"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us."
Winston Churchill's words are as true today as they were when he said them in 1943. Our historic architecture stands as a reminder of forgotten ways of life that shaped the way we live today. I believe we should preserve and celebrate our built environment and the architects, artists and craftsmen who created them.

My purpose is to draw the public's attention to the architecture and architectural detail that surrounds them through a medium, pen and ink, that draws the viewer into the artwork. The finely-detailed pen-and-ink drawings that I create entice viewers to come closer. The architectural detail that has been a consistent part of human history satisfies a need for beauty that all people share. I will be preserving and documenting with pen and paper the architecture that so many take for granted and that is disappearing due to demolition or neglect.

My project is to record the architecture and architectural detail throughout Alabama. Alabama's architecture ranges from characteristic folk houses to structures epitomizing the fashionable tastes of their day. From every period, representing both the major stylistic eras--Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate--as well as lesser known developments such as the Romanesque Revival of the 1860s and the 1870s and the Mission Revival of the early 1900s.

Included will be national historic landmarks such as the 1940 Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum house, the 1935 family home at Bellingrath Gardens, the 1918 Ave Maria Grotto, and Gaineswood, a plantation home built in 1861, as well as the lesser known structures such as the 1887 Butler Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, the 1900 Deep South Creamery, the 1894 Cullman Ice Factory, and railroad depots.

I am creating a body of work as a lasting record of Alabama's architectural history with great potential for educating the general public about appreciation for, and a celebration of, our architectural heritage.

It will also provide the opportunity to teach the public about the medium of pen and ink and fully realized pen-and-ink drawings. This will be accomplished through a traveling exhibition of 25 drawings to appropriate venues around the state. Each time the exhibition opens in an area, I will travel to the location to interact with the public as part of the educating process.

Rewards:
Any donations/sponsorships less than $100 will receive a PDF of the exhibition catalog.

Donations/sponsors of $100 or more will receive a signed printed exhibition catalog.

Donations/sponsors of $800 will receive an original 6” x 9” pen-and-ink drawing from my project and a signed printed catalog with name listed on Sponsors page.

Donations/sponsors of $1,200 will receive an original 8 1/2” x 11” pen-and-ink drawing from my project, signed printed catalog with name listed on Sponsors page.

Donations/sponsors of $2,000 will receive original 8 ½” x 11” pen-and-ink drawing of your home or business with professionally scanned image on CD for use on note cards and/or letterhead, signed printed catalog with name listed on Sponsors page.

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."
Edgar Degas