This week on Archinect Sessions we’re sharing our inspiring conversation with Theaster Gates. For those of you who aren’t already familiar with Theaster, you’re in for a treat. Theaster Gates often refers to himself as a potter, and while it’s true that he is, through years of training and practice, he’s also an extremely talented multidisciplinary artist, urban planner and community-focused social activist.
Theaster may be most well known for his non-profit Rebuild Foundation. The foundation purchases abandoned buildings in the south side of Chicago, the neighborhood Theaster grew up and still resides in, and transforms them into beautiful community hubs that connect and inspire the local residents through art, creativity, and professional skill training.
Gates work extends into academia as well. He is a full professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Chicago, where he is also a Senior Advisor for Cultural Innovation and Advisor to the Dean. It’s in this context that he is unveiling his latest project, part of an $80 million dollar renovation and restoration of the Edward Durell Stone-designed Keller Center, home to the school’s Harris School of Public Policy. Theaster’s role involved sourcing wood from fallen ash trees for the soaring communal atrium space, which was then milled by local residents.
Our conversation with Theaster Gates starts with his reuse of Chicago’s diseased ash trees into millwork and detailing for the new University of Chicago Keller Center, and quickly veers into topics of hand skills, black labor, neighborhood communities, and socio-cultural readings of beauty.
Listen to episode 136 of Archinect Sessions, “A Conversation with Theaster Gates”.
This episode is tragically too short! It was such a good conversation and seriously Mr. Gates was just getting really fired up when we had to end.
I love the notion of using the material OF the city, FOR the city. This is so much of what PUP's focus has been. As our cities start to look more and more similar (the same SketchUp Contemporary style apartment buildings on every block, the same corporate chains on every corner) I'm always looking for things that really feel local and meaningful beyond profit.
And his assertion that skilled trades are great jobs is something I'm trying to focus on more, too.
All 3 Comments
This episode is tragically too short! It was such a good conversation and seriously Mr. Gates was just getting really fired up when we had to end.
I love the notion of using the material OF the city, FOR the city. This is so much of what PUP's focus has been. As our cities start to look more and more similar (the same SketchUp Contemporary style apartment buildings on every block, the same corporate chains on every corner) I'm always looking for things that really feel local and meaningful beyond profit.
And his assertion that skilled trades are great jobs is something I'm trying to focus on more, too.
Short and intense. More points made in 20 minutes than in many other episodes.
Right? It was such an honor to have him on.
Relistened to this as I work on trying to do more than pay lip service to the idea of XBE recruiting in construction. So I also listened to the TED talk and was struck by the comment "I believe beauty is a basic service."
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.