The holidays are upon us, and Charles says he has been very “good” this year. So, what should we get him? Something sleek, something functional, something that makes him feel seen, perhaps? The team at Gaines Group Architect has scoured the internet to find the perfect Christmas present for Charles, the architect who has everything. What do you think we should pick?
1. A LEGO Architecture Set
Is it a toy? Is it a model? Is it a way for him to procrastinate on his actual work while still feeling productive? Yes. The correct answer is yes.
2. A Laser Measure
Say goodbye to the old-fashioned tape measure and hello to the future! This gadget is practical, accurate, and a lot cooler than a boring ruler. Plus, it’s perfect for when he is trying to measure the “exact” amount of holiday cheer in the room.
3. 3-D Printer
What architect doesn’t want to be able to print their creations? What a great way to see progress as the design evolves.
Not that he needs another one, but what if one of his many many black shirts fades to light black?
5. A Moleskine Notebook or Sketchbook
Architects are always sketching, jotting down ideas, and doodling on napkins. A high-quality sketchbook is a canvas for creativity, a place to capture the “next big idea” before he forgets it.
Charles cares so much about our community and is always giving time and energy. Join us while we join him by gifting time to build a better future for us all.
I have been selecting a word of the year for several years now, instead of making a resolