This semester, I often needed to pass long hours in libraries as a large quantity of readings from the contemporary architecture class ruined my daily life. Of course, it is hard to read and understand academic papers in English when your mother language is another. I need to say that I had tough times with these readings. Usually, I, therefore, go to the Boston Public Library and yet, at times, my school’s own library is my preference. We are fortunate as the college is located on Newbury Street, having a great street view. When I am bored of reading, my escape is sketching. This sketch is from there, overlooking the Back Bay and the Prudential.
While taking a class at the BAC (Community Practice),I learned a plethora of information on East Boston as our focus was in that zone. Most importantly, the issue which East Boston will seriously face, at the time, is extremely challenging after some floods -that is, the sea level is rising. This problem will be destructive as I have been informed. I think that the city council is in very serious discussion of this case due to the fact that many people’s lives are at risk. The sketch was from East Boston looking at Boston. Sketching, I thought upon the people who will not have the opportunity to see the cityscape as there will be no land in 50 years.
Should you want to see too many people, literally, in every hour of the day, you should go to the city and walk around Times Square. The energy of the streets is indescribable and everyone took pictures of neon signs and the electronic displays. This is the way the world works, perhaps. Despite everything, experiencing this atmosphere gives a new perspective to reveal how New Yorkers hate crowds. Instead of mingling in this crowd, I sketched in the middle of Time square. This fast sketch was from there. In the meantime, I found a place to sit on the red chairs -luckily.
Boston has a great deal of restaurants. Especially, in the North End, there is an abundance of Italian restaurants. The dishes are truly mouthwatering, indisputably. Perhaps, many individuals and tourists do not know that the oldest building in Boston is in the North End, that is, the Paul Revere House. It was built about 1680. Although it saw many fires, it still stands. It is definitely worth seeing! North Square Park -where the building is- also offers many buildings to understand Boston’s old and traditional architectural features. The sketch was done in the middle of the park looking through the building, of course, after eating delicious food.
While wandering downtown to relax for the upcoming semester at the BAC, I found myself glancing at City Hall and pondering if it is truly brutalist. Moreover, I remember how brutal people’s comments are about it as some of them abhor it and others really like it. I fall in the latter group. The building has a pretty strange story as the design process had two stages and it was selected from 256 entries by a jury. To me, it is strange that selecting this kind of new design for that era and accepting it in the middle of the city -was very bold. The sketch was done from the front of the building -where Government Center station remnants are.
February is a month which I loathe as it makes me older and yet there is nothing to do except eating a mouthwatering lobster roll at Luke's Lobster in the Back Bay. Every year, while in Boston, I go there and eat this roll -a kind of a gift to myself. The funny thing is that the weather is always freezing and snowy and no one is there. It is easy to grab a bite to eat in the winter! Then, of course, going to the public library is a necessity with a double shot of espresso to wake me up. This sketch of the lobster place was done from the library. It was an enjoyable day until I caught my reflection in a window and I saw the spread of white hair. White is the color of getting old -not of happiness. lamentably!
I wish I were a student at Berkeley and yet it is too late for me to be a good musician as there are many other responsibilities. So, I do not have time to practice anything, of course, except drawing, as always. This sketch is from Boylston Street, where many wannabe musicians and real ones milling about. The new building is truly appealing due to the fact that it incorporates a very smart architectural solution for the organization of spaces, that is, putting the performance hall on the second floor and making it visible instead of hiding, as in a standard design. As such, students can see outside while hanging out or watching performances and people who walk around the building can see the space, as well. This leads individuals to become a part of the school and also the school to become a part of the environment.
