From the Heart of a Designer

Now that I think about it, we are continually encountering oppositions everywhere. The most obvious opposition I can think of that directly affects me is the weather. Especially around the time when the seasons are changing in Minnesota, the weather is never dependable. One day it will be bright, sunny and warm, while the next day it will be cold, windy and snowing or raining. This conflicting activity is classified as the Opposition of Climate and Exposure. Don’t get me wrong – one of the reasons why I love Minnesota so much is because of our four beautiful seasons. I like the change because it makes my life more interesting. In response to this opposition, however, we have found ways to approach our dramatic weather. In the spring time we carry umbrellas, wear light-weight clothing, take our bikes down from storage and crack open the screen doors in our houses.

parenting.leehansen.com
In the summer months, we try to “beat the heat� by dusting off our bathing suits, drinking ice cold lemonade and turning on our beloved air conditioning. Many Minnesotans drive up to their cabins which they have built on the cool shores of our great lakes.

homepages.wmich.edu
By the time autumn rolls around, the rakes have been pulled out of the sheds to round up the falling leaves. Our jackets become unburied as we wake up to the cool, crisp mornings. People take a seat on their front porch swings and try to take in the beauty of fall before Mother Nature prepares herself for winter.

public.wartburg.edu
Finally, the snow falls and the hats and mittens appear. Those who drive to work or school have to wake up five minutes earlier to start their car so the poor thing has a chance to warm up before the long drive. The doors and windows are tightly shut and the heat is turned on. Most of us find ourselves spending less time outside and more time curled up by the fire, drinking hot chocolate and hot apple cider.

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These are all ways in which we live our lives according the opposing weather. It seems like once we finally have adjusted to the Minnesota weather, we are forced into yet another transition. The opposition of weather can not be eliminated, only embraced.
A second opposition I am completely amazed by is the opposition of a running river. Landing somewhere in the category of Opposition of Man and Physical Nature, a river acts as its own architect. Sculpting and carving its way through the land, it creates whatever pattern it feels like. An amazing current will carry on for miles. Rivers provide a refreshing coolness.

www.tomgoetz.com
However, having a mind of its own, a river can occasionally swell and overflow, creating huge problems for man. These great bodies of water have been known to take lives, create panic and cause disorder. Riverbanks must be recreated and dams must be installed to contain the raging waters. When necessary, sandbags create a sort of temporary, man-made architectural structure.

www.wilgatree.com
As a new member of the Minnesota Women’s Rowing Crew, I have experienced Opposition of Materials and Tools. We go out on the mighty Mississippi River daily. The current will carry you, the wind will cast you and we as man have little say in the matter. While sitting in a boat with eight other people, one must concentrate extremely hard on fighting the oppositions that created the sport. Opposition number one: the rowers are facing backwards. There is an Opposition of Perception. Resolution: deal with it! Allow the opposition to sculpt the form. Not seeing the destination is hard, but it makes the athlete find faith and trust in their team. Opposition number two: the raging current mixed with wind. There is an Opposition of Climate and Exposure. Resolution: the boat was specifically designed to battle its way down the water. It’s arrow-dynamic and easily maneuverable. The oars are crafted in a way that maximizes efficiency. The rowers are forced to use all their strength to fight the water’s energy. Opposition number three: the boat is not naturally set and balanced. There is an Opposition of Permanence and Entropy. Resolution: As a rower, one must create balance while in sync with the rest of the crew. Space, form and fluidity in the boat are all architectural concepts that one must consider in order to resolve or fight the opposition.

www.alumni.upenn.edu
We will never be able to escape opposition. It is a phenomenon that we must accept and live with. We have no other choice but to learn from it!

Posted by Jenna Schuder at 5:05 AM | Permalink

Butterflies are one of Mother Nature’s natural phenomena. Displaying intricate patterns and colors on their wings, these creatures are uniquely beautiful.

Things:
Butterflies are living insects that come in a variety of shapes and colors. They are small, delicate and light. Tiny iridescent scales cover the wings of a butterfly to create the amazing pattern on their wings.

Frameworks:
Butterflies can fly. Veins support the delicate wings and tiny sensory hairs cover the body. There are three main parts to the body: the head, thorax and abdomen. A butterfly has four wings and six legs and can only fly if their body is above 86 degrees. Depending on the species, butterflies can fly from 5 miles an hour up to 30 miles per hour.

http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/schools/beal/curriculum/butterfly/butterflyinfo.htm

Clockworks:
The life-cycle of a butterfly is truly amazing. It starts out as an egg which is often laid on a leaf. The larva, which is a caterpillar, hatches from an egg. Feeding off of leaves or flowers, the caterpillar grows and loses its old skin. After gaining size, a caterpillar will turn into a pupa or chrysalis which is a term to identify the resting stage. When this stage ends, a butterfly emerges and can fly away. Once an adult, the butterfly continues the life-cycle. Sadly, as butterflies age, the wings become ragged and their color fades.

Lantana, Zinnias, Bee balm, and Purple coneflowers are examples of food that will attract many butterflies.

Phenomena:
A phenomenon about butterflies is that there are about 28,000 butterfly species worldwide and many of them migrate thousands of miles. Even though it is not well understood, it is known that butterflies migrate to avoid environmental conditions. Another strange phenomenon is the fact that butterflies can hear sounds through their wings. Most butterflies protect themselves from predators by using camouflage. They blend in with their environment and become impossible to spy while resting on a branch. Some of these insects have the ability to resemble dead leaves or even the bark of a tree.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/

Posted by Jenna Schuder at 2:13 AM | Permalink

Genius loci: the spirit of place or a reference point for the creative spirit. Genius loci is at the heart of everything we do. (http://www.geniusloci.co.uk/)
There is a quaint little coffee shop in the heart of the small town, Wyoming, Minnesota. To the average customer, it probably seems just like any other café they’ve visited. It’s typical in the sense that it serves a Coffee of the Day and freshly baked scones. An eclectic collection of coffee mugs are on display and greeting cards are for sale in a wicker basket. There are small tables arranged close together on the wood floor. Three large, comfy chairs sit in front of a stone fireplace. The aroma and friendly environment of the building make people feel welcome and urges them to stay and relax. Natural lighting pours in through the big glass windows; the mood is comforting; the spirit is alive. This is the location of my second home, The Nesting Grounds Coffee House and Café.
As a young sixth grader, my best friends and I would ride our bikes over to the Nesting Grounds. We would scrounge up all the money we could find to buy strawberry smoothies and chocolate chip cookies. I was hired as a barista there four years later. The Nesting Grounds was not only the place where I worked, but a place where I would go to be with my friends. The people I worked with became my second family. We got to know the customers on a personal level as well. We would see them walk in, make their drink and hand it to them before they even had a chance to order. I know that building inside and out. I took care of it, cleaned it and spoke of it like I was the owner.
When I walk into the Nesting Grounds, I feel a sense of security. It is a community gathering place; a place to catch up with old friends, study for a big exam and hold business meetings.
I worked at the Nesting Grounds for two years. In addition to working there, I went to the Nesting Grounds every Tuesday afternoon to chat with my Youth Director and friends from my church. We would sit at the same table week after week hanging out, drinking coffee and surfing the web.
The Nesting Grounds Coffee House has special meaning to me. I can walk in there and instantly feel alive and re-energized. Living away from home, I miss being comforted by the warm feelings and gracious surroundings I know so well. The Nesting Grounds will always have a special meaning in my heart.

Posted by Jenna Schuder at 4:20 PM | Permalink