I am an artist, designer, and, began my college studies at Iowa State University as a Computer Engineer, well actually, first it was Architecture, then Materials Engineer, then Computer Engineer and then architecture for real though.
In 2013 I graduated with my bachelors in Architecture from Iowa State University. (ranked top 10 US Architecture Program in 2013 {#9}).
While studying Computer Science I worked for a local photography studio in Ames, Iowa. Not sure if I had my Wacom then or not, but I definitely learned how to use it after a few months cleaning the teeth of newlywed couples and color correcting arms that were blown out by the harsh light of wherever to look pasty, but not red, and just, you know, natural.
My architecture career has included (among other projects) design work on a 60,000 sq ft vacation home in Aspen, Colorado, a Fortune 500 company headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, and the permitting on a strip-mall redesign in Cleveland, Ohio (which was issued without comment from the city, a “unicorn” event, I’m told).
To say that I’m a little disenchanted with the practice of architecture would be an understatement.
But my experience hasn’t all been to the contribution of horrific glut. I have also worked for the non-profit design firm MIIM Designs which is focused on humanitarian design, contributing to designs for modular housing designs for victims of the global refugee crisis, and civic spaces for underrepresented populations.
Most recently, I worked with the civic technology startup OpportunitySpace where I assisted in connecting residents of Louisville, Kentucky with the opportunity to purchase fallow lots from the municipal land bank for as little as $1. (pro-tip, local mom and pop newspapers are the best ways to reach the residents of Portlant, Louisville, Kentucky because most people don't know internet. This..is a thing.
I am attending the inaugural class of the Building Beauty Master’s program in Sorrento, Italy this year (buildingbeauty.org). This exciting program builds on the work of Christopher Alexander (Nature of Order, A Pattern Language) with faculty who have worked closely with Mr Alexander over the decades. This program offers a unique opportunity to consolidate my winding educational past since the work of Christopher Alexander led to, among many other fields of study, the creation of object oriented computer languages. (starting to take another look at linear algebra, complex functions, neural nets cause why not)
In addition to contributing funds to worthy conservation efforts, purchases made will fund travel and study during this year long program.
All works listed for sale have a 10% commitment to projects and organizations I believe in and which all seek to bring about a flourishing world in their own way.
For instance, Milkweed Matters holds seedball rolling events across Iowa and pairs riders of the annual, statewide RAGBRAI bicycling event with seedballs to disperse as they make their way across the state. In 2016, Milkweed Matters led to an amazing 50,000 seedballs being distributed!
The Biorenewables Research Lab in Ames Iowa is a new complex of buildings at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa pushing the forward in the national commitment to wean ourselves away from fossil fuels and their byproducts, because will never achieve true sustainability unless we find replacements for the universe of useful products derived from fossil fuels.
CV
Awards
George Washington Carver Scholar (Full Tuition Merit Scholarship)
AIA Iowa Scholarship
Michal J. Greenlee Scholarship
Rohrbach Scholarship
Dean’s List [‘08, ’09, ‘10, ’11, ‘12]
Architecture 240 Masonry Design Competition, [2nd]
Focus Grant Exhibition Award Recipient and Presenter, May 2012
LCC Flack Student Assistantship [’12, ‘13]
Math Award, ISU Math Department (4.0 GPA Calculus 1, 2, 3 to Differential Equations)
Cargill IT Book Scholar
Live Green! Award for Excellence in Sustainability
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression, Presenter [‘12]
Exhibitions
Pursuit of Pattern Languages for Societal Change Conference, Presenter, October 2017
ICReate artist symposium, June 2017
Cedar Rapids Public Library, Public Display, November 2016
Newbo Arts Fest, September 2016
Focus Grant Exhibition, May 2012
Veridian Credit Union, Community Art Exhibition, 2005