View Framed by Nature--Roosevelt Island, New York City

Going, Going, Gone--Roosevelt Island Gondala, New York City

Scroll quickly to see the progression.

A Tail of two Rats--Coney Island, Brooklyn

Vibrant Color Against Grey--New York, New York

Meanwhile, back in kansas...

Seeing in Unexpected Spaces--Crossroads Art District, Kansas City, Missouri

Love is the Answer--High line Park, Chelsea, New York City

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council--Manhattan, New York 

New York City is vibrant--a mecca of culture and the arts. Upon my first work-day in Manhattan, I was honored to be invited to the annual LMCC dinner, a night recognizing artists and innovative businesses of lower Manhattan. Over 600 professionals and art enthusiasts from the business, civic, and cultural sectors gathered under a common cause of transforming the district into a thriving cultural center. What a perfect introduction to my New York--a night of performance and talk of urban planning! I think I'm going to like it here. 

KC Graffiti--Crossroads Art District, Kansas City, Missouri

View Unintended--St. Louis, Missouri

A weekend getaway to St. Louis--the Gateway to the West--was the perfect 24 hours of relaxation and exploration I needed. However, upon my arrival, I was not expecting Gateway Park to be a mess of mud, bulldozers, and construction fences. The land where the famous arch stands is undergoing a major renovation which will add topography and area to the waterfront park. Needless to say, the park was somewhat desolate--a juxtaposition from when I last visited on a summer concert night when the lawn was scattered with locals and their picnic blankets. Despite the current state of the site, the arch is a true beacon of the city and can be seen from any direction into the city--it acts as a true iconic gateway.

Texas Tuesday--Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas

Stockyards and Cattle Drives--Forth Worth, Texas 

Light and Time--Kimble Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas

Seen At Last--Kimble Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas

During my first architectural studio, I was assigned to research Louis Kahn's Kimble Art Museum. Through my research, I became fascinated with Kahn's use of material, lighting, and attention to detail in all of his projects, and his work has been a source of inspiration for many of my designs. Three years later, I finally was able to visit the museum and architectural marvel for myself. Seeing the pictures of the building was one thing, but experiencing the playful illumination of the galleries for one's self is another! As others around me analyzed the paintings, my eyes were to the ceiling--the true artwork. The ceiling seemed to glow and beautifully diffused into the space below, creating a light atmosphere which contrasted the heavy sandstone and concrete material. What thought Kahn put into his designs! Even details such as the handrail (perfectly formed swirls) were of note. 

Leaping Back in Time--Fort Worth, Texas, Botanical Gardens

Spring begins with an old-fashioned road trip across Texas. First stop, Fort Worth. 

Subtle signs of spring are hinted at the FW Botanical Gardens--pansies in yellows, blues, and purples, chirping birds, and the faint sound of an orchestra playing the wedding march can be heard at the pavilion.The air is fresh with fragrant blooms and color is sporadic against the still-brown landscape. Excited children whiz past me, as I walk a tree lined boardwalk, their parents frantically trying to keep up. Others bask on the lawn, catching the first warm sun rays of the season. 

Antique Shopping in Historic Warehouses--West Bottoms, Kansas City

In the West Bottoms district just west of Kansas City, eclectic antique shops have converted a dead warehouse district into a trendy and vibrant area. Every first weekend of the month, these galleries open their doors for extended hours, creating a festival-like atmosphere as locals flock to find their next treasure and food trucks station themselves. The high density of shops in the concentrated few blocks makes it easy to jump from one storefront to another, finding knick knacks of all sorts and sizes. 

Letters from Abroad--Sunset Dr. Lawrence, Kansas

There's something special about receiving a hand written note by post. Especially, when the letter has come half way around the world. In the past month, letters have traveled in response from Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, New Haven, Oklahoma City, and Virginia to the Sunset Drive mailbox. Some are accompanied with photos and facts, bringing me a little closer to a culture other than mine--they're received with such delight. I wait in anticipation for what arrives at the doorstep this next month!

A Winter's Campus to Impress--Potter's Lake, University of Kansas

A Colorless Sunday--Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri

Winter in the Mountains--Azacilo, Bolivia

Today, with a snow coated ground and snowflakes dancing outside my window, I reminisce about wintertime in Bolivia--my summer working in rural Azacilo for Engineers Without Borders. At an elevation of 14,000 ft, the village of Azacilo is nestled in a valley North-West of the capital city, La Paz. The village has 27 families who speak the native language Aymara, with a few who speak Spanish. The mornings are cold and the sun does not peak over the mountains to warm the village until 10. I am awoken by a donkey braying and the sound of the dripping faucet uphill, which we need to fix. I lace my boots up and make the trek across the soccer field to the school's composting bano, which our group constructed a few years ago. I pause to stand on my perch to watch the fog fill into the valley like an engulfing ghostly wave--I feel immense calm. We eat a breakfast of bread, bananas,and oatmeal, and I drink matte tea to warm my body. After the tool bag is packed, we make our way up the mountain to our work site, the community dogs trotting happily beside us. As the sun peaks, the community members join us for the day's work activities. Together we work side-by-side digging, mixing concrete, and gathering rocks for the gradient filter, taking only a short break at 1 for lunch. As the sun sets and our day's work comes to an end, we descend to the village in retreat for supper. With the temperature drop, I curl into my sleeping bag atop a hay mat and soon drift into sleep, ready for tomorrow.   

Tangled Metal Against Grey--Nelson Atkins Museum, Kansas City

A Solid Ice Mass--Riverfront Park, Lawrence

Kansas takes on a new scenery during the winter--the trees are bare and the grass is a hue of dry and golden. The River, which runs north of Lawrence, and the surrounding reservoirs--Clinton and Perry--are frozen solid with no sign of thawing soon. However, the frigid state of nature does not seem to deter the explorers, at least those willing enough to accompany me on an 'arctic' adventure. 

Wheat in the Afternoon--Kansas City, Missouri

Living Walls--Paris, Lawrence

I am thrilled with the small connections I come across which connect my travels and home. The most recent connection is through living walls incorporated into architecture. I remember seeing large-scale living wall projects in Paris--both indoor and outdoor--encasing the exterior of a museum in a neighborhood near the Eiffel Tower and in Charles de Gaulle airport. The presence of these green spaces was surprising and delightful in a busy city setting--a breath of nature. Upon my return to my home campus, a green wall awaited me in the recently completed addition to the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning. The lecture hall, designed  and constructed by sustainable-minded Studio 804, incorporates many sustainable technologies into the design, including the prominent fern-planted wall spanning the back of the lecture hall. The presence is equally surprising (and delightful!) to observe in a classroom setting, and I look forward to where I'll spot the next living wall.

Postcards for Kansas--George Latham Trail, Clinton Lake, Lawrence

I have been in search for Kansas postcards. My recent travels abroad have renewed my sense of pride for the beauty of the Great American Outdoors, starting with Kansas--pride which deserves a better representation than tractors, tacky fonts, and the Tin Man. The thought of sending these postcards abroad to my new friends as a representation of my state is, well, a little embarrassing. Kansas is a state which deserves more recognition. With my camera, car, and hiking boots I am going to create the postcards that Kansas deserves.