Cinder Blocks

Q. In the Architecture and Imagination section of class, we looked at how Mario Botta envisioned the concrete block as significant and we listened to a new way to "see" music (and PVC piping) by The Blue Men Group. We recognized various ways to conceive of an arch (from the Romans to Antonio Gaudi) and we thought about how to "see and see again" the way something as simple as a doorway can inform our behaviors. We finished our face to face time with images of Louis Sullivan of the Chicago Style (and Frank Lloyd Wright) and with the quote "form follows function."
 
Discuss any relationship you see between Architecture and leadership. As you think about your role as a leader, how do you envision the "functioning" of an organization/group that is significant in your life (family, work, volunteer groups, religious communities, or any other group of significance to you) - specifically, what is your vision of the group's purpose or mission? As you "see and see again," how does our journey through Architecture and Imagination inform your ability to design the form that will help to achieve that vision? Feel free to draw from any of the material from the class.

A. I thought a lot about the cinder block. Strange, I know. But I was intrigued by it. The question was posed, "How would you phrase that in the sense of positive and negative space?"

The block not only builds, but it takes up space. It can create many different things. The block is strong, but it can also be demolished in a fell swoop. It can do some great good, or some serious damage. Things made from cinder block and either be really ugly, or something beautiful.

There are many metaphors that can be pulled from these descriptions. I see leadership with the potential of all of the aforementioned and more. In my functioning life, I see a need to build block by block and have a secure foundation for which to build upon.

In art & architecture I see much of my life. There are iconic things, there are historical things, modern things, and the like. History is part of who we are, it informs much of the design of who we are today. We all have iconic moments throughout our lives for the good or the bad. And somehow, we need to keep up with the trends of the life that will swoosh by us if we are not cognizant of it.

Some of my notes I had written for pondering were:
- Home: Finding your place in the world ... How does your home make you feel?
- We must be purposeful about making space, about being divergent.
- Any answer is a good answer.
- Small things can mean a lot.
- Be creative and it is only as strong as the weakest link.
- There are many things we can duplicate, but we can't duplicate people. We need our people!
- One-point perspective = One vanishing point
- How do you create possibilities?
- The arch ...
     -> How can we use the arch in leadership? What are the existing metaphors?
     -> How can we create openings?
     -> How can we cause people to look up?
- Form follows function ...
- Less is more ...

I am still pondering on the cinder block ...