE TRAIN TRACKS
LAST SEPTEMBER I WAS ASKED BY ERIC MOSS TO ATTEND A THESIS REVIEW. I COMMENTED ABOUT THIS VISIT TO SCI-ARC WITH BLOGS TITLED: SCI-ARC SCREEN TEST, I SHALL RETURN, AND I SHALL RETURN. THIS INVITATION WAS BASED ON MENDING FENCES AFTER 22 YEARS AND LOOKING ME OVER TO TEACH AT SCI-ARC.
AS A SCI-ARC FOUNDER AND PROFESSOR FOR 20 YEARS I AM PLEASED THE SCHOOL HAS SURVIVED AND IS CONSIDERED AN EXCELLENT INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A LOT BETTER.
I HAD HOPED THAT ERIC WOULD BE CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO WELCOME MY RETURN AND BENEFIT FROM MY VAST KNOWLEDGE AND TALENT. I PITCHED THAT I COULD ASSIST HIS JUDGEMENT IN AREAS HE HAD PREVIOUSLY IGNORED. BUT ARE NOW CORRECTLY IN VOGUE. I WAS PREPARED TO BE THE NICE GUY, LIKE A PERSONAL ADVISOR. MANY OF YOU EXPRESSED JOY OF MY POSSIBLE RETURN TO SCI-ARC. I PROPOSED RAISING MY OWN MONEY FROM GRANTS TO SPONSOR MY RETURN IF MY POSITION WAS IN PLACE.
AFTER A YEAR OF PITCHING TO RETURN TO SCI-ARC WITH PERSONAL MEETINGS AND CORRESPONDENCES WITH ERIC MOSS, I HAVE BEEN REJECTED. I GET SHORT ONE LINERS FROM ERIC DISMISSING MY RETURN AND QUIPPING IN SOME SARCASTIC WAY. I EVEN ASKED THOM WAYNE TO ASSIST MY RETURN, HE COODED HE HAD NO INFLUENCE ON ERIC, RAY KAPPE BACKED THE RETURN. MICHAEL ROTONDI, WHO HAS BEEN KIND RECENTLY TO ME, I APPROACHED AS WELL , BUT PROVED FUTILE . I SEE NO REASON TO WITHHOLD MY CONCERNS ABOUT SCI-ARC AND ERIC MOSS ANY LONGER.
ERIC HAS MANAGED UNDER HIS REIGN TO BUY A BUILDING AND MAKE A FINANCIALLY SOLVENT OPERATION. A HYPE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT GENERATES PULLING IN NEW STUDENTS AND INTEREST. ERIC IS A GREAT ONE FOR PROMOTING THE SCHOOL.
OVER THE YEARS I HAVE LEARNED IT IS FRUITLESS TO KNOCK SUCCESS, PEOPLE JUST THINK YOU ARE SEEKING REVENGE AND HAVE A SOUR GRAPES PERSONALITY.
YES I CONFESS TO BOTH, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEONE HAS TO TELL THE TRUTH TO MAKE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. EVEN IF THEY GET KNOCKED AROUND FOR SO DOING. , THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY OF BEING A CRITIC THAT TOUCHES A LOT OF FLASH POINTS FROM THOSE THAT FEEL THEY ARE ABOUT THE FLAK.
MY STORY STARTS WITH THE FOUNDING OF SCI-ARC. THE LATE BERNARD ZIMMERMAN BROUGHT RAY KAPPE TO POMONA TO HEAD UP AN ARCHITECTURAL DEPARTMENT AT CAL POLY ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOOL IN 1970.
I HAD A MODEST ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE IN VENICE DOING SPLIT LEVEL APARTMENTS AND HOUSES, THE MONEY WAS TIGHT, SO I WENT LOOKING FOR A TEACHING JOB, RAY UPON SEEING MY WORK AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE , IMMEDIATELY HIRED ME FOR CAL POLY. THE PECKING ORDER WAS RAY KAPPE, BERNARD ZIMMERMAN, GLEN SMALL, AHDE LAHTI, JIM STAFFORD, TOM MAYNE, BILL SOMONIAN.
CAL POLY POMONA STUDENTS CARDBOARD COLLAPSIBLE HOUSING, PISMO BEACH 1971 AHDE LAHTI AND GLEN SMALL FACULTY, LA TIMES
COMMUNITY 72 , CAL POLY POMONA , ECO PERSONAL STUDENT LIVING MODULARS, SPONSORED BY A GRANT FROM WHITTIKER CORPORATION
AHDE LAHTI, GLEN SMALL, BILL SOMONIAN, BERNARD ZIMMERMAN, BOB BROOKS FACULTY, TERMINATED BY RAY KAPPE BEING FIRED. THE SYMBOL OF THE REVOLUTION, AND THE BEGINNING OF SCI-ARC
AFTER TWO YEARS THE PROGRAM WAS CREATIVE, ADVENTURESOME AND GROWING, THUS BEING A THREAT TO THE REST OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOOL. THERE WAS A CLASH BETWEEN BILL DALE, THE DEAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COLLEGE, AND RAY THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DEPARTMENT. RAY WAS FIRED, RAY WENT TO COURT AND WON, BUT A MOOT POINT SINCE THE CORE GROUP LISTED WENT TO SANTA MONICA AND STARTED SCI-ARC WITH FIFTY STUDENTS THAT WENT WITH THEM AND 25 NEW RECRUITS. $1,500 A YEAR FOR TUITION. WITHIN THE REACH OF STUDENTS PUTTING THEMSELVES THROUGH SCHOOL. FACULTY $12,000 A YEAR INCLUDING DIRECTOR, BUT WE ALL STARTED FOR LESS UNTIL WE COULD MEET OVERHEAD.
BERNARD ZIMMERMAN WHO HAD BEEN VOCAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF RAY AND A NEW SHOOL, STAYED AT CAL POLY FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. I HAD BEEN GRANTED A TENURED ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR STATUS AT THE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE, BUT TO ME MONEY AND SECURITY WAS INCONSEQUENTIAL COMPARED TO PURSUING IDEALISM.
REVOLUTION WITH LIFE MAGAZINE COVERING. I IN RED AND BLUE AND RAY KAPPE TALKING TO REPORTERS.
