About this project

Celebration & Preservation: With Attention to Detail

“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”—Winston Churchill

I believe we should preserve and celebrate our built environment and the architects, artists and craftsmen who created them. I consider myself a preservationist with pen and paper. I will be preserving and documenting the architecture that so many take for granted and that is disappearing due to demolition or neglect throughout the state of Alabama.

I have divided the state into five areas and will travel to each area for several days to take photographs of homes, churches and businesses from which to draw. Alabama’s architecture ranges from characteristic folk houses to the most fashionable structures of their day; from the 1900 Deep South Creamery to the 1940 Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House.

I will create 25 drawings as a lasting record of Alabama’s architectural history to be a traveling exhibition to appropriate venues within the five areas of the state. The exhibition and accompanying printed catalog will educate the general public about appreciation for, and a celebration of our architectural heritage. It also provides the opportunity to teach the public about the medium of pen and ink, drawings and that art doesn’t have to be intimidating. The catalog will have a brief history of each architectural subject. I will travel to each exhibition opening to talk to people about the work and the architecture.

I am working with the visual arts manager of the Alabama State Council on the Arts selecting and scheduling venues for the exhibition. Also, my project has been endorsed by the Alabama Architectural Foundation.

If you are not familiar with Kickstarter, it works like this: you receive a reward for a pledge you make in support of my project. The more you pledge, the better the rewards. We both get a strong sense of satisfaction—you for making the project possible, me for being able to complete the project. It is an all or nothing deal. If I don't raise the full amount, the project doesn't get funded.

If this goes well it could be the basis of future projects such as creating drawings from other places as well as a book.

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”—Edgar Degas

Rewards:
I thought that you would like to see a couple of the rewards listed to the right. I am working with AKD Screenprinting & Embroidery to supply the T-shirts. AKD is a Montgomery, AL-based company that has been specializing in high-quality screen printed apparel for 26 years. They have worked with Disney, ESPN and a number of major universities just to name a few. The T-shirts are Hanes Beefy-T 100% preshrunk ring spun cotton (for a softer feel) with a tag-free neckline. The color is natural with black screen-printing. Sizes available: S, M, L, XL

Other rewards include coffee mugs, white ceramic mugs with black images of architectural faces; and magnets which have the architectural faces under flat glass marbles.

Expenses
• Travel costs (gas, lodging, food) to take photos around the state
• Professional scanning (holds the fine detail in my drawings) 25 drawings for printed materials
• Matting and framing under glass 25 drawings
• Shipping costs to different exhibition sites
• Printing costs for catalog and other printed materials
• 5% Kickstarter fee for successful campaign
• 3-5% Amazon payment processing fee for pledges
• Rewards

1. When will I receive my rewards?
While I've put the end of August 2013 at each reward listing, the T-shirts, mugs, magnets and prints will be shipped in 3-4 weeks of receiving the project's funding. The catalog will be completed before the traveling exhibition goes on the road and that should be in spring of 2013. Of course the original drawings from the exhibition won't be shipped until the end of the show. The original drawings of homes or businesses at the highest pledge level will be completed as I receive photos and will take 6-8 weeks to complete.

2. Which original drawing will I receive at the $800 and $1,200 levels?
Once you have received a copy of the catalog, look at the drawings designated by size for your pledge level and let me know your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice. I will do my best to see that you receive one that you want. If more than one person wants the same drawing, the decision will be based on the date that i received choices from each person.