Perserverance, Perspiration, and Prayer

On Friday I turned in phase one of the "100 trees" studio project. The assignment was created to help us understand elements in the design of outdoor space by isolating and controlling individual components. The project explores the manipulation of three major landscape elements: vegetation (phase one), topography (phase two), and groundcover (phase three). We were given a flat, perfectly square one acre local site and were allowed to use up to 100 trees of any single species around a given theme. The theme was a single word that we each drew from a hat. There were words such as: opulence, relevance, reluctance, reliance, transcendence, acceptance, indulgence, emergence, compliance, etc. The word I picked was DECADENCE. My challenge then was to create a visual and spatial experience around that word. Everything about my design was to speak of decadence, which is "the process of falling into an inferior condition or state; decay, deterioration, moral degeneration." It was an interesting challenge! We were to create a 30" x 40" board using any medium of our choice with a plan view drawing of our space at a scale of 1"=10'-0", a small vignette sketch, a detailed sketch of the tree we chose, a brief concept statement, and any other pertinent information we deemed necessary to include. We also built a model using any medium of our choice at a scale of 1"=20'-0".

My design is accessible from all sides and starts with a repetitious solid square of trees that is intended to mimic a classical peristyle courtyard. As you move to the center of the design, the squares of trees slowly decay and break apart. Color demonstrates this decay from the outside moving to the inside. I emphasized the process of decay, so it is a rather measured falling apart of elements. The tree I chose, the Parrotia (Parrotia persica) has a slow decline into fall as its leaves move through a whole spectrum of color before dropping them in the dormant season. In old age the bark of the Parrotia exfoliates, peels, and flakes off in an interesting patchwork of color and texture.

One of the things that I enjoy about design work, or any creative endeavor, is that initial brainstorming period when there are many possible directions and dozens of ideas that may or may not be worth pursuing. I roll out a sheet of trash paper and an HB pencil and do some rough sketches, throw out words that come to mind, think about visual associations, imagine myself in the space, consider symbolic opportunities, and so on.

The design process also involves a lot of prayer and pondering and I am never really in that "zone" until I have put first things first in my life. It is a wonderful life lesson that has been replayed multiple times since I began my first studio in August. I simply spin my wheels and exert a lot of time and energy to no avail if I am not right spiritually. As soon as I acknowledge my weakness and take time for meaningful study of the scriptures and prayer, that conduit of revelation opens and ideas that are not my own start to flow. I know from personal experience that "ask and ye shall receive" is a true principle. I know from personal experience that miracles happen when I put God first in my life. And, it never ceases to amaze me how much He cares, even if it is just one project for one class that occupies just one week of my life. If it matters to me, it matters to Him, and THAT is a powerful and unchanging truth.