OPENING SCI-ARC IN FALL OF 1972, WAS CHALLENGING AND EXCITING, THE ORIGINAL PREMISE WAS ONE OF FREEDOM, BUT SOON CHANGED TO GIVING STRUCTURED DIRECTION. THE FACULTY HIRED THEMSELVES OUT TO ARCHITECTURAL OFFICES TO TIDE THEMSELVES OVER FINANCIALLY. THE WAREHOUSE IN SANTA MONICA THAT BILL SOMOIAN FOUND AND THAT RAY PUT UP THE DEPOSIT TO RENT, TURNED INTO A WORKSHOP FOR ALL. IT WAS A FUN TIME AND THERE WAS A SPIRIT OF COMMON GOALS. THE FACULTY HAD THEIR DIFFERENCES, BUT RAY BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN HIS FACULTY BY SUPPORTING THEIR INTERESTS. A REFEREE THAT SAW THE VALUE OF DIVERSE IDEAS. THE PASSION WAS SUCH THAT PHYSICAL HARM WAS THREATENED IN THE CORE BOARD MEETINGS FROM THE AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITIES. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING SIGN FOR ME AND OTHER PASSIVE CORE BOARD MEMBERS, IN 1974 ERIC MOSS AND TERRY GLASSMAN WERE ADDED TO THE CORE BOARD ON A PERMANENT BASIS.
ACCREDITATION CAME SHORTLY THEREAFTER. RAY WAS A WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED PROFESSIONAL AND GOT THE BACKING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOL WAS A HOT BED OF INVENTIVE JUICES. IF A TALENT WAS IN TOWN, THEY WERE WHISKED TO SCI-ARC AND GIVEN A LECTURE, MEAL AND OFTEN A TEACHING POSITION. THE BUREAUCRATIC JUNK DID NOT EXIST.
LA GLORIA ORPHANAGE PLAY SCULPTURE FOR TIJANA, MEXICO. SCI-ARC STUDENTS, AHDE LAHTI AND GLEN SMALL PROFESSORS. L. A. TIMES
AHDE LAHTI CREATED A GRAPHIC LOOK. ALL OF THE FACULTY WERE BEING PUBLISHED, AHDE AND I HAD NUMEROUS FULL COLOR SPREADS IN THE LA TIMES ON STUDENT WORK. AT THE HALLOWEEN BASH THOM MAYNE AND JIM STAFFORD CAME IN DRAG.
AS THE SCHOOL EXPANDED AND BECAME MORE RECOGNIZED, THE FACTIONS OF SCHOOL BECAME MORE POLARIZED. ENVIRONMENTAL , SOCIAL, AND SENSUAL CONCERN VS TRENDY ARCHITECTURE THAT FLUCTUATED WITH THE LATEST IN VOGUE STYLES , THE 80’S AND 90’S WERE VERY HARD TIMES FOR ECO AND SOCIAL CONCERNS . RONALD REAGAN BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 1980 KILLED THOSE CONCERNS. A FUTURIST INSTITUTE WAS FOUNDED THAT I INITIALLY DIRECTED, BUT TIMES HAD CHANGED AND STUDENTS WERE HARD TO COME BY FOR SUCH PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH DAVID NIXON AND TERRY GLASSMAN HAD A SUCCESSFUL SPACE PROGRAM THAT WAS SABOTAGED BY DIVERSE FACTORS, AND IT HAD TO BE TERMINATED. TODAY ALL THE GREEN ISSUES RONALD REAGAN, THOM MAYNE, ERIC MOSS, MICHEL ROTONDI DISMISSED ARE THE RAGE NOW. SCI-ARC’S BEGINNING IS A BOOK ONTO ITSELF.
TURF TOWN ECO SOLAR ZONING CONCEPT GLEN SMALL, PROFESSOR, ASSISTED BY SCI-ARC CLASS OF STUDENTS 1983
ERIC AND I TAUGHT AN UPPER DIVISION CLASS AT SCI-ARC IN 1983. RAY LOOKED AT IT AS AN EXPERIMENT OF TWO STRONG EGOS. ERIC AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS THAT TERM. THE BIG WINNER BEING CARLOS OVALLE, A STUDENT WINNER OF A BART AMTRAK STATION COMPETITION. ERIC OFFERED HIM A JOB OF A RESORT IN THE DESERT ON ENDANGERED TORTOISE LAND, CARLOS REFUSED AND EVENTUALLY ENDING UP IN NICARAGUA WITH ME SERVING THE LESS FORTUNATE.
BART STATION COMPETITION, RICHMOND CA. CARLOS OVALLE SCI-ARC WINNER , GLEN SMALL AND ERIC MOSS PROFESSORS
BY 1987 THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL, RAY HAD BEEN DIRECTOR FOR 18 YEARS AND THE FACTIONS WERE RESTLESS. THOM MENTIONED TO ME THAT WHEN ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANTS CAME TO TOWN THEY WENT TO HIS OFFICE FIRST, NOT RAY’S. RAY DECIDED TO STEP DOWN AND GIVE THE REINS TO MICHAEL ROTONDI, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL STUDENTS FROM CAL POLY AND FIRST GRADUATES OF SCI-ARC, AT THAT TIME HEAD OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM AND THE PARTNER OF TOM MAYNE IN MORPHASIS. THOM WAS TOO ABRASIVE TO RUN THE SCHOOL. IT DID NOT MATTER, ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND SENUAL SIDE OF THE FACULTY NOT HIRED BY ROTONDI WERE FIRED WITHIN TWO YEARS. A DOCUMENT WAS SIGNED BY RAY KAPPE, SHELLY KAPPE, GLEN SMALL, AHDE LAHTI, JIM STAFFORD , BILL SOMINAN AND TERRY GLASSMAN THAT THEIR ORIGINAL RIGHTS OF TENURE FACULTY SHOULD BE HONORED AS PROMISED AT THE CONCEPTION OF THE SCHOOL IN 1972. THOM MAYNE AND ERIC MOSS REFUSED TO SIGN. AS RAY KAPPE HAS STATED, THIS WAS UNFAIR AND UNETHICAL. WHO CARES ABOUT FAIRNESS WHEN YOU HAVE THE POWER. GLEN SMALL, AHDE LAHTI, TERRY GLASSMAN, BILL SOMONIAN FILED A SUIT OF BREACH OF CONTRACT.
