Time Out's From Architecture

I am of the opinion that there is a very unfortunate aspect developing in studio culture. There is often a very noticeable change that students go through in their general attitude towards each other. It seems to me that as some students progress in grade level, they digress in the avenue of social skills. It is sad and almost frightening to see that the same person with whom you could have a decent conversation just a few months before is now more inclined to pass you by without even a greeting. Fortunately though, this disease has limited to small spores around the school, and for the most part, students could still come together and mingle as young adults should.

Whenever possible, a few students from the junior year get together, put the computers and sketchbooks aside and have a good time. And as is noticeable from the pictures, things can get pretty crazy. I believe however, that this is what studio culture needs a little more of. I believe that it is these social gatherings that promote genuine bonding, bonding that is at times desperately needed in a major that is at times rather intimidating.

Where The Heart Is

In St. Lucia, many people are very close to their extended families, and as strange as it may seem, siblings often times don't leave their parents' home until well into their 20's or even 30's. Though this happens purely for economic reasons most times, the habit ensures that strong bonds are built within the family. It also ensures that culture is passed on through generations since it is not uncommon to find three generations under one roof. But along with the great bonds that are built comes a greater sense of loss when someone goes away or passes away and so is the case with my now deceased grandfather.

I never really developed a true appreciation for my grandfather until about my late teens. Of course, he was always there and it wasn't a change in him that made me appreciate him more, but rather a maturation in me. That is why in my mind, the most sentimental item my family possesses. Papa, as we all called him, was a talented guitar player, he would tell us stories of him playing at weddings and other functions in his younger days. He didn't play much as he grew older, but whenever he did, it was always a treat. His fingers danced along the guitar strings as if he had never stopped playing. He had even tried to teach me once, I was a little surprised to learn that he actually knew the notes he would strum, as I am sure that music did not form part of his curriculum at school. Eventually papa did end up giving the guitar to me. Of course I always valued it, but since he is gone, I treasure it now more than ever.

The St. Lucian homes built during and before the earlier half of the 1900's had a very peculiar aspect to them. They were built with the kitchens as a completely separate entity to the rest of the house. This was because prior to this a lot of meals were prepared on pit fires. In order to prevent the rest of the house from smelling like smoke and at the same time prepare it in a sheltered environment, this was the only option. The trend continued even after gas cookers became more common My grandparents' home is one such example. The old kitchen isn't the most aesthetically pleasing thing you'll ever see. A brick wall enclosure with a dark blue exterior with a light green interior. The inside is equipped with a refrigerator, stove, and all the other stuff that would generally go into a kitchen. Added to this though, is a dining set and a few extra chairs at various locations around the room. During the day, this room functions as any normal kitchen, with regular food related activities taking place in it, but around six o' clock in the evening, the kitchen takes on a whole new identity. All members of the immediate family that live in close proximity to the house all gather in and share interesting events of the day or jokes that they might have remembered. The laughter is always loud and heartfelt and sometimes, so too are the arguments. This old kitchen has inadvertently become a sort of catalyst for bonding within my family. This kitchen in the past has also served as a reception area in the past.

As a predominantly catholic country, a child's first communion is quite a momentous occasion, equipped with cake, condiments, meats and all sorts of food and drink. Mine was no exception. That was the first big party I ever had. And all the hustle and bustle was taken care of from right inside that 10 ft x 12 ft enclosure. I guess that what makes my particular little corner of the world unique is clearly not luxury, but rather the joy we find within each other.

Making It Right "We Live In A Beautiful World But Ugly Souls Push The Buttons"

One of my great loves in this world is poetry, more specifically, dub poetry. Every so often therefore, I go on youtube to look up old excerpts from HBO's late night special "Def Poetry Jam". Topics written about by these poets are boundless, they range from the playful and frivolous such as Dave Chappelle's "Mr. Fong" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHbVu3ienHk) to the more hard hitting such as Oscar Brown Jr.'s "Children of Children" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5lIeU3P9gs). Of course after Hurricane Katrina, many artists did spare a line or two for the unfortunate victims but it was a poet called Black Ice who did a piece called "The Ugly Show" that really gave me a raw insight into the mindset of the average man in the poor, black New Orleans community (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrNl6JCbOEw). One line that really summed everything up for me - not only for this tragedy but in general - was " We live in a beautiful world, but ugly souls push the buttons"

The statement suggested that those people with the influence and financial backing to make a major difference in the lives of the less fortunate are often unwilling to do such.The poet is also disgruntled at the fact that the government finds time to take over smaller countries while its own people at home are suffering. So while multi-million dollar drones were sent into Iraq, enough regular boats and helicopters failed to make it to a disaster struck area on the mainland itself.

It is very consoling to learn that Black Ice was not entirely right. This "Making it Right" project, spear-headed by actor Brad Pitt, has shown that there are still some beautiful souls around and that in the face of adversity, you might still be able to find a helping hand. It is admirable how one man has initiated such a grand undertaking, and in the process solicited the volunteer efforts of architecture companies throughout the world (as to whether or not they are all genuine in their efforts is a different matter).

The hope is that "The Big Easy" will be restored to former glory, that the city will once again become solely synonymous with great jazz music, gumbo, crawfish Etouffee and Mardi Gras and shed its newly developed persona of the hurricane ravaged city within which sits a highly populated, poverty stricken and gang infested black community that is seldom given any reason to hope.

Author of books such as "Male and Female" and "Coming to Age In Samoa" Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." It is with this hope that we should go forward, not seeking a change in the entire world, but in one single community, maybe that's where it will all start.