Lifetecture

It’s hot in the city today. I took the bus up to the Graham Foundation to participate in a salon. the topic was: “Future Preservation,” my idea, to see what kind of discourse we could rally. I am a grantee of the Graham and have recently been in talks as to the possibility of working with them this summer, but today it came to nothing. They are one of the few institutions who integrate between fine arts disciplines and they have for me a wonderful benevolent presence in the city. I found a home there when I first arrived in Chicago in 1999 and attended lectures and exhibitions following the renovation process of their current base in Madlener House.

I am a member of Chicago Women in Architecture and I’m looking for fellowship. It’s an interesting collection of folks and seems like a supportive environment. The Salon/Happy Hour was held in the outdoor sculpture garden and it was interesting talking about preservation issues amongst the relics of vanished Louis Sullivan buildings. I was just too hot to be clear. On days like this I feel like an Alpine Flower taken out of its natural environment; wilting. I don’t know how to dress for summer and was so distracted by the pools of sweat forming under the arms of my summer dress that I just couldn’t concentrate. I need to find some kind of techno-wicking fabric. I even forgot to take photos. My neighbor friend N. was there and we rode the bus back to Pilsen together. I’m so happy to be back in the central air. Chicago: City of extremes.

While waiting for the bus yesterday, I was amazed by the amount of cotton that the cottonwood tree has produced this year. With the huge amounts of rain and warmth recently, it’s a bumper crop. I’ve been looking at the drifts on the streets and the white fuzz floating around, getting in peoples’ eyes and generally wasted. I wonder can this be harvested? It seems like it would make the most amazing kind of felt, even batting for insulation. I wonder if this has ever been done?