THE COURT RULED AGAINST THE ORIGINAL FACULTY, CITING SOME SCREW UP OF RAY KAPPE’S LAWYER BROTHER IN LAW WITH THE INITIAL FOUNDING OF THE SCHOOL PAPERS.
THE WHOLE THING WAS A SHAME, WITH A HIGH POWERED POLITICALLY CONNECTED LAWYER HIRED BY SCI-ARC TO DESTROY THE FOUR FACULTY WITH LIMTED RESOURCES. TOM MAYNE SHOWED HIS NOTORIOUS AGGRESSIVE VINDICTIVE SIDE. JUSTICE WAS NOT SOUGHT, JUST HOW TO MANIPULATE THE LEGAL SYSTEM. ALL OF US HAD TAUGHT FOR FOR TWENTY YEARS. THIS LEGAL INJUSTICE WAS NEW TO ME AND A KILLER OF A LESSON. ASKING MICHAEL ROTONDI, WHY HE HEADED THIS FARCE A FEW YEARS AGO. HIS REPLY WAS HE WAS YOUNG. THOM MAYNE WHEN INTERVIEWED BY LUCIA SMALL, MY DAUGHTER IN HER MAKING THE MOVIE ON ME ” MY FATHER THE GENIUS” IN 2002 GOT THOM ON FILM CRYING ABOUT HOW HE HAD ABUSED ME. SCI-ARC OWED ME $ 23,000 IN SABBATICAL PAY AT TIME OF TERMINATION . PLUS BEING OUT $15,000 IN LEGAL FEES AND OBVIOUS TENURE LOSS. ERIC MOSS PULLS IN OVER $250,000 A YEAR FROM A COLLEGE FOUNDED AND NURTURED BY FACULTY HE TRASHED.
SCI AFTER 1990 WAS IN THE HANDS OF MICHAEL ROTONDI, THOM MAYE, NEIL DENARI, RAY KAPPE,AND ERIC MOSS, THEY CONTROLLED WHO WAS HIRED AND FIRED BY EXPANDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH PEOPLE THAT SAW IT THEIR WAY. RAY THOUGHT HE COULD CONTROL THE DIRECTION, AND WHEN IT HIT HARD TIMES HE REVIVED IT WITH ERIC MOSS IN CONTROL. ERIC USED THE DIRECTORSHIP FOR PERSONAL GAIN AND KEEPS IT THAT WAY TODAY.
THOM MAYNE HAS MOVED ON TO UCLA, BUT IS STILL VERY CLOSE TO ERIC AND SCI-ARC AND BEING ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE PRESENT DAY?
IT IS ALL ABOUT HONESTY AND TELLING IT STRAIGHT.
SCI-ARC HAS A DIRECTOR WITH MACHIAVELLI’S TENDENCIES, I ONCE MENTIONED THIS TO ERIC, AND HE DENIED IT, BUT I AM SURE THERE IS A LONG LIST OF SOULS THAT WOULD BACK THIS STATEMENT UP. JUST A BRIEF MENTION OF WRITING THIS STORY A TON OF ERIC STORIES SURFACED, WHICH IS ANOTHER BOOK.
THE HYPE OF THE SCHOOL IS WAY DEEPER THAN WHAT I BRIEFLY EXPERIENCED LAST SEPTEMBER.
WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY I HAVE MENTIONED TO ERIC, BUT NOT IN DETAIL. ERIC SHOWED NO INTEREST IN ME ELABORATING.
SHADE CANOPY, SCI-ARC STUDENTS 2011 OYLER WU FACULTY
ONE OF THE COURSES I TAUGHT FOR FIFTEEN YEARS AT SCI-ARC WAS NATURAL STRUCTURES. A BASIC HANDS ON CLASS THAT COVERED TENSION STRUCTURES AND OTHER STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS. WHEN I APPROACHED THE SCI ARC PARKING LOT LAST SUMMER I WAS ATTRACTED TO THE SHADE CANOPY. IT WAS A SENSUAL STRUCTURE. JOHN ENRIGHT THE HEAD OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AND WRITING A BOOK ON KONRAD WACHSMANN A STRUCTURAL WIZARD THAT SPENT HIS LAST YEARS AS A PROFESSOR AT USC, ASKED ME AT A PARTY WHAT I THOUGHT OF THE SHADE CANOPY? I HAD NOT SEEN IT UP CLOSE, SO THERE WAS NO COMMENT FROM ME. I WAS TOLD THE INSTRUCTOR OYLER WU WAS A HANDS ON BUILDER GUY THAT THE STUDENTS LOVED. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY HAD BEEN PUMPED INTO THE CANOPY.
UPON EXAMINATION, I WAS AGHAST AT HOW CRUDE THE STRUCTURE WAS. FREI OTTO ,THE KING OF TENSION STRUCTURES WOULD CRY AT ALL THE WASTE AND LACK OF DESIGN. EVERY PART I EXAMINED MADE NO SENSE STRUCTURALLY. WHO WAS THIS DESIGN FACULTY THAT COULD LEAD SO MANY EAGER SMART MINDS ASTRAY. THE COMPRESSION MEMBERS OVER BUILT BY 1000% AT LEAST AND THERE WAS A TOTAL CONFUSION OF CLARITY BETWEEN COMPRESSION MEMBERS AND TENSILE SKIN. THE LIGHTNESS OF DOING THE MOST WITH THE LEAST TOTALLY ABSENT. THIS IS WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT OUT OF A POWERFUL HOLLYWOOD SET DESIGNER WITH A BIG BUDGET AND NO SOPHISTICATED UNDERSTANDING OF TENSION STRUCTURES.
THEN YOU TAKE THE DIRECTOR ERIC MOSS AND THE WORLD FAMOUS TOM MAYNE ENDORSING THIS SO CALLED CREATIVE STRUCTURE. JUST A BUNCH OF FLUFF WITH NO DEPTH. CHALK IT UP TO IGNORANCE THAT THEY ENTHUSIASTICALLY BACK.
NEXT I MOVED TO THE LOBBY OF SCI-ARC SEEING THIS SHIP HULL FORM MODEL, ALL EXCITING WITH NO FUNCTION OTHER THAN A SCULPTURE, MORE FLUFF.
