My To-D0 List of Summer of 2006 unveiled

Visa extension
Go to international office
Graduation requirement
Go to school and seek advising for graduation requirements
North Lawndale
Contact Helen Slade to determine deadline and upcoming events
Talk to Chandra about award money and guidance on project
Need to work on the writing portion of the project (summary of project)
Determine organizations and other contacts for further guidance and advice on project
Ask Ed and others for feedback on project
Revisit site in North Lawndale and also notes and other materials that you gathered
Research articles and other materials on North Lawndale
Determine what you need to change/modify/add to project
Think of what to do on project
GRE
Study flashcards on a daily basis (25 cards daily)
Writing sample (30 minute practice) Sunday
Review math formulas/problems from the GRE website
Review verbal sections from the GRE books
Practice problems with timer to simulate exam
English Class
Readings
Papers
Review for in-class essay on the 28^th (review material that you covered in class and brainstorm possible topics or outline)
Grad School
Research possible graduate schools
Obtain letters of recommendation
Write letters of inquiry about grad school programs
Get in touch with current faculty and/or students
NOMAS
Research site
Research program space, history, background history of film, ethnicity/demographics

"Sketches of Frank Gehry"

Last Saturday night, I went to Music Box Theatre to see "Sketches of Frank Gehry", a documentary, directed by Sydney Pollack, depicking his good friend and fame architect Frank O. Gehry's career as an architect. I love the film from the perspective of an architectural student and hopeful architect in the future. I admit I did not appreciate his architecture prior this documentary. Previously I have only seen images and photos and sketches and drawings and cad and many other resources through the mean of publishing and magazines and newspapers and books. I was always in doubt about his architecture as well as many others in the ear of Post Modernism. Particular in regard to Frank Gehry's architeture as usually depicted by critics as "Deconstructionism" theory of thought process in design as would to other architects like Bernard Tschumi, Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hadid, and others whom were and still are faslely been labeled one style or another. Nevertheless, Frank Gehry's architecture such as the famed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao as much as unique and beautiful, I had always in doubt of heavily engineered and overtly expensive for the sake of beautiful design. Supposely I perhaps did not appreciate the process that was involved in determining the final product of his architecture.

I happen to live in the city of Chicago where his presence was prevalent and instantly recognizable as by anyone who went and saw the Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion (or otherwise known as Band Shell). Last Friday evening, I was invited to see Jeffery Ballet performing with CSO at the Pavilion. Sitting under those steel tubing bracing Band Shell hoving over with handing surround sound speakers emerging and almost clashing with the numerous curling pieces of thin steel sheets (supported heavily on the back side as one can see) with titanium claddings bursting out from the performing stage, I was compel to emerse myself in the act and music and the absence of the structure and present of the crowd, which the art as presented itself is appropriate and quite successful. It is the public space that affirms the presence of the art and archtiecture that Frank Gehry's paper cut model would have probably depicted in his studio. I was blown by his ingenious deviation of conventional geometry and form unified yet fragment. I appreciated it more and more each time I wandered his architecture.

I would assert the movie "Sketches of Frank Gehry" attemp to achieve such conclusion as well. His architecture does not need to be explained by no other than Frank Gehry himself. His design emerges only working with suitable clients that he loves to work and associate with can only define more of his approach and process which his architecture will become. The New York Times's review of "Sketches of Frank Gehry" is also a positive note from film critics.

Crown Hall Exterior

Crown Hall Exterior, originally uploaded by alfavision.

This is where I have attended to pursue my undergraduate architecture degree for the past 6 soon to be the 7th year. It feels like I have been there for the longest time in my life. I hope is to graduate by next May of 2007 safely and legally without any implication on my legal status by any mean. Of course I will be okay, and everything will be fine. But the most of all, I am aiming to graduate with ambition and eager to get the hell out of this place before I got stuck. The pursue of my dream career as a procificent and derious architect will not be shattered by the prolonging of a merely undergraduate degree with many twists and turns on tuition financing as a result. The Crown Hall in my mind as much as I once had hated to be in will be my first stepping stone for anything in life and career. I mean anything I will pursue thereafter whether in architecture or in another profession will be a success. I will not falter by any means. I am determined in heart and mind to pursue at any will.

Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts

Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, originally uploaded by alfavision.

This was a photo taken when I was at St. Louis, Missouri, visiting a secluded private collection museum designed by a famous Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. This is one of many museum he designed in the world; however, this was the first time for me visting his building in the United States. Luckly when I was on a trip down to St. Louis, MO from Chicago, IL for a short 3 day weekend trip. I caught the glimpse of the museum just in time due the opening day for general public are only on Wednesday and Saturday (when i was there). It is a solemn and serene browsing throught pieces of art displayed on the way and on the floor. Unforuntately, no photography is allowed anywhere inside the building except for the outside. Therefore, I took a shot of this beautiful water pond that slowing waving away from the stone edge where i stood. The flowing water and the two sides of art galleries subframed the trees and sky beyond. It was quite incredible to stand on these paved stones listening to water and wind hollowing inside the silent space. It was powerful and yet deserving for I learned the price tag of designing and building such a piece of art (referred as the building itself): 65 millions +/-.

Free My Thought

Free my thought is my personal thinking process that goes on before a word is spoken in the world. I don't intend this to be anything useful to anyone even myself; never would i intend this blog to be read by anyone else but me afterall. I would like to remember what I am and was thinking at any time without interruption of events that occurs in life that might not be otherwise be worthwhile. I consider my thought is precious and philosophical yet weak and delicate. Sometimes I would have to type in speed to catch my train of thought like every second passing by. Silence would be a good thing, and usually a useful thing for others who do not want to bother by thoughts of abyss and deep thinking that provide nonsense knowledge. So my thought will start here and see how far it will take me if anywhere at all. Free My Thought!