DORM LIFE
Winter 2021 marked my first quarter on the actual University of Washington campus, although it was my second quarter overall. Moving onto campus was a much-needed change of pace from the slow life of my hometown. Morning runs around campus, mutual aid volunteering in cold Seattle weather, work parties at the Society for Ecological Restoration nursery, and pizza at Pagliacci's are some highlights of my campus life. However, as many things changed, some things, of course, stayed the same, like a majority of each day spent in online classes or cooped up in my room, working on homework. I enjoy the lovely sights on campus and the few, but much appreciated, opportunities for in-person activity.
ARCH 201- My second design class
I found ARCH 201: Design and Representation II a much less stressful experience than my first design class, altough I still spent more time on homework for that class than any other class this quarter. I enjoyed learning new tools for my design workflow: Adobe Suite products and Rhinoceros (a 3D modeling program). I hope to use these tools in future design projects to enhance my representation and experiment with other styles.
ARCH 200 mainly focused on representing objects or buildings we see in front of us, while in ARCH 201 we progressed to creating our own designs and compiling them into neat and eye-catching boards. I found the first project familiar but also interesting, as I took on a second building study (a building study was our final project for ARCH 200). I was proud of my final board, and didn't feel the same stress as I did in the previous class.
ARCH 200 mainly focused on representing objects or buildings we see in front of us, while in ARCH 201 we progressed to creating our own designs and compiling them into neat and eye-catching boards. I found the first project familiar but also interesting, as I took on a second building study (a building study was our final project for ARCH 200). I was proud of my final board, and didn't feel the same stress as I did in the previous class.
However, the second project moved into unfamiliar territory as we created models to explore the effect of light on various building ideas. I created many models in the process, but no idea ever captured and inspired me much (the one that did the most was developed into the final design).
The third project inspired and excited me right from the start. Sam Kraft, our lead instructor (who made very engaging videos for students in all sections), told us to first create a collage displaying our ideas about poor use of water and our vision for a future healthy relationship with water. I enjoyed this process (and was happy with the quick sketch of a waterfall I produced for it).
When the full project prompt was revealed, my excitement grew even more - we were to create a building and/or landscape that holds over 200,000 gallons of water and also 'holds' an idea about water.
Deadlines for the third project crept up on us quickly, and I found myself cramming work in hour after hour to turn my design concept sketches to final designs. Despite constantly pushing tasks from one day to the next as work took longer than expected, I produced a board I was proud of and presented to the class and three guest reviewers from the architectural field. I received mostly positive feedback and left the class feeling accomplished.
Deadlines for the third project crept up on us quickly, and I found myself cramming work in hour after hour to turn my design concept sketches to final designs. Despite constantly pushing tasks from one day to the next as work took longer than expected, I produced a board I was proud of and presented to the class and three guest reviewers from the architectural field. I received mostly positive feedback and left the class feeling accomplished.
Although I am still uncertain that I will be accepted into the Landscape Architecture (LArch) program that I hope to join, my performance in ARCH 200 & 201 have reassured me about my design capabilities,and discussion with the LArch adviser encouraged me. And, if I'm not accepted, I am excited about the chance to learn more about restoration ecology through the Environmental Sciences & Resource Management (ESRM) degree. In theory, I will end up doing similar work regardless of which degree I end up pursuing.
DEEPENING MY ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
Unless my college plans radically change, I expect to have a 'Deepening My Ecological Knowledge' section every quarter. Although this quarter I was divorced from the specific region I intend to pursue design practice in, I finished the hand-drawn plan for the heritage garden I planted last quarter, and continued to engage myself in ecological education through a Landscape Architecture course and volunteer work parties for the Society for Ecological Restoration. The Landscape Architecture course - LARCH 361 - consisted of interesting readings and engaging lectures with inspiring images of existing landscape architecture projects. Despite its asynchronous nature, it was one of my favorite, if not my favorite, class this quarter. I also enjoyed frequenting the Burke Museum's Landscape, an example of urban native plant landscape design that is intelligently integrated into urban systems (ex. water flow on streets). I hope to watch its progress as the camas and lupine begin to bloom in the Spring.
Unfortunately, I was not able to learn much more about the Nch'i-Wána (AKA Columbia) Plateau region, where my design focus lies, during Winter quarter (since Seattle is a radically different ecological environment). However, I am, at time of writing, using my time back in the region to do so. I have enjoyed working in the native plants garden, which (thanks to the dedication of my parents) has begun to feature an urbanite (recycled concrete) and gravel path. The plants (the ones that survived, at least - luckily that's most of them) are beginning to pop up in early Spring, to my excitement.
My First honors course - HONORS 211
Honors 211: The Politics and Practice of Making: Art as a Tool for Creating Change was my first Honors course besides Honors 100. I found it engaging, if challenging at times due to my lack of experience and confidence in making art. The ideas explored were interesting and the flexibility of projects allowed me to connect the concepts in class to ideas I was exploring on my own. I think this allowed me to deepen my exploration of topics that I think of often, but this did keep me from exploring less familiar topics. I joked to a fellow student that I was a broken record or perhaps a one-trick pony (you may see what I'm talking about in the pieces I made for this class). The conversations with fellow students about historical instances of making, contemporary meanings, and personal experiences were interesting and enriching. The work of so many talented fellow students was inspiring and exciting. I was glad to experience this - collaboration and varied perspectives brought by different disciplines are some of the best things Honors can offer. Of course, I would rather have experienced the class in the physical presence of my fellow students, but I could say that for almost anything else.
