the flavor of the month it seems...

more on Black women in architecture...in the AIA newsletter, brought to my attention by HAPE.

i sort of thought the other article would be more in this kind of format...lovely interviews.

archis

ran across this gem of statement in the recent "Talking Cities: The Micropolitics of Urban Space" monograph/mag and linked to archis.org :

"Don't ask what architecture can build for you; ask what it can do for you.

Don't wonder where you can find a client; ask where you are needed.

Don't cover architecture; discover it.

Architecture beyond Architecture:

Think about situations and opportunities that nobody has yet thought of.

Think about an architecture that would no longer respond simply to what is given: an architecture that would not be reactionary but actively pursue it challenges.

Think about moments when architecture can make a difference, even without clients, a budget or specific locations; by intervening with decisive concepts and powerful scenarios to shift deadlocked discourse and role play.

Think about architecture as a strategic intelligence, a medium for developing cultural concepts, a mode of thinking, a tactic for social intervention, a strategy to mitigate conflict-a weapon to fight a battle, a metaphor for the rest of the world.

Think about an architecture liberated from building.

Now go practice unsolicited architecture. "

That's statement that gets my blood pumpin....might have to make it a mantra =). There are a number of other great articles including one on itenerant architecture and one on the detroit collaborative design center...definitely worth the 19 bucks. pick it up.

actually...

so, i just got my own copies of the magazine. i actually don't think its so bad. i've heard from about 3 people who have described it as "bitter-sounding", "nothing-good was intended to come from it" and that it comes off as "screw the 'white male establishment'...but upon a second read...i guess i don't think so. i think its a grim statistic and thusly the article is a little grim. i mean, there are some pretty tripped out statements even in the editors statement that reads "most firms are committed to diversification even if it is to avoid a law suit." (wtf is that?!) but i don't think it was a strategic plot to make black women seem whiney and anti-establishment....i just think the article just falls short of outlining solutions. It also would have been interesting to widen this discussion beyond JUST Black women, as it does kind of seem like 'its a personal problem' and not that there are some sytemic things that are problematic period. Its kind of like the idea that racism isn't just of concern to people of color...it should be of concern to any human. But yeah, i would have like to have seen some actual statistics of how long it takes to licensure for your average person and average salaries instead of just saying my statements are 'complaints' rather than statements of reality. i mean, the fact that my law school counterpart is going to spend the same 3 years that I spent in architecture school and come out and make 3 times what I would make as an intern architect is plain wrong. by the same token...i'm not just concerned about money either...but the ability to do public+environmental good in my profession....i guess that's a concern with any profession. anyway, i talked to the managing editor who wrote the story and she said she was initially alotted a page for this...so i guess in that context it is a closer look than what was initially intended...its just that is such a deep issue that there could have been an entire magazine about it!=) it does still suck that she didn't take my direct quotes from my INTERVIEW instead of my blog which is a more informal source...my husband just got around to reading it and said the way my quotes were placed made me sound incoherent and like an asshole. i dunno...for that reason, i'll still submit my letter to the editor because i actually am not an ass and quite articulate most times.... i would be interested to know what the other women in the article thought about it though.

Architect Magazine

UMMMMMMMMMMMM.....I was interviewed by Architect magazine in their most recent issue about the underrepresentation of Black women in architecture . Wow.I am SO very disappointed in the choice of quotes. They didn't mention anything I said in my email interview, only my blog, and even from my blog entries that i referred them to (apparently a bad move and duly noted), they didn't mention any of the solutions I mentioned to the atrocious underrepresentation of people of color in the field. Nor did the article mention how my present position positively impacts the profession by preparing young people of color to be ,architects and builders with an environmental and social conscious. I specifically asked to view the article before it went to print and wasnt granted that request. I will be writing a letter to the editor and I hope for my sake (personally and professionally) that it is published. I really feel like I was represented in an unbalanced way in the article and I want to take this opportunity to respond. I do not apologize, nor am I embarrassed by my criticisms of the profession, but I wish that my dedication to righting the wrongs of the profession was more apparent. Instead words like, "complained" and "decried" are used to describe non contextual quotes and according to my friend and colleague who saw it before me...(yeah you would think they'd send a copy???)...i sound 'bitter' and like a 'rabble rouser'. i don't so much mind rabble rousing as long as its for something meaningful and transformative...which I think is what I'm engaged in.

Here is the exact text of my responses to interview questions

First, the basics...
Your age: 29

Architecture school:
University of Washington

When graduated:2006

Experience in the field:

total of one year (2 internships...one at Environmental Works and the other with a one woman architect Donna Brown AIA.