I REMEMBER YEARS AGO SEEING A LARGE FACULTY CONFERENCE TABLE THAT HAD PIE SHAPES THAT FITTED TOGETHER THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL OBJECT PORTRAYED IN PRINT. I GOT A CLOSE LOOK AT IT IN THE LIBRARY. WHAT A MONSTER ! THE CHIP BOARD LAYERED SOLID SLIDING ON EACH OTHER. TALK ABOUT WEIGHT, IT MUST TAKE FIVE STRONG STUDENTS TO SLIDE A PIE PIECE AROUND. A JOKE. IT REMINDED ME OF GEHRY’S S CARDBOARD CHAIRS THAT PRODUCED AT LEAST SIX TIMES MORE WASTE THAN USED FOR THE CHAIR AND TONS OF LABOR GLUING EACH LAYER, MORE FLUFF.
WHY GLEN, DO YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT SUCH THINGS? BECAUSE I SEE IT AS EXEMPLARY OF NOT HAVING INTEGRITY FOR ARCHITECTURE.
MY EXPERIENCE ON THE JURIES WAS THE SAME. THE GRAPHICS BLEW ME AWAY AND GAVE THE ILLUSION OF STRUCTURES, BUT WITH CLOSE EXAMINATION THE STUDENTS DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE BASIC STRUCTURE? NOR THE FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMING. MORE FLUFF.
A CURRENT PROFESSOR AT SCI-ARC ASKED HIS STUDENTS WHAT THEIR FIRST CONCERN WAS WHEN DOING THEIR DESIGNS? THEIR ANSWER , WHICH COMPUTER PROGRAM TO USE FOR PRESENTATION.
THE SPECIAL STUDIES AT THE SCHOOL OF ROBOTS TO DRAW MARILYN MONROE, SEEMS LIKE MORE PHUFF PITCHED, BUT THE OBVIOUS FUTURE WHICH I WAS POINTING OUT BY TAKING STUDENTS TO AUTO ASSEMBLY PLANTS IN THE SIXTIES, SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.
THE FINAL KICKER FOR ME WAS WHEN JEFF KIPNES, THE WORLD CRITIC THAT HAS SOME SMARTS, CAME UP TO ME AND ASKED IF I WAS ON THE REVIEW GROUP FOR ERIC’S PET STUDENT ,THAT HAD DONE A MEGA PROJECT ? JEFF ADMITTING HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SCHEME AND STUDENT. SORRY I DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE TO ILLUSTRATE , YES ERIC HAD SLOTTED ME FOR THE REVIEW.
THE STUDENT HAD A LARGE STUDIO THAT HAD TONS OF BOLD DRAMATIC DARK PAINTINGS HANGING ON THE WALLS. EQUALLY PRESENT WERE POLYHEDRA MODELS EVERYWHERE. POLYHEDRA, IF NOT UNDERSTOOD BECOMES A TRAP OF WASTED TIME AND ENERGY. THE GEOMETRY IS INTRIGUING , BUT HOW TO USE THEM IN OUR PLANAR WORLD WHERE PEOPLE WALK ON FLAT SURFACES MYSTIFIES THE AMATEUR. THE POLYHEDRA S WERE ABSURD THE WAY THEY WERE USED. NO UNDERSTANDING OTHER THAN HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF WORK AND IMPRESSIVE MODULARS.
THERE WAS A LARGE PAINTING STARING THE CRITICS IN THE FACE.
INSTANTLY I KNEW THIS STUDENT NEEDED A LOT OF HELP, WHICH HE NEVER GOT. HE HAD GOOD HANDS, WAS ARTICULATE, AND TALENTED.
THERE WAS ERIC, JEFF, MYSELF AND MINOR CRITS IN THE ROOM. I MADE A CHOICE TO BE DIPLOMATIC.
ERIC STARTED OFF WITH ONE OF HIS SPEECHES GOING NOWHERE., BUT TO PRAISE.
I QUESTIONED THE POLYHEDRAS, ASKING THE STUDENT TO INVESTIGATE OTHER PACKING SYSTEMS. MY VERBIAGE OF TECHNICAL NAMES MEANT NOTHING TO HIM NOR ERIC NOR INTEREST TO INVESTIGATE THEM.
I THINK A VIDEO WAS SHOWN, BUT DID NOT SAY MUCH.
THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE STUDENT WAS PROPOSING. THE LARGE PAINTING WAS DARK, BUT SHOWED A SCHEME. I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS PROPOSING A MEGA POLYHEDRA SPACE FRAME OVER DOWNTOWN LA. HE REFUSED TO ANSWER, OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I WAS MYSTIFIED, IN ALL MY YEARS OF TEACHING I HAD NEVER HAD A STUDENT REFUSE TO ANSWER A QUESTION IN A JURY.
I DID NOT PERSIST AND ERIC COMPLIMENTED THE STUDENT ON THE EXCELLENT WORK.
JEFF KIPNESS GOT TO ME LATER AND TOLD ME HE HAD EXPECTED MORE OUT OF ME. HE WAS RIGHT. BUT I DID NOT FEEL THE STUDENT WAS TO BLAME, THE INSTRUCTOR WAS. HOW DO YOU CRITICIZE IGNORANCE.? YES, I CAN DO THAT. BUT IT LIKE KICKING A PILLOW, AND ERIC WOULD HAVE BECOME UNGLUED. I WATCHED JEFF HANDLE ERIC. JEFF BARELY TOLERATES ERIC AND ENJOYS TOYING WITH HIM AND LAUGHING A LOT FOR GOOD REASON. JEFF KNOWING WHERE THE POWER LIES, RELYING ON HIS WIT TO TEASE THE MONSTER. A COURT JESTER WARY OF HIS PLACE.
MY READ IS ERIC IS SCARED OF ME, WHICH I HAVE TOLD HIM, BECAUSE HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT AND BECAUSE I SPEAK OUT. HIS INITIAL STATEMENT A YEAR AGO TO ME BEING THAT I HAD A REPUTATION OF CRITICIZING ARCHITECTS. ERIC WAS HANGING OFF THE BALCONY THE NIGHT IN 1976 WHEN I TOOK GEHRY AND CREW TO TASK FOR NOT BEING SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE NOR ECOLOGICALLY CONSCIOUS. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT? ERIC THRIVES ON DOING THAT HIMSELF, SO WHY SINGLE ME OUT. CRITICISM IS HEALTHY AND SHOULD BE PROMOTED TO ADVANCE THE PROFESSION OF ARCHITECTURE.
