I think it’s time for a craft project. 
I think it’s time for many craft projects. 

Craft project #1

I think this piece is a nice jumping off point.. But if I were to build it I’d make it a tad more refined. I’m sure the end result is what the designer was after, but, it’s just a little too… random for me. 

What would I change? I’m glad you asked. 
1. The shelf would not be on a gurney (base) attached to an IV (electrical cord) apparently making its way to a hospital. I would have to think about what kind of base my design would have, but it for sure wouldn’t be this. 
2. the drawers would instead be doors. Doors on pivots that can open and then slide back into the shelf. This way, letting the light shine though wouldn’t also be an obstruction and potential hazard. I imagine this method would also cost significantly less, considering the fact that I highly doubt that clear drawer material is inexpensive. Then again, a rotating / gliding hinge might not be the least expensive piece of hardware either. 
3. There would be a much better solution to that cord. No one likes looking at electrical cords. Seriously.

Craft project #2

These, as opposed to my first light up furniture example, are a lot nicer. 

If I were to build them myself I think I would make them look a little more sturdy. I’m a little skeptical of how flimsy their legs look.. But I think they might be made out of metal, which would resolve that issue. Either way, they still look a little disproportional. 

I love the stacking feature of these shelves/tables. I love the light element of them. They shed a wonderful glow. I also love that there is a solution to most of the power cords. They run through the legs and onto the floor. Muuuuch better. Much cleaner. 

The work that Tang Yau Hoong does is fascinating and beautiful to me. Especially the image above. 

Lights are a very “feeling” thing I’ve found. I have always been aware of how light can evoke emotion, but I didn’t completely understand this experience until it was my job to create it for other people without their realizing it. 

That is the cool thing about lighting and light design. Most people in buildings, but especially in performances (both on stage and on screen), are wholly unaware of the manipulations involving lights that designers create in order to make people feel an emotion. Those people just have the feelings but don’t correlate it with the light settings. Technically, that’s the goal. Or at least, that is my goal when I’m designing lights. 

Though, I must admit sometimes designing light elements for the sake of actually noticing them is just as fun. And is much less of an emotional thing as it is an experiential thing. I’ll file this under, a different aspect of lighting design, because, well, it is. 

Anyhow, this artist does a great job of capturing both the feelings I was talking about, but also capturing the elements of fun, and just because. Either way. I like what he’s done. 

It broke my heart a little bit to realize that this is a firm based out of Arizona. Arizona is one of the only places in the country I have absolutely no desire to visit. Be it the heat, or the fact that I’m irrationally terrified of scorpions, I’m not sure. 

Anyway, I’m a huge fan of this theater. Well, not such a huge fan of the sculptural roof. But it serves a purpose, so I guess I’ll overlook (under look) that. This place really seems to be an all inclusive center for arts. Which is a lovely idea, and the architects did a lovely execution of the spaces. The idea of incorporating lots of different art forms under one roof is very inspiring, and I think it has a lot of social merit as well. It makes it that much easier for people to gain exposure to multiple arts all in once place. Yes. yes. yes. 

I also love the set up of this theater. it’s tall and slender. In my opinion exactly the way a theater should be set up. There are three small mezzanines, which is a much better idea than one large mezzanine. It gives people a much better vantage point. higher is always better than farther when it comes to performances. Trust me, this is coming from a girl who’s spent days hanging off of rafters in the name of theater. 

I didn’t post pictures of the sections. But.. check out the sections if you want. The fly system for this place is gargantuan. I think for once, the fly tower is tall enough. Also, this is an example of a black box theater. 

Oh yeah, and an art gallery!!!? Oh, I love this place. I want to visit it. Evacuate the scorpions out of Arizona and i’ll check flights. 

Something I love about architecture, and architects is that it’s not all buildings. Or at least it doesn’t have to be all buildings. 

Take this firm, dEEP Architects from china. They made a light exhibition art piece. 

Architects can pretty much design what they want to, which is why I’m so drawn to it. Industrial design, interior design, art of all kinds, architects pretty much get the green light to go on a free for all at a hat store… And someday I hope to wear all of those hats I’ve been collecting. 

Fiber optics are pretty awesome. I’ve always loved the idea that.. light. and stuff. Can move through them. Mostly the lights, I love the way it looks. This art piece called “Heaven” is no exception. It’s very well done. And pretty cool that an architecture firm was the one to do it. 

I love theaters. 

That’s really all you have to know. I’m also obsessed with theater lighting (Ahem, lighting in general). I haven’t been able to get too involved for the last four years, but I really hope that my theater days aren’t over. 

Because of this love, I’m posting these pictures. Do I love the theater? Not really. Do I like it? Yes. 
Truth be told, I’m more of a black box kinda girl. But, to each his own.

Oh, I guess they redid the entry to this theater. I think that renovation came out nicely.

There is also a lot that needs to go into designing theaters. So much in fact that it really is a huge undertaking. Do you see the difference in grade in that section?! Yeah. Do you see how much height is necessary above the stage for the fly system? And it could probably be higher! It… can always be higher! The stage can always be deeper, the wings always wider. I would love to design a theater. Or at least be a part of it at some point. I’m not sure if I would want to only design theaters, but I’d at least like to try it. See how it goes. I’ve done positively everything else in them (Except sound. Never cared about sound.), I might as well make them too! 

Interesting acoustical elements. Acoustics are so interesting! There is so much science that goes behind them. It’s such an involved process. My hat is off to any sound engineer who can figure it all out. 

If study abroad taught me ONE thing, and one thing only. It would be: 

It can be done. 

All throughout school (and life), studio teachers, and regular people have constantly told me “That can’t happen.” “That wont stand up” “Those don’t exist.” “That wont work.” Etc. etc. 

I’ve so very over believing anyone who utters those words to me. 

I’ll post pictures with architectural examples as soon as I’m in the same room as my external hard drive… until then: Pallets. 

Oh look. More lights. Good. This is a good trend. 

Ok, so why the tirade about can’t vs. possible? 

TWO SUMMERS AGO. I had it in my head that using pallets for all kinds of things would be an awesome idea. I was in the midst of building a bunch of furniture and why not? Farmers, warehouses, all sorts of places practically give them away for free. Especially once they start to break. They’re insanely inexpensive, and there are large quantities of them all over. Is there a reasonable argument NOT to try to use them for something other than firewood? No. 

But then I tried doing some research about if anyone had worked with pallets before to make furniture or anything else. The good ol’ internet was very discouraging. The people who had attempted to use them advised against it, and for that matter, so did people who hadn’t. 

THIS SUMMER. Oh!? What’s that!? Huh. Pallets are USEFUL. PLENTIFUL. INVENTIVE. Who woulda thought. I have my eye on constructing that chandelier like you would not believe. 

I’m not going to be persuaded out of my ideas anymore. 

There have been a few things I have not posted about yet. Among those few things are some really important themes that I care a whole lot about. A. Whole. BIG. Lot. 

Here is a very small example of one of those things. 

Lighting. 

If I’m not mistakin’ those shelves in the background there. They have individual accent lights. How cool. Really! Imagine the possibilities. If each shelf had a light? And they could be controlled somehow. Each shelf could have a different colored light even! Oh. LED lights. Yes….. Yes! 

It would be possible accent some things. Not other things. Add detail. Night lighting. Mood lighting. Oh. I love lighting. More than love. 

Anyway, the rest of this attic apartment didn’t really thrill me. It’s much too monotone. I’m also not sure about the net railing. It’s an interesting idea, but I’m going to have to give it some thought. 

I never grew out of making forts. 

Just ask my former suite mates.