Your job now:

I manage the high-school architecture + construction education programs in the Chicago Public Schools. I work with 60 teachers who serve over 6,000 students on delivery and development of careertechnical education + partnerships within these fields. (http://www.etcchchicago.com/) The architecture program operates from a new curriculum partnership with the Chicago Architecture Foundation which focuses on green architecture (http://www.architecture.org/hscurriculum.html)

What made you interested in studying architecture?

Aside from my aesthetic appreciation of the built environment, my fascination with human intervention in the landscape, and (the problem with )privatization of public space...I entered architecture school as a speculative endeavor. My previous experience in social justice work and community based public art practice led me to wondering how to combine the two in order to use architecture in a subversive way to impact social change. My contention about architecture began with my assumption that the tools and practice of architecture are diverse and complex: Architecture is not limited to creating residential and commercial objects for consumption and thusly, the practice of architecture can also operate as a catalyst for new power relations.

What made you decide not to pursue a career in the field?

I haven't sworn it off for good. If the right opportunity comes along to do work that I believe in, is not wasteful and benefits the masses, and not just the elite...I'd at least consider it. However, this particular time in my life with the atrocious underrepresentation of people of color in the 'profession', I feel my time is better spent cultivating a new generation of architects and builders who will be skilled and experienced innovators with a social and environmental conscious. My priorities at this point are:

A) Educating and Exposing students of color to the breadth, scope and hands-on experience of design and building.

B)Exploring a creative practice that pushes the boundaries of what people traditionally define architecture to be toward something that is relevant to people who need it and not just those who can afford it.

Do you think there are problems endemic in the field that discourage architecture school graduates--and black women graduates in particular--from becoming licensed?

see this blog entries 7.22.2005 and 7.05.2005 one of which links to an archinect discussion which i commented on regarding parenting and architecture (I have two children 5+10mos.)...but basically I think the issues are exposure, mentorship, the convoluted and long path to licensure and the expense...both fiscally and personally. let me know if you need more information after looking at those blog entries.

(the other entry links to my response to the diversity study by the AIA from 2005...mentioned in the article)

7.22.2005

AIA diversity
the other day i sat for a 45 minute phone interview with a firm who is conducting a survey for the national AIA on the profound diversity issue within the profession. the woman conducting the interview was particularly stricken by the 1% of licensed african-american architects which has not changed in 30-40 years...also by the number of women in architecture school (usually 50/50) and the # of licensed women architects which also has a huge discrepancy. there were numerous questions but the final one was this:

what are the major inhibitors/barriers to people of color? (african-american in particular since she was focusing on my experiece and perspective) students/practioners in architecture and what can be done to resolve this issue.

my answer: major money and energy needs to be put into: early exposure to architecture in secondary and presecondary education to cultivate the interest and love of architecture, funding for students of color in the post secondary education process and MENTORSHIP like nobody's business.

a) exposure: given the percentages of architects of color, you are less likely to come in contact with an architect of color as a young person of color. your uncle, grandmother, cousin is not likely to be an architect. schools don't neccessarily promote architecture as a profession to pursue. for most people the main professions youth know about are: doctor, lawyer...maybe engineer. then there's teachers, law enforcement etc. etc.

b) funding/support:this is expensive! usually, if there are any, the grants, fellowships, scholarhips, assistantships are few and far between....let alone support in particular for the retention students of color. many students of color (and other students with financially challenging backgrounds) have to work and go to school. architecture isn't really something that can be done part time...and working and going to architecture school is brutal. i'm not saying some people can't make it work...i know many who do but its one more factor that makes it hard.

c) mentorship:the architectural education process is long and arduous. if you don't have someone rooting for you and pushing you it can be easy to give up. how many faculty of color are there? are professionals reaching out to students? as professionals are seasoned professionals reaching back to the newer generation?

d) payoff: the education, internship and licensure process in general is long as hell. and the resulting salaries are crazy LOW compared to the other "professions". for many people of color picking a career path usually is without the priveledge of "doing something you love"...conversely it is directly related to transcending financial struggle. those who don't have that financial struggle i think still are looking for a certain level of prestige that architecture doesn't offer.

Do you have a picture you could send me?

hmmmm. i'll have to track down a picture...the only pictures i have of myself are ones with kids in them! i'll try to get you something tomorrow...whats your deadline?

okay my bad for sending the picture that they published which in context with the others looks like I'm on CRACK....


BUT I ALSO SENT THIS ONE.