Don

People study
Don, 2011
Don and I in Nick's Tomato Pizza from 2010.

A year ago while I was working on an urban studio project, I met a very interesting man named Don. He is a 50 year old bottle collector living in East Syracuse who ended up being the main character of my narrative for the magic box project. The project itself was not that interesting but getting to meet this guy might've made it a more enjoyable assignment.

Last Friday, I biked to Recess Coffee and I was surprised to see Don sitting in a corner looking through the community news letters and furiously circling different articles. I assumed that he probably wouldn't recognize me since it was a year ago when we had our interview in Armory Square. But he looked up and gave me a warm nod of recognition and returned to his papers. We chatted for a little and it was extremely exciting seeing Don so cheerful and well. For a person who seems to have very little, I admire Don's ability to find happiness in the little moments that my friends and I take for granted every day.

the mountain

This is Mountain Baker in Washington State as seen from the bay window of my parent's lovely house in Delta. I never actually realized how colossal and elegant Mt. Baker looks from miles away. After waking up and staring at a parking garage every morning, in Syracuse, I think I might've taken the view of Mt. Baker for granted while I was growing up.

a throw back

These were done more than a year ago during the first semester of Architecture school.

a start

Sketched during an afternoon of riding around in the snow with B.W. and A.K. Freedom's coffee is much better made than Starbuck's -maybe one day people will understand that corporate coffee never tastes as good as the local coffee shop's.

-MMa