ERIC HAS SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH YES MEN THAT HAVE LIMITED DEEPTH. THEY PROVIDE HIM FLUFF TO PUBLICIZE. HE IS NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH SERIOUS FORM GIVERS NOR ARCHITECTURE. IF ONE PICKED ANY OF SCI-ARC’S RECENT TRIUMPHS TO SERIOUSLY EVALUATE THERE WOULD RED INK EVERY WHERE. THE END RESULT LAUGHTER. SO SAD BUT TRUE.
AT THE GRADUATION WHEN THEY WERE HANDING OUT “THE BEST STUDENT IN THE THESIS PROGRAM AWARD”, UNDER THE SHADE CANOPY BETWEEN A BUNCH OF USELESS COLUMNS, ERIC MOSS’S PET MEGA PAINTER STUDENT GOT TOP AWARD. I FELT LIKE LEAPING OUT OF MY SEAT AND SCREAMING, “RIGGED SCAM” . I AM SURE THE AUDIENCE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY.
WHO IS REALLY CRAZY AND IS PAID AND RESPECTED FOR BEING SO?
THE PRESENT SCI-ARC TUITION IS OVER $33,000 A YEAR TUITION, A LIFETIME OF DEBT OR RICH PARENTS POCKET CHANGE. THE CURRENT GRAPHIC VISUALS BEACONING STUDENTS ON THE INTERNET IS THE FAKE TENSION SHADE CANOPY, HOLLYWOOD ILLUSIONS DIRECTED BY MACHIAVELLI .
GLEN
P.S.
THE COMMON ADVICE I GET IS TO NOT COME ACROSS AS A VICTIM, TO DO SO IS CONSIDERED WEAK . LIFE IS FULL OF VICTIMS THAT DO NOT CHOOSE TO BE IN THAT POSITION, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY CHEATS THEM OR BEATS THEM UP. A SIMPLE REVELATION OF LIFE. AGGRESSIVE TYPES OFTER GAIN CONTROL, BUT THAT DOES NOT VALIDATE THEIR NEGATIVE CONDUCT.
THE SECOND FALLACY IS TO CRITICIZE AN INSTITUTION AND DIRECTOR THAT IS SUCCESSFUL IN THE EYES OF SOCIETY. THAT IS THE CASE WITH THE PRESENT SCI-ARC, BUT AS I POINT OUT IT COULD BE SO MUCH BETTER WITHOUT THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS GAME NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED. A PHONY SITUATION THAT IS PREVALENT IN THE SOCIETY, BUT NOT CORRECT.
Hi Glen,
Interesting reading.
I have never been able to understand the saying “The meek shall inherit the earth”
My advice to you would be to move on now, live in the present and for the future.
“I bring hope, love and peace to those of you who believe in me. I am the future, I am just a second away.”
All the best.
PS: Trust all is fine with the other Eric.
THANKS, MITM
BEING AT PEACE IS SOUGHT BY ALL, BUT THE UNFAIR WORLD IS A CHALLENGE. MY RECOURSE IS TO BE MYSELF, WHICH IS TELLING IT STRAIGHT.
THE TASK IS SO FUTILE. MISLEAD MINDS IS A TRAGEDY THAT AFFECTS THE PRESENT AND FUTURE.
WISHING YOU THE BEST,
GLEN
These are the Glenn Small blogs I love, keep up this ‘healthy’ criticism.
HI CHRIS,
THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT. THE SILENCE IS PERPLEXING. I GOT SOME BACKDOOR INFORMATION THAT THE BLOG IS CIRCULATING, BUT NO BIG FISH WANT TO COME FORWARD TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT EXISTS.
I WENT ON GOOGLE UNDER SCI-ARC AND THE BLOG NEVER CAME UP. HOW STRANGE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN INTERWOVEN CONSPIRACY IN THE PROFESSION TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE CRITICISM .
I LOVE THE INTERNET. IT BRINGS ME A BIT OF SANITY BY AT LEAST SAYING IT MY WAY , THAT OTHERS LIKE YOURSELF RELATE TO.
I AM SO DELIGHTED TO HAVE READERS LIKE YOU.
KEEP CLOSE,
GLEN
Hi Glen,
If you google Sci-Arc there are around 45,500,000 results.
If you google SCI-ARC ILLUSIONIST this blog is on the first page.
thanks mitm,
what would be the proper way to come up under sci-arc and still retain the title?
sci-arc , illusionist
does it have something to do with date ?
glen
Not sure Glen. Tim might have the answers for you.
Check out this website which offers free courses over the net.
Knowledge is everywhere today.
https://www.coursera.org/#courses
WHAT”S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
Answer; Glen Small is not teaching here
more…
Why do people like ‘bad’ things?
People who never had a good meal or know how to cook
one prefer fast food. fast food is tasteless and bad
for you.
Rap music is just ranting with rhythm, loudly and
stupidly, mostly loudly. music reduced to the sounds
of anger.
Bad film. All action, fast edit, simple plots, no empathy,
cardboard characters. Films for idiots. Brain-busters
not Blockbusters
People who never been to a museum or art gallery
think graffiti is art.
A lot of population dont believe in anything other
than themselves. Their God is money
Is it any wonder that architecture students educated
in a visually competitive studio environment would
choose flash over substance? They see the successful role
models they try to emulate. A downward spiral of imitation.
