Headed to High Trails, Piper is packed and ready to roll out in an hour. We are excited for her on so many levels and can’t wait to hear her stories.
NOTE: This is the place where Seth and I met in 1989, it’s influence on the direction my life is difficult to calculate - I am so grateful I ended up there when I did.
Our neighbors have created the perfect conditions for these Fibonacci succulents to thrive. So cheery.
Eric (who came in from Lake Tahoe for a long weekend) was helping in Eagle, among other things, to organize and sort through some of Seth belongings in the workshop. It looks like Eric had a small diligent crew assisting but I know it was only him staying up late and determined to accomplish something. Before departing, to return home yesterday, he dropped off some things on our porch.
The level, I remember Seth showing me (in our late 20s) while we were working on a renovation project. We had both come to the same conclusion around that time - that we were only (when possible) going to buy quality tools, that we loved. After years of working with our hands we had become committed to craft and learned that good tools matter.
The Japanese pull saw, which I was unaware Seth had acquired, fits perfectly into this category of tool and philosophy. When I got home yesterday and saw the level and then opened the Tajima bag to see the saw handle and blades I not only felt honored to be receiving these things but reminded of the roads traveled with my best friend and soul brother.
Thank you Eric.
Building a shed for the Manzella’s in Lyons CO about 10 years ago.
This team seems often to be able to do the dance of mixing new with old. Look forward to seeing this completed some day. Read more.
I think what is so impressive about these three structures, beyond the craft and thoughtfulness of their construction, is how they are primarily comprised of local materials. Read more.
Someone really likes fasteners and long straight lines. I want this project to be a little more unfinished in places - I’d bet it was just about right (for me) when it was around 3/4 complete. Read more.
Note: Really good hanging with friends the other night and remembering Lars, look fwd to more of that.
…and inscription on the back. We’re planning to serve snacks on it tonight.
Lots to love about this one: inside/outside spaces, curved steps, simple palette, lots of glass and the open structure as part roof, part sun shade in tandem with exterior wall. Read more.
Side note: We’re meeting with some Denver and nearby friends tomorrow evening to gather for Lars. Looking forward to seeing some good folks we haven’t seen in a while.
Greg Burns and I had been living in NYC in the early 90’s and after 2+ exciting years there it was time to move on. A few months before departing, I called Lars (who was in Fayetteville AR with Lisa) and let him know my plan was to head their way and asked him to keep an eye out for a cheap car and I’d pay him back if he found me one. He said his grandmother had just given him an old Plymouth and it was mine if I fixed up houses with him for 2 weeks. I ended up driving to St. Louis with friend Kate Dunn and from there, shipped most of my stuff ahead and rode my bike the rest of the way to Fayetteville. When I arrived, Lars gave me a big hug and handed me the keys and said, “The Golden Chariot is all yours”.
After loving working on houses with him and his derelict (and awesome crew) for a couple weeks, I drove all over the mid and southwest for the rest of the summer visiting family and friends eventually making it to Lars & Lisa’s wedding in Greeley CO. After all my visits, I ended up heading back to fix up houses with Lars and the gang for another year. It was there that I started thinking about architecture school and the direction of my life slowly began taking shape.
I will miss him dearly and hope wherever he is he’s driving around, giving rides in a golden chariot and then passing the keys along.
Note: Today Piper got her 2nd Pfizer shot, arm feels sore but all’s good otherwise.
Taken around 1996 from the garage of the Larimer Place (3358 Larimer).
This wood block print was made from a feathered board, it’s used to help reduce “kickback” when feeding material through table saws and other power tools. I always loved that Lars likely pulled this out of a woodshop trash can and reused it as a carving plate. I mounted the print on the bottom of an old drawer I used to transport cassette tapes around in in a ‘74 Plymouth Scamp he had given me…that will need to be the next entry.
This hangs in my office.
Another tremendous personal loss for me, as well as, for a community of creative, positive forces in the world.
Lars and I were friends for 6-7 years before we started bigfishdesign in Denver in the mid 90s after we had worked together renovating houses in Fayetteville, AR. He pushed and inspired me to explore art, boatbuilding, woodworking, design and countless other things, for which, I will forever be indebted.
I’ll miss his art burning sales, his (unfinished) boat destructions, his ability to turn a house priming task into a massive mural (before painting over it), his determination/ability to fix anything, his nasally laugh and his giant hugs.
The details of his death are still unclear - it sounds like he was biking with friends (in Crested Butte, where he lived) and at some point turned around - maybe it was a bike accident but waiting to hear more. I will update as information comes in. My heart goes out to all of his family, friends and anyone lucky enough to have known him.
UPDATE: It sounds like it was likely his heart and that there were no signs the fall was responsible - the thought is…it was quick. Here’s a little more from the Crested Butte News.
Please feel free to reach out if you need to talk.
These pictures were taken in a bakery in Fayetteville, AR 1993 (and that is good friend Kate in the background)
This is a self-portrait Lars made after discovering some 110 photographs he had taken in his late teens. He had been a gymnast in HS and early college. The iron-cross (from the rings) was a recurring theme/image in his work. Notice how he used concrete, wood, glass, photography, solder and sewing to make this.
The loss in the past year nationally and internationally from Covid-19 alone has been staggering, it begins to feel immeasurable when you also consider the loss from wars and conflicts.
I wish all a meaningful Memorial Day.
Large-scale, people-centric artworks that celebrate humanity. More here.
Light/dark, thick/thin, heavy/light. Strong residential addition onto 150yr. old barn. See more here.
Very smart idea. Check out how it works here.
Nice brick addition. Notice the various coursings: soldier (vertical), stack (grid) and running (alternating). More here.
…and he paints. Here is article about some of Dylan’s visual art.
Spent the weekend visiting/helping out with a few things - mostly it was really good just connecting with everyone.
This full scale model by Helen & Hard of Norway will be on display in Venice through Nov. 21, 2021. Following the Biennale, this environment is slated to become a co-housing space is Norway.
An example of shared tool space - a system after my own heart.
This might be a real game changer for every contractor. See the almost SNL-esque ad here. Base price after rebates/incentives will be about 32K.
