You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August, 2008.
did you see the opening and closing ceremonies at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing?
Beautiful weren’t they . . . Why yes, yes they were . . .
As a Designer I appreciated how the director of the ceremonies used color, his combinations were fantastic, the forms shapes and transitions from one color to another were outstanding.
I thought it was very inspiring, the creative artistry at work was really something. To be able to use color transition like that reminds me of the way Jekyl used color in her long perennial beds. Great stuff.
Oh, another, Roberto Burle Marx, the designer from Brazil and his color techniques in his fabulous tropical gardens.
I do feel sorry for one person . . . the director of the opening/closing ceremonies in London in 2012.
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Well it’s finally happened, I have spoken at conferences, workshops, and events all over the U.S., (and Canada I might add), and will finally be speaking in the state I live in . . . Ohio, Go Bucks!
CENTS Show, 2009
The folks at OSU have broken down, or have been besieged by my “fans” and have asked me to not only speak at the Short Course, (the 2009 schedule is not up yet)* but to get involved in something entirely new . . . Sunday 3 hour workshops. That’s right, 3 hour workshops, some in-depth time on a subject.
On Monday morning I am going to do one of those <1 hour talks; my topic, Selling High End Design/Build Projects. I might also add that this very same topic was done a couple of years ago and I was pretty critical of the speaker and the format.
Which means I have really opened myself up for becoming cannon fodder. What have I gotten myself into?
The Workshop
As I mentioned, the Sunday workshops are a new thing for the Short Course. I am going to talk about and we will discuss stone for 3 hours; Working with Stone: the Entire Process. I am going to guess we are going to do a little sketching for stone design, and how to use quick rendering suggesting to clients . . . possibilities,
I would also think I would show a case study or two, including using a 100-ton crane to install boulders up to 17-19 tons.
For me, workshops entail a lot of give and take so there’ll be no sitting around for 3 hours.
Too tough
It should be some fun, and I am going to ask that the enrollment be limited to somewhere between 30-40, I haven’t quite decide yet on the exact number. I was thinking an even lower number (25?). Heck, the way guys are getting away from stone (I guess it’s too tough for most folks), it may be a small crowd anyway.
Did I just say stone was too tough for most?
Particulars
January 25th-28th, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio.
As usual the show will be at the Columbus Convention Center. The difference is the Sunday workshops (25th). The Monday through Wednesday format is the same. With the gigantic CENTS Show thrown in.
Even if you don’t attend any short courses, the trade show is one of the, if not THE finest in the country.
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Addendum: * Speakers have been asked to send in the paperwork by August 22nd so they are a ways from finalizing the schedule. Heck this post is probably the 1st concerning the 2009 show anywhere on the internet . . . Hey! A scoop on my part!
Moleskine doodle using Itoya pens
Just killing some time one evening, in the moleskine sketchbook.
Still trying to negotiate the fine points of some talks and lectures. I hope to have some of this worked out tomorrow.
Not exactly Michael Phelps territory but I’ll take it.
A site listing the top 100 Architectural blogs(International Listings), has listed me in their top 10 Landscape Blogs, about halfway down. It is a very comprehensive list of sites related to architecture and design.
To be mentioned with Land+Living, the Dirt and others on that top 10(part of the top 100) list kinda made my day.
I’ve been wanting to send a shout out for awhile . . . so thank you.
I’ll try and earn my keep.
7 gold medal for Michael Phelps, courtesy LA Times
Last night; Friday night, there was an interview on NBC between Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz(wiki) discussing what it takes to win 7 gold medals.
There was a lot of back and forth between the two but what really stuck with me was the key . . the real key, to Michael’s success . . . it was imagination.
He used the word several times, he didn’t say visualization, on determination, or positive thinking. Not out-working everyone else, out eating everyone else, training techniques, etc.
Nope, none of the above, just good ‘ole imagination.
That’s powerful stuff, and a lesson that all of us can take from in our daily lives, and our work lives. The imagination to see ourselves in a positive light. To imagine that outcome of our relationships or projects, or designs to be the absolute best.
I always thought to be a good designer you needed several things.
- The ability to look at a site, understand the cultural needs.
- Visualize the end project and explain that vision to your clients. Visualize all you want but without a way to bring the client along in the process a project could fail.
- Being able to put your experience to use in a positive way.
- Use creative thinking to come up with unique. powerful, and effective solutions.
- The ability to LISTEN, to me this is very key to the process.
- I am now going to add to this; imagination. Imagine the end result. Imagine the clients reaction to this result. Imagine the look a lot of years down the road. Imagine getting those tough, challenging, exciting projects.
Imagination
This is a powerful idea and for me a very exciting one. I had not been one to use this word(concept) in the larger context before, and I have been missing out.
I can now imagine what it takes to get to those more challenging projects. Imagine using all my skills, knowledge, listening ability to greater depths to acheive better results.
So I say thank you to Michael Phelps(another write-up) for sledge-hammering me with this concept.
Just imagine the possibilities.
If you just got back from the APLD Summer Conference drop me a line and let me know how it went. Or if you feel like bitchin’ about the conference do the same thing.
Fell like shouting superlatives about the conference . . . .eave it in the comments.
Didn’t go?
Why not?
Leave that in the comments or e-mail me as to why it wasn’t worth your time or your hard earned dollars. I’d really like to hear from you
In the works
Stuff is happening in the background look for it in a big post on Monday . . . right here.
Where were you?
Out of the loop, doing the Summer thing, away from all apparatus and things electrical. If you’re a long time reader you know I take some time away from here in the Summer, but I’m baaaaaccccccck!
Still getting plenty of comments on “Trees we do not Like”, over a hundred comments. So time for something different. Let’s go off in another direction.
Speaking of trees we like:
[Illustration by Matthews]
This anthropomorphic tree-figure reminded me of the forest coming alive, and how long ago the was respect, mystery, awe, and respect for the majestic tree. From Giornale Nuovo I found this interpretation of a tree that was alive:
[By Pietro Ciafferi (1600-54), also known as lo smargiasso (‘the braggart’)]
My hope is to use this site to spread some info about the art and practice of Landscape Design. It is a very misunderstood profession; I do not cut grass like the next door neighbor's cousin who carries 3 mowers and a blower in the back of his truck.
I will also pass along comments on industry happenings, events, etc., and any maybe a few other adventures going on in my world-after all this is "my" blog. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Questions? Drop me an e-mail.
rick (at) whisperingcraneinstitute (dot) com
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