Brand name followers
It takes years to digest philosophy, perfect design,
develop an eye, acquire a palette or cultivate taste.
the common thread that holds the answer to my query ‘why people
like bad things’ is lack of education. If anyone knew better
they wouldnt choose bad things. They would reject
ugly. Wouldnt give crap a chance. Education and
experience. Thats why we have teachers. to point that
out. Anything less is a disservice, or a con.
just a thought
eric,
puff the magic dragon lives on in a land of traffic jams, smoke and lies. so what is new? america the beautiful.
who am i to say is the real winner, served a hot tamale for breakfast, gazing into the jungle with dogs, chickens, and blue sky and not worrying about much other than staying home and not using gas.
designing the best chair of my life with scraps from a furniture factory. life is simple and beautiful, for the moment. watched the republican convention wrap up speech. talk about smoke and mirrors sold to the masses. have all the answers for how things should be. life simple the american way with all the multi color balloons that pop.
architecture as an art is low on the list of values. a odd specialty that kids itself about relevance. but to those so inclined a treasury chest for living.
yes, the teacher lives .
glen
Glen, there is a blogger on Archinect writing on “wholeness” in architecture. His blog mostly regurgitates Chris Alexander’s works, ie Pattern Language., Timeless Way of Building… you read some of the stuff I linked too
His blog has 59 comments in three days.
There is an audience
BTW what is ‘wholeness” in architecture anyway? The same as ‘unity’ of expression or concept? Social ans economic transparency as expressed in architecture and urban form? Back to nature aka organic connectiveness to Mother Earth?
What do you think? I think it is vauge, not defined clearly
eric,
on the recent blog on the thom mayne federal building in san francisco on archinet you made an astute comment, that i asked you to share, along with a ton of other people expressing their two cents as well. somewhere in those comments was referral to Christopher Alexander. the part i liked was that his buidings are real boring. so you can have all the jargon and formulas to rationalize a good building, but be out to lunch to bring delight and nurture people.
i think it is all one. nature, organic, green, sensual, max structure expression, function etc. it all makes sense to me and when i do it people enjoy it. it saddens me to see others misuse that achitectural power. but the average buidings by sincere architects are boring experiences. who are the real villians in the architectural profession, besides the clients?
glen
Glen,
this is the link to the comment that you liked on Perenials blog and later
discussion on Archinect of the Morphosis SF Federal
Bldg
http://archinect.com/blog/article/56177850/a-false-vision
This is my take. WHAT do you think of the architecture?
UNCLE SAM WITH A MOHAWK
perennial
Now that I read your essay (while awake) I see what
your argument is: the concepts whole vs not-whole.
But isnt the opposite of ‘whole’ just called ‘parts’.
The Morphosis building is clearly not the
‘whole-mess’ that you admire in experiencing
architecture. And like Rasmussen’s book of the same
title the perception and experience is disturbing in
a basic psychological way.
But your argument has this flaw. You are arguing that
the architecture should express an obvious or perhaps
even wholeness, which it doesn’t. The strategy here
is an assemblage of parts; layered, shifted, smashed
together, pulled apart, left undone, dynamic,
unsettled.
This is what Morphosis does. The attraction is how
the parts go together. Their buildings are visually
active.
The material palette of metal mesh, glass over
concrete frame is derived from James Stirling’s
Brutalist works, whose sources were Russian
constructivism. Stirling is an acknowledged influence
on Morphosis.
When i strolled around with friends that one late
afternoon wholeness wasn’t the word that comes to
mind. The night view with the office light on brings
out the buildings fractured aspects best.
My impression of the building is that has the ‘punk’
look down. It’s supposed to be a solar cooled energy
efficient design and it may be that. But the facade
reminds me of some graphic cliches you would find in
a punk-band flyer.
Overly gestured and trying way to hard to be edgy.
Rip, Tear, Slash, Crimp, Crack, Puncture. These are
the architects gestures of choice. The distinctive
Morphosis look of semi-transparent layered skins over
the main body comes off like lingerie composed of
perforated metal. Ouch!
How the public, the neighbors, sees the building is
another matter. The front has a large sandy dog park
where pooches do their thing. i dont think it is a
comment on the architecture.
As a new vision for a federal building this is a
hipper. and i suppose is more reflective of the
perceived tastes of the local San Francisco constituents.
Compared to other Federal buildings this is wild.
This is Uncle Sam now redressed with a mohawk.
eric chavkin
Hi Glen!
I am very sorry for the blatant abuse you were subjected to at Sci Arc; particularly since you were one of the founders and shining lights. In one of your feedback comments, I was especially pleased to read, “Life is simple and beautiful.†You then followed that comment with “watched the republican convention wrap up speech. talk about smoke and mirrors sold to the masses.†Granted you are entitled and qualified to critique your profession. I don’t feel, however, that your expertise carries over to critiquing the Republican wrap-up speech as “smoke and mirrorsâ€. On the other hand, perhaps you do qualify as you have seen little else since the election of 2008. Are you sure you want four more years of the same? Jim
DEAR JIM,
AS I HAVE OFTEN EXPRESSED TO YOU, I THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS IN THIS WORLD THAT WOULD HELP MOST ANYONE IN TIME OF NEED ,AND YOUR ACTIONS OVER THE YEARS HAVE EXEMPLIFIED THAT. BY ASSISTING A TON OF PEOPLE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME WHEN DOWN AND OUT. THANKS, THANKS, THANKS,
POLITICS IS VERY DICY, AND MY BIG HOPES FOR A BETTER AMERICA UNDER OBAMA HAVE BEEN SHATTERED, BUT THE ANSWER IS NOT THE REPUBLICANS. BUSH AND GANG PUT US IN THIS MESS. WHEN CLINTON LEFT OFFICE WE WERE AHEAD WITH A SOLID ECONOMY AND INTEREST IN PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS.
I HAVE NO ANSWERS, BUT I KNOW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEY ARE THE WORSE WHEN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS. THEY JUST CREATE HUGE ONES. THE WHOLE IDEA OF PEOPLE BEING FREE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT HAS SHOWN A VERY GREEDY WIN WITH WHATEVER IT TAKES. THE RECENT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN DEMONSTRATED THAT POLICY IN FULL FORCE. THE CONTROLS BY ROOSEVELT AGAINST SUCH THINGS HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY ALL THE REAGAN ONWARD POLICY TO FREE THE CORPORATE WORLD.
YOU ARE RIGHT, I SHOULD STICK TO ARCHITECTURE, BUT I VOTE TOO.
GLEN
Jim, In my experience conservatives, ie republicans are NOT into green architecture, conservation of nature, alternative energy. In my experience, if it benefits their pocket-book, maybe; if it benefits society a definite NO.
In my experience I have never met such a group of self-interested only, unimaginative and boring persons as self-identified republicans. It is as if the gene for empathy is missing, like a genetic disease.
