Saturday Market Momentum

(This is a post borrowed from Kim Still and her Eugene Saturday Market Blogspot “Saturday Market Moments” – http://eugenesaturdaymarket.blogspot.com/; thank you Kim!)

…the stuff that Market is made of… Please note: this virtual Market experience is not meant to replace your actual Market experience!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Saturday Market #19: The Deal With The 5¢ Deal

Sorry for the delay on this post, I know you’ve all been anxiously anticipating the answers to my burning questions! This post required a bit of research, calling out to the Internets for an archival photo, and was interrupted by SLUG Queens. But all that’s over now and we can proceed…

As you will recall, in my last post I was puzzling over the coincidence and feasibility of 5¢ Architecture and 5¢ Web Design from these gentlemen:

On Saturday afternoon I set out from my home base next to the stage for the far side of the West Park Block to get some answers. The booths weren’t next to each other this time, but they were both there, ready to give answers. Since I wasn’t actually asking about architecture or web design, I got those answers for free!

First I asked “How does 5¢ Architecture work??” The nice gentleman in the booth, who is actually Will Dixon’s co-worker Travis, explained that the booth is there to empower people to engage with architecture and make it work for them. You can ask a question about a remodeling job, about how to go about starting a project, or anything architecture related. Obviously, you’re not going to get plans drawn up for 5¢, but you can approach with a problem or question and get advice on how to move towards a solution. Of course the 5¢ Architects will be happy to enter a client relationship with you, if you so desire.

I also found out where the idea came from. We all remember Lucy’s “Psychiatric Help 5¢” stand from the Peanuts cartoon. There was even a “Lucy Booth” at Saturday Market for many years, run by a local mental health group. This is where the archival photo comes in, it was taken by Michael Connelly and is actually from the Oregon Country Fair version of the booth in 1986.

Inspired by the same cartoon, an architect in Seattle, John Morefield, set up an “Architecture 5¢” booth at the Ballard Farmers Market back in 2009. His idea spread through the American Institute of Architects, and locally Willard Dixon decided to start dispensing 5¢ advice at our Market last year. You can find an NPR story about John Morefield’s original booth here, or check out architecture5cents.com to learn more.

Meanwhile, way off in Austin, Texas, Will Alkin’s wife heard that same NPR story and told her web designer husband about it. He decided to try the idea with Web Design in Austin last February, setting up at the Barton Creek Farmers Market. The venture was successful. When he and his wife decided to move to Eugene, Will looked forward to seeing if he would be able to set up at our Market. As he was exploring that option, Market Manager Beth told him about the Architecture 5¢ booth, already part of the Market scene. So, on the morning of July 30, Will showed up to sell for his first time, and just chose a space he thought would be good. Will and Travis showed up with Architecture 5¢ in the next space. It was cosmic coincidence indeed! You can stop by Will’s booth for some 5¢ web design advice, or have a look at webdesign5cents.com.

So now you know you can still get something valuable for 5¢, come and get it!

Posted by Kim Still

A New Hat Mrs. Carnegie, they say, wanted a new hat for Easter, so she sent for Paris’s most famous capelier to come to New York and fit her. “And where in the church will you be sitting, Madame,” he inquired, “and what will you be wearing, and what time of day and what impression would you like to leave?” Finally, he took a crimson ribbon from his bag, fussed it around a plain straw bonnet, tied the bow just so, and put the hat on her head, giving it a forward slant. He held a mirror to her face; Mrs. Carnegie beamed. “Oh, Monsieur, it is perfect! How much do I owe you?” “Five hundred dollars, Madame.” She eyed him coldly. “Five hundred dollars for a ribbon?” He tugged the ribbon out of the hat, laid it across her forearm and bowed. “Madame,” he said, beaming at her, “the ribbon is free.”

I came across this anecdote while re-reading one of last year’s issues of Oregon Architect (a publication of AIA Oregon); Michael Fifield, FAIA, had included it as part of his AIA-Southwestern Oregon’s (our local chapter’s) President’s message.  His article was all about the value of design, and Mrs. Carnegie’s plight points to the challenge that arises when a knowledge-based profession is also a product-based profession.

