Saturday, November 19, 2011

Virginia Tech College of Architecture: Visual Readings Exhibit, Lost Communities of Virginia


 Visual Readings: The Designer's Language
Cowgill Hall Lobby  --  November 17-18 2011

"On the occasion of recognizing the new book, Lost Communities of Virginia...a book sale and author signing features extensive displays of photography and hand sketches by Kirsten [Sparenborg] and many current architecture students at Virginia Tech.
Panel's of Kirsten's long history of sketches and photography are hung alongside the collective visual work by student residents of the Spring 2011 Semester at Virginia Tech's Center for European Studies and Architecture in Switzerland. Also included is recent student seminar work with analysis of three small town in Southwest Virginia: Shawsville, Snowville and Simmonsville.
This exhibit focuses on the core necessity that design education must cultivate an acute ability for visual literacy. Lost Communities of Virginia, and the ongoing work of our students to study, record and understand our towns, strengthens valuable research in making better human settlements.






Custon cabinet by my friend and former Architecture classmate, BJ Harris.
The best part was to speak to students and re-connect with Professors Egger (photo), Albright, Dunay, Clements, Braaten and Dean Davis.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Wedding in Pulaski Square

I've waited many months to tell the story of Melanie and Kenny. It's a good one. 
Pulaski Square  Savannah GA
Today is their wedding day. A year and a half ago, they lived in Savannah, just a few blocks from my apartment and a few doors down from my office. I must have walked past their door several times a day. But we never knew each other. They enjoyed walks down Barnard Street, through some of the city's loveliest squares. Their favorite was Pulaski. I think it has the best trees. 

I moved to a very small town near Washington DC. Shortly after, I received an order through my etsy shop for a Savannah postcard pack. I was surprised to see the shipping address was in the small town I was in! In fact, while the order was made, I'd been out for a jog and ran right past that house. Uncanny.
Melanie and I had moved from Savannah to this small town about the same time, living within a few blocks of each other again. This time, we made the connection! She sent the postcards to her beau, Kenny, who was stationed in Afghanistan to remind him of their good times in Savannah.
One of the postcards featured the block where they'd lived. Some months later, we used this image to design save-the-date postcards for the wedding of Melanie & Kenny. The wedding would take place in Pulaski Square.
Save-the-Date postcards by turn-of-the-centuries
Marvelous moments were captured and created by photographers Jade + Matthew who documented the whole wedding in splendid sequence. This image perfectly captures the vows exchanged under the boughs of Pulaski Square.
Photo by Jade + Matthew Take Pictures
Later, Melanie commissioned me to make a special drawing of Pulaski Square, featuring their names and wedding date. What a fantastic idea! She kept it hidden for several months until today when she will present it to her new husband as a wedding gift. See the little heart of branches at the top?
I love this Savannah love story! It makes me so happy to have been a small part of it.

Dec. 2011: This special Pulaski Square image later made great note cards for wedding gift thank-yous.