In hard times this gang for greed just keeps on growing louder and more abusive, more negative. This morning I saw a group of small children setting a newborn kitten on fire — just to torture it to death. I was too late it died. Later i saw an old man, on the ground, yeah he was drunk , getting kicked and stepped on by a couple of teenagers.
I always hoped a better environment, and architecture should be that expression of better, can improve society.
If Republican win, it is open season on the poor and weak.
I equate ‘lassiez faire’ with ‘I don’t care’
eric chavkin
What I can never understand is how parties by the rich and for the rich come into power, when the majority of people voting are either middle class or poor?
Are the rich that smart, the poor that dumb or both?
mitm
you are so wise most of the time. it has been a mystery to me as well.
the poor and middle class want freedom, and the rich tout that. but the freedom allows the rich to be greedy and ignore the poor. it is a common pattern throughout the world. when it gets out of control, the populous rebel. roosevelt knew the poor were going to take over so he offered them the new deal, which had socialism behind it. it is a cycle that could happen again. a country’s self worth is judged by how they treat the less fortunate.
glen
DEAR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND READERS
TOMORROW WILL BE MY 75 BIRTHDAY. LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS AND I ENJOY THE TIME HERE. YES I CRY A BIT, BUT THE BLESSINGS I HAVE HAD IN MY TIME AS A FATHER, HUSBAND, TEACHER, STUDENT, SON, MAN AND ARCHITECT HAVE BEEN HUGE.
JUST TO LIVE THIS LONG HAS BEEN A TREAT. I AM IN NICARAGUA AND TOMORROW I WILL TRAVEL TO A BEACH SITE FOR A POTENTIAL DESIGN JOB FOR A RESORT ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE CLIENT CLAIMS TO WANT THE TOTAL GREEN SENSUAL NATURAL THING . YES IT WILL BE A FUN WAY TO CELEBRATE BEING ALIVE.
YESTERDAY WAS THE OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY THAT MY WIFE ORCHESTRATED AT HER TROPICAL HOUSE HERE IN MANAGUA FOR ME. I DID MY MOVES WITH ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK ETC. THE MUSIC WAS LOUD, THE WAY I LIKE IT AND NOBODY COMPLAINED.
I WANT TO THANK TIM BARNS, MY BLOG MAN FOR KEEPING MY BLOG ALIVE AND ALL THE REST OF YOU FOR READING , COMMENTING, AND REFERRALS.
WISHING YOU THE BEST.
LOVE,
GLEN
Happy Birthday Glen. Keep rockin’ n’ rollin’. I hope you get to build that resort and keep enjoying freedom to speak your mind and having readers and friends to appreciate it. You’ll never be mentally constipated.
WISHING YOU THE BEST.
LOVE,
ORHAN
Happy Birthday Glen.
75 years and still going strong.
Keep it up.
(No puns intended 🙂
Yes, happy birthday. three-quarters of a century. old as a rare coin. eric
dear friends and readers,
the 75 birthday has passed, thanks for all the emails and comments. the day started out black with the new hotel trip postponed for lack of confirmation, the stereo repair impossible, one of those days when you have to be very careful, things can get worse. but things changed for the better and the stereo suddenly was repairable and the trip to the swimming pool restaurant was three bucks and i got to float around spaced out with the soothing water thing. willie nelson, and johnny cash telling me all the things i need to know about life. my wife demanding i count my blessings.
when in the tropics with enough to survive, life has a way of sorting out the mind.
the glue gun in hand to make another design. what happens are all the possibilities to build fantastic visual delights. i have been doing that my whole life, but it is so simple now.
glen
http://inhabitat.com/frank-gehry-donates-100000-to-southern-california-institute-of-architecture/
how you feel about this brother?
DEAR CHRIS,
THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT FRANK GEHRY GIVE MONETARY GIFTS TO HONOR THE BEST GRADUATE STUDENTS WITH THE ILLUSION EDUCATION AT SCI-ARC. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND TIES RIGHT INTO THIS SCI-ARC ILLUSIONIST BLOG.
I HAVE A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH FRANK GEHRY, BY QUESTIONING THE RELEVANCE OF MANY OF HIS ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS . HIS LATEST RESIDENCE FOR HIMSELF BEING THE PRESENT CONCERN.
HOPEFULLY , WHEN BROTHER ERIC MOSS’S INFLUENCE IS MUTE AND THE FRANK GEHRY GRANT LIVES ON, THE BEST GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL BE HONORED.
GLEN
friends,
the gehry new residence in LA i referred to in my last comment was a mistake.
there is no new residence.
i guess this was an april fool’s joke in 2008, it pulled me in. the laughs on me.
the article on gehry giving $100,000 for prizes for best masters graduate work at sci-arc had a referral to this house on the same page. i did not read the date.
clever joke.
the internet is tricky.
glen
Glen , that kinda of po-mo parody went south 25 years ago. This relative recent 2008 April fools joke was lame even back then… and just plain dumb now.
AS most wanna-be architecture critics this plays to cliches and the audience ignorance about architectue
eric,
i am not convinced that this sort of thing is a mistake. in a way it was a forerunner to the Eisenhower memorial project. that is what drew me in. gehry going for realism for some of the statues etc and the cornball columns on the memorial. i was faked out with some tid bits that drew me in.
it falls into the comic column, which is healthy to put points across. when discovered, i could laugh and relate to the way the article was written. my serious side got a relief.
glen
Glen, Oh come on. The house is the metal version of the THREE LITTLE PIGS..straw..wood..brick…
The better parody would use cliche Gehry shapes and the materials: free standing abstract columns in front (ala loyola law school); his signature chain link like for diagonal window panes; swooping roof lines ala disney.. all within a recognizable McMansion form
;
eric
you are talking about you being able to do it better. i am sure you could. but the author was clever to make it look like a bel air ostentatious mansion covered with the titamium cladding and space engineers jargon of structure and the praise of a genius reinventimg himself.
i am sure you have a different take on gehry, but i find him all over the map, and i am not surprised by any strange thing he does nor the praise of critics. in fact this is one of his trade marks. telling kappe that” he thinks of what is right and does just the opposite.”
in this case, it was not frank, but a cartoon. it trapped me, that made me laugh and contemplate.
glen
Glen, just tuned in on a Huell Howser episode on Wind turbines generating electrical power. I immediately thought of Jack Park and Ahdi Lahti, and of course, the Wind turbine generator that was towed all around back then.
