Richard III

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings;
Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.
Richard III, 5. 2

Daedalus

This is my new lamp. It's named Daedalus, after the Greek architect who created Minos' labyrinth. According to mythology Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned by Minos to protect the secrets of the labyrinth. In order to escape he created wings out of feathers and wax for himself and his son. They flew away from Crete to freedom, but the careless Icarus flew too high and the heat from the sun melted the wax in the wings and he fell to his death. Daedalus eventually landed in Sicily where he built a temple to the god Apollo and offered up his wings as a sacrifice.

Design as beauty and tragedy. It seems apropos to own it.

If I were a book . . .

I've always felt like I belonged in a Jane Austin novel, but I'm open to the possibilities. My tree is calling . . .

You're Siddhartha!

by Hermann Hesse

You simply don't know what to believe, but you're willing to try anything once. Western values, Eastern values, hedonism and minimalism, you've spent some time in every camp. But you still don't have any idea what camp you belong in. This makes you an individualist of the highest order, but also really lonely. It's time to chill out under a tree. And realize that at least you believe in ferries.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Gone Wilde

Being in England and travelling from Victoria Station has put me in the mood for Oscar Wilde. Here are a few of my favorite Wilde quotations.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
(Lady Windermere's Fan)

One should absorb the colour of life, but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar.
(The Picture of Dorian Gray)

To give an accurate description of what has never occurred is not merely the proper occupation of the historian, but the inalienable privilege of any man of parts and culture.
(The Critic as Artist)

But what is the difference between literature and journalism?
...Journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. That is all.
(The Critic as Artist)

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.
(De Profundis)

Hmmm, perhaps I should stop with that!

Read Any Good Books Lately?

I am a voracious reader. It's one of my favorite things to do and a huge source of inspiration. The only thing I feel like I've sacrificed this past year in school is my time to read. It's been so long since I've had the chance to pick up a book just for fun that I don't even know what I feel like reading. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I've Never Pretended to be Cool

I am such a nerd! School is out, it is a beautiful spring day, and there is nothing that I have to do. So where do I find myself? The library. And not the public library, the university library! It's one of my favorite places to be. I took back Display Design in Japan and Drawing Shortcuts, and checked out Architectural Drawing, Design Is. . ., and Interiors: Perspectives in Architecural Design. Next time I need to get out of the art section and wander around a different floor.

This is our library:
It opened last fall and was designed by GSBS, the firm I am about to start my internship at. Here is the lobby:


A study area. To quote Darrin, one of my professors, "That is one sexy wall."


A view from the Art Collection. There are skylights everywhere.


The building is a joy to be in.

This is our old library:


It used to look like this :


We've taken quite a step up, haven't we? The old library was dark and inefficient, but it was still sad to see it torn down. It's been here forever. This was my favorite doorway on the building's south side:


It's hard to read, but the sign says "Center For The Study of the Causes of War and the Conditions for Peace." It was an "emergency exit only" and now it's gone for good.