Finding Connections Between a Film Interior and Reality

As part of a delightful academic diversion, I have recently been researching interiors shown on film – with a focus on the Elrod House in Palm Springs, designed by John Lautner between 1966-68 for Interior Designer Arthur Elrod. This interior was used in the James Bond film Diamonds are Forever, directed by Guy Hamilton in … Continue reading Finding Connections Between a Film Interior and Reality

Lessons Learned from BIPOC Design History Class

Recently – over the course of four weeks – I spent more than 24 hours of productive time attending the online BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Colour] Design History Class: “Black Design in America: African Americans and the African Diaspora in Graphic Design, from the 19th to the 21st Century” (https://bipocdesignhistory.com/). Organized by a collective … Continue reading Lessons Learned from BIPOC Design History Class

Kate Reed in comparison – Canada’s first interior designer

The Canadian woman who is frequently described as Canada’s first designer, Kate Reed (1856- 1928) the decorator of Canada’s Railway Hotels, was born nine years before Elsie De Wolfe (1865-1950), that famous American usually thought of as the first successful professional decorator in America. While De Wolfe had a very different life story and body … Continue reading Kate Reed in comparison – Canada’s first interior designer

In the Footsteps of Others: Planning the Pilgrimage Church

A colleague is currently posting on social media about his pilgrimage through Northern Spain, and I am reminded of the enduring lessons of Romanesque pilgrimage churches in that area of the world, especially how the built environment can be shaped to support ritual and user experience. Today there are many people who undertake a pilgrimage … Continue reading In the Footsteps of Others: Planning the Pilgrimage Church

Talking About “Gauguin: Portraits” at the National Gallery of Canada

During a recent trip to Ottawa, I toured the National Gallery of Canada’s feature show – Gauguin: Portraits. I was with my 14-year-old son and we were both impressed. Not only did the exhibition invite us to re-consider what can be considered a ‘portrait’, especially in the context of Gauguin’s artistic project, it featured engaging … Continue reading Talking About “Gauguin: Portraits” at the National Gallery of Canada