The story here is that SCI-Arc was at or near the cutting edges of eco-design, alternative architecture and energy ideas. Avante garde twice now three times (and again with robots)
ERIC,
IN 1976 WHEN AHDE AND I WERE PUSHING WIND GENERATION POWER AT SCI-ARC, IT WAS ALL SO NEW FOR ELECTRICITY, ALTHOUGH HOLLAND HAD BEEN USING IT FOR CENTURIES FOR WATER MANAGEMENT.
I AM NOW IN NICARAGUA WITH ROGER LEWITES, A SCI-ARC GRADUATE PUSHING AN ALL GREEN PROJECT THAT USES WIND TURBINES. GREG DAVIS, SCI-ARC GRADUATE , SAID IN NIGERIA HE IS USING A TURBIN SYSTEM FOR POWER GENERATION AND ADVISED US TO DO SO AS WELL.
THE PROCESS OF INVENTION COMING ON LINE TO ACTUALLY USE IS A DIFFICULT MATTER. THE INVENTORS SELDOM SEE ANY BENEFIT, WHEREAS THE FOLLOWERS REAP THE BENEFITS.
ROBOTS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE, AS I MENTIONED I TOOK MY STUDENTS FOR YEARS STARTING IN 1965 TO THE ASSEMBLY LINES IN AUTO FACTORIES WHERE ROBOTS WERE HAPPENING INITIALLY. NOT A MYSTERY BUT COMING ON LINE NOW THAT THE ARCHITECTURAL WORLD IS JUST NOW DISCOVERING. I HAD AN EXCHANGE WITH THOM MAYNE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ABOUT ROBOT TECHNOLOGY AND HE WAS ALL PUFFED UP ABOUT BEING ONE OF THE FIRST ONES ONTO THE SCENE IN ARCHITECTURE. I HAD TO REMIND HIM THAT HE WAS JUST A KID WHEN I WAS PUSHING ROBOTS IN 1965. OH A BIG NEW IDEA, HYPE IT AT SCI-ARC AND DRAW MARILYN MONOE . I SOUND A LITTLE BITTER, HELL YES.
BUT WHAT YOU DO WITH IT IS WHAT COUNTS. THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX USES THE MOST SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY TO DESTROY OR DEFEND DEPENDING HOW YOU WANT TO CLASSIFY IT. WE IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY ARE STILL NAILING, SCREWING, BOLTING, AND HAND WELDING OUR BUILDINGS TOGETHER. OH YES , THE GREAT INDUSTRIAL HOPE THAT WE WILL USE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO HOUSE THE WORLD WITH THE GREEN STAMP OF APPROVAL.
YES WE CAN DO THAT ALL NOW, BUT WHY WE DO NOT IS THE MYSTERY TO ME? MAYBE BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROFIT IN THAT. I DOUBT IT. THE WORLD IS CORRUPT AND HAS A WHOLE SET OF VALUES THAT PREVENT REAL SOLUTIONS, MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY OF SAYING THAT.
MITM CAN SHED SOME POSITIVE LIGHT ON HOW WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
GLEN
I have googled Ahdi Lahti which sent me to this site.. My partner Col Jim Jones started the juried art competition “Ink and Clay” at Cal Poly Pomona. Ahdi wa one of the early winners, and I also purchased “blue hole #2” I am interested in possibly acquiring more of his work. How may I contact him?
Thanks
Bruce
Thank for the blog. I couldn’t agree with you more. The integrity of the school is waning. Moss claims a self-contradicting pedagogy of no pedagogy. That’s clearly not possible. As a student here, I never forget that this is a “non-profit” organization, and I never forget that I am digging a financial hole for myself, so I am constantly at odds with what I am getting out of this venture. I went to school because I wanted an education, not a degree, unfortunately the degree seems to be the more powerful of the two. My pursuits toward education have been stumped in favor of producing architectural imagery many many times.
The school continually profits off of the student body by creating an environment of image. That image is not necessarily empty, but it is not nearly as full as it should be. The school producing that imagery mostly consists of architects who use it as a platform to spread their ideas rather than to support education. Quite often students are making their instructors projects rather than their own. As of now, in my thesis year, I know how to do 2 things better. I know how to make images and how to present, both of which are the devices that the school uses to get more students. This school is like a virus, and I have to support that because it’s the only thing that gives my degree validity.
sci arc student,
you are wise, which you should be thankful for. sit tight and finish your thesis, i hope it represents your values.
schools are a wake up call. what should happen to make students aware of the different possibilities in the profession and the complex personalities pushing them.
what is sought is a thinking human being. that has been trained enough to allow them to keep learning and develop a philosophy. if the school is slanted to create followers, it is a failure. time has its way of sorting things out. what happens are family obligations and needs that have nothing to do with the pursuit of idealism.
keep close, i would be interested in seeing your thesis upon graduation.
glen
comments this far down on the list are probably only experienced by Glen but…
having dealt at one time or another with each of the people mentioned by Glen, i have to say, SCI Arch is not now nor was it ever what I had hoped it would be. from an academic perspective, i loathe censorship. one of the truly unique quality of a free people is the ability to hear all sides and be allowed a choice. this is in fact Mr. Small’s position. Never did Ray Kappe, Ahde Lahti, Bill Simonian or Glen Small practice intellectual exclusionism. on the contrary the entire premise of these people was to try and span diverse thinking. This cannot be said of roto boy, mayne, moss or others involved in the history of the school. this alone is a reason not to give the responsibility of teaching to those who have not learned. i have explored ideas with Kappe, Small, Lahti, Glassman and others not mentioned. i have argued with mayne, roto boy and moss. one promotes true experimentation both abstract and real. one promotes manipulation of thought. SCI Arch can never be a domain of education much less of higher education when those holding the reigns were never educated enough to realize the beauty of diverse thinking, and the complexity and interest of that diversity in the raw resource that is the human mind.
Your blog does not load on iphone. Tried two separate iphones but it does not load.
It works fine on the computer.
You may need to check it.
Thanks.