SHO-GLOBE - Alaska Design Forum JUNEAU

WOW -- finally recovered after working on the SHO-GLOBE project. ReBar from San Francisco came up to Juneau and created the project. This was apart of Alaska Design Forum's project titled COMMON SPACE, which addresses communal spaces within communities that is is underutilized. This space should be a place of engage and interaction, but unfortunately for many communities it is not and is really dead space.

It was an epic week of work. From massive production of a 20' x 14' x 8' inflatable structure that was self sufficient and and could be set and packed into two "backpacks" and moved throughout a community. A place for interaction.

Lots of labor went into this piece. It was amazing to see how people engage with the piece after so many hours of work. SHO-GLOBE had a life of its own. From seeing it live next the State building in Juneau and seeing suits come in, to Friday night at Folk Fest and seeing every kid jumping into it.

WOW. Blaine and Adam of Rebar put so much into this project. It was really neat to see. And also all the volunteers that dedicated their time and to all the people that were so excited about the project. The best was as we were walking to Friday evenings launch, Blaine and Adam were walking with the monsterous backpacks and someone says .... what is that and what are you doing .... they reply .. it is SHO-GLOBE. His response was oh SHO-GLOBE right on. Everyone in the community talked about the project. It was really neat to have a store front to construct it to the Juneau Empire and local public radio station really promote it. And the amazing thing was all the papers that picked up the article on the AP Wire. We were even on the cover of a Boulder Paper .. and in papers across the country!

Okay ... back to routine ...

well ... not really.

un/common & common space

It is that time of the year, I am working on a crazy alaska design forum project.

This year's lecture series theme is un/common ... focusing on inspiration from things, common and uncommon. We have a shortened lecture series, but will be presenting a symposium and design challenge titled common space, happening in April of next year. It will focus on common spaces in communities rural and urban across the state. Right now, it is set for five communities.

I created these dimensional letters with the help of Michael Gerace doing some very nice drawings .. and Insofoam, a foam company right here in Anchorage. The idea was to use the common word of common, create it in a material (that is locally made), have it share the common space, and be able to use the sculpture to create excitement and awareness for the symposium and design challenge.

With the help of Larry Harris, a photographer here ... and back up help of Mike Hondell, we photographed one location of them .. today we will do another on water.

Now I just have to bring it all together for the season poster that must go to the print on Wednesday.

Alaska Design Forum AIA 2010 Collaborative Achievement Award

Just recently announced - Alaska Design Forum has received the 2010 AIA (American Institute of Architects) Collaborative Achievement Award. A very cool honor to be listed amongst previous winners such as Metroplois magazine, Chicago Architectural Foundation, etc. The ceremony and panel will take place at the national conference in Miami in June.

Alta Bike

Okay we bought the bike. And it is one fast single speed.

Alaska Design Forum was selected (out of a hat) to be one of the four recipients of the profits from the Mayor's Charity Ball. Frost Produkt, from Norway generously donated the bike to ADF. Jan and Sondre Ustrad, the two brothers that started Frost lectured in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Great guys --- doing some really nice work.

Our's is green.

This is a funny promo photo.

ADF new season poster

Alaska Design Forum is starting its new season next month. I am sending the poster design to the printer next week. I will be playing with spot off-line varnishes to enhance the flat monotone light of winter. The sculpture was created up in Fairbanks last March.

First lecture is October 5th in Anchorage.

Latitude - Alaska Design Forum's Next Season

Work on next season's Alaska Design Forum design has already begun. This year an installation was created up in Fairbanks. Perfect weather helped this project come together, along with help from so many folks. I will post some new images soon. Nora took some great shots to make this piece work.