Late post from Denmark.
This was a special trip because I got to be Emily’s research assistant for two weeks! Constantly inspired by Emily’s passion to explore her work and art and excited to see what other places it will take her and us!
Here are some images from my architecture studio this past semester that used author Bell Hooks’ essay “An Aesthetic of Blackness—Strange and Oppositional” as a precedent to begin a study of Black phenomenology and aesthetic exploration through space. As Hooks believes, aesthetics is not organic but an intentional consideration of the function of beauty in our spaces. “Black House and Universe” enters a site a family has stewarded for generations specifically to explore self-expression, cultural preservation, and beauty.
Where these projects originated as homes occupied and lived in by the family, their collection of personal art and generational objects has now transformed their spaces into a cultural center and museum. What began as an important human need has now expanded to become an archive of the family’s past, begging the question, what can a house be?
The thought experiment was inspired by the stewardship of land owned by my father’s family for generations in a time when black ownership was unrealistic in the South. Elements of these collages where sourced from images of my family on their land.
I’m hoping this is the beginning of a further study on Identity and Place in architecture and aesthetics. There’s a film in here somewhere too, but that’s outside of my wheelhouse.
Recently Emily and I had the opportunity to go back to Portugal this summer (sort of a blessed habit at this point), but what you may not have known was the why!
Last year, I started on a new career path in architecture quitting my job and beginning a master’s program at @cltarchitecture last fall. At the end of year one, I applied for a traveling fellowship offered by AIA Charlotte by proposing a specific topic of study in…guess where…Portugal. In what was a huge surprise to me, I received it!
Today, I presented a bit of my research and my trip to the AIAC. After sweating about it for a solid 48 hours, I think it went real well!
Anyways this opportunity was incredible and super affirming.
I can’t be thankful enough for the @uptown___fc crew that just keeps it on 10, always. @_annias congrats on the event! @freejolescharros@chrislomartire@nuuuke.jpg major props for the support as well. All the credit goes to these guys for hitting another event out of the park. Hope to get more stuff out soon and just keep building on what was always here. Vids: @chrislomartire