It’s my humble opinion that the built environment around us – our homes, offices, community spaces, etc. – contributes in a profound way to our individual and collective happiness and well-being.  So, how does one determine the basis for a design fee?  If your new house fits your lifestyle, is an extension of who you are, and expresses the values that you hold dear, it’s worth is more than just the paper that the plans were drawn on; there’s value there, even on a subconscious level, that will carry on and nurture for years.  But too often the positive impacts that design can offer are not even considered, or are not understood, and long-term benefits are over-looked for the rewards of short-term gains.  I recently overheard a young architect saying that he thinks architecture actually belongs within the field of medicine (!) because of its effect on the human condition.  Maybe he’s right; it would certainly change how the public perceives the role that architecture plays in our daily lives.  Buildings shape who we are and have a tremendous impact on our quality of life.

Most construction projects being built today, it’s safe to say, are developer-driven; in other words, the bottom line of economics is the tail that is wagging the architecture dog.  As architects, we provide a service for developers and owners to produce buildings; this service-for-fee structure forces the architect to relinquish control of design.  Real estate developers are usually only concerned with the economic performance of a building, and focus solely on the immediate financial gains to be had at completion of project.  It’s too bad, because also considering the impacts that ecology and social equity have on a project can allow for even greater economic viability, let alone a more pleasing environment.  To regain design authority, perhaps architects should step-up and once again take on the risk of becoming developers as well – but perhaps this is another topic for another blog entry (!).

Well, as my yoga instructor always says, “May you all be blessed with radiant health and well-being!”  And, I’d like to add, so may the buildings that shelter you!

Baking Practice To me, designing is a lot like baking.  It starts with an idea, and ends with something you can sink your teeth into!  I gather and mix, push and pull, listen and share.  My hands are good friends, as is the wooden spoon and big bowl.  There might be a recipe to help guide me, but more and more I’m learning to trust my instincts, have faith in the process.  Tracking down the choicest ingredients is half the fun.  Sometimes I just have to go with what’s in the ol’ cupboards and experiment a little.  I know the more heart I put out, the more heart I put in.  A clean kitchen, a sharp knife, flour and water….  where shall I go today?  What will it look like?

Ooooh, an apple pie sounds good.  If I want it to taste good (and look good!), I know I’ve got to spend a little time and effort; washing, cutting, cooking, cleaning – I’m exploring ways to give life to my life.  Everyone and everything is on board.  Why is presentation so important?  Do we taste with our eyes too?

I’m starting to see it now; it’s taking shape right before me.  How do I know what to do?  How do any of us do what we don’t already know how to do?  Sunlight through the window; warmth from the oven.  My nose tells me that there’s something good cooking; the smell is almost enough just by itself.  Keep the energy going!  Don’t mess up!  Let’s go by the fire while we wait, forget for a moment; dream….

DING!  There it is. Another job well done.  Gotta let it cool before the big presentation.  I hope folks like it; more importantly, do I?  Yes!

Perhaps it’s more about the process than the final product; but, yes, thank you, I think I will have a scoop of ice cream with mine!

I Love Lucy Lucy from Peanuts had it right; you don’t need anything fancy, just a simple booth and a can is all that’s required to reach out and help folks (!).  A big shout out to architect John Morefield in Seattle for sharing his inspiration.  John was recently featured in a  NY Times Article – check it out, it’s a great read, and reminds us all that we need to think outside the norm in these trying economic times.  I had been loosely following John for about two years (ever since the crash of ’08) before realizing that, hey, perhaps Eugene could use an ‘Architecture 5¢‘ booth as well – the catalyst came in the form of a Mr. Don Kahle, the executive director of our local chapter of the AIA (American Institute of Architects – Southwestern Oregon); we were working together on the People’s Choice Awards for Architecture committee, when he suggested the idea of including a booth as part of the event during the Eugene Celebration (last August).  Cool!  I went home, broke out my hammer & saw and got to work.  Here are a few shots of it’s construction:

And here are some from the booth’s maiden voyage during the Eugene Celebration, August 27-29, 2010; ten local architects, myself included, took turns in shifts, engaging the public in an open dialogue about our built environment.  Turns out, it’s a lot of fun!

After that, I became a member of Eugene’s own Saturday Market, as well as the Picc-A-Dilly Flea, and began setting up the booth at these events too.

And, in case you’re wondering, the can is for nickels; don’t forget to carry one if per chance we should meet out and about!  I look forward to seeing you.