-
Furniture Spotting on the Urban Savanna Draws Awe
I caught a glimpse of this from the corner of my eye as I was driving home from the grocery store last weekend. Like love at first sight, my heart started racing. I made an erratic u-turn, took my first right and bam, we were face to face. Up close, she’s even more magnificent: such majestic curves, and beautiful wooden grain. She sat alone under a tree with her leaf on proud display, almost triumphant. I took loads of pictures, like a spellbound tourist watching a lion lazying on the African Savanna, indifferent to my presence. That bright blue sky is nowhere to be found now. It’s been smoky and…
-
Back to the Future
When I saw these old, discarded chairs I slowed my bike and pulled over to take a closer look. I didn’t have much time because I was in transit, but I lingered long enough to imagine these chairs in their heyday. I envisioned a room with a happy hum of voices, people dressed up, laughter. Tables full of crudités and a big bowl of sherbet punch or a boozy eggnog. I pictured balloons and crepe paper leading to a banner signifying life milestones: happy birthday; welcome home; happy retirement. A record plays in the background. Life dances on… A perfect heirloom, chairs can be a token from one generation to…
-
Market Transformation or Cultural Transaction
We know how to account for embedded carbon and energy in products, but what about the cultural training to find beauty and seek potential in slightly imperfect things? Who provides the skills and training to work with existing materials rather than virgin ones? Our future climate reality will demand this mindset and this skill set. How are we preparing–do we see this as a market transaction or a cultural transformation?