The class balanced readings and videos about historical precedents with hands-on making, which helped us tie embodiment to reflection. Discussions brought reflection into the experience as well, making for a diverse class. The projects reflected this - two making pieces in radically different mediums (textiles and digital modeling) paired with a final essay.
The class balanced readings and videos about historical precedents with hands-on making, which helped us tie embodiment to reflection. Discussions brought reflection into the experience as well, making for a diverse class. The projects reflected this - two making pieces in radically different mediums (textiles and digital modeling) paired with a final essay.
My midterm textile making project, What I'm Waiting For, is made of used fabrics from the Seattle Recreative store and miscellaneous materials such as cardboard and plastic from ZipLoc bags. I regret that I never took the piece out into the sun to get a better photo. I hope to continue working on this piece later.
Reflection
On-campus living has been a clear improvement over living at home. Simply living in the same room as a peer has helped me to feel so much less alone, and I enjoy the times I spend hanging out with my roommate. Despite how limited opportunities to hang out with people in person have been (unless you are (wilfully) ignorant enough to put others' lives at stake), I was able to meet new friends and strengthen relationships with people I've only known online. I (like everyone else) still yearn for the day I can gather with my friends, closer than six feet, no masks, etc., but some opportunities has been far better than basically none. I've felt glimmers of the community of passionate, engaged, loving people that I long to be a part of. Sometimes I worry that I'll never get there, whether due to a pandemic that seems to stretch on beyond any estimates it will end, or my own shortcomings, or the Facts of the Universe.
The persistent loneliness that I've faced some days during winter quarter has felt even more crushing in comparison to the sheer lack of concern for others' safety showcased by many residents of Greek Row and other careless partiers. This is even harder to deal with since I can say with almost complete certainty that these people will never face anything near accountability for their actions. Privilege is a great shield to consequences. The persistent unfairness of the world we live in can feel suffocating sometimes, and I say that as a White male-presenting person who feels very little of the brunt of various systems of oppression. Music (especially the half-life EP by hollis), the inspiration my friends provide, and my hope and dedication to action for a better world help me to keep my head up amidst the barrage of atrocities. Of course, part of this feeling stems from how fast bad news can spread - I don't just know of the bad news of Seattle, I know about the bad news throughout the nation and often the world.
To try to fight back against inequities and oppression, I've continued my engagement in United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) and Institutional Climate Action (ICA). The ICA campaign - much more developed than the USAS one - has moved on at a steady pace against the obstinacy of the university administration. My engagement in this activism has waxed and waned due to my other commitments and wishes, but the people I have met through these groups continue to inspire me day by day through their dedication and loving natures.
As I write these words from my family home, I look forward to a return to campus, where I will meet up with my friends again and see the Spring developments on campus. My time spent home has been a refreshing break, and I'm ready to dive back into Seattle life. My decision to lower my credits (16 in fall quarter, 13 in winter) feels like the right one, since I've felt less stressed this quarter (despite some weeks that have felt very busy with schoolwork). I feel content, looking back at the dull sadness I was stuck in through much of fall quarter, and see that now I feel light and hopeful.
The persistent loneliness that I've faced some days during winter quarter has felt even more crushing in comparison to the sheer lack of concern for others' safety showcased by many residents of Greek Row and other careless partiers. This is even harder to deal with since I can say with almost complete certainty that these people will never face anything near accountability for their actions. Privilege is a great shield to consequences. The persistent unfairness of the world we live in can feel suffocating sometimes, and I say that as a White male-presenting person who feels very little of the brunt of various systems of oppression. Music (especially the half-life EP by hollis), the inspiration my friends provide, and my hope and dedication to action for a better world help me to keep my head up amidst the barrage of atrocities. Of course, part of this feeling stems from how fast bad news can spread - I don't just know of the bad news of Seattle, I know about the bad news throughout the nation and often the world.
To try to fight back against inequities and oppression, I've continued my engagement in United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) and Institutional Climate Action (ICA). The ICA campaign - much more developed than the USAS one - has moved on at a steady pace against the obstinacy of the university administration. My engagement in this activism has waxed and waned due to my other commitments and wishes, but the people I have met through these groups continue to inspire me day by day through their dedication and loving natures.
As I write these words from my family home, I look forward to a return to campus, where I will meet up with my friends again and see the Spring developments on campus. My time spent home has been a refreshing break, and I'm ready to dive back into Seattle life. My decision to lower my credits (16 in fall quarter, 13 in winter) feels like the right one, since I've felt less stressed this quarter (despite some weeks that have felt very busy with schoolwork). I feel content, looking back at the dull sadness I was stuck in through much of fall quarter, and see that now I feel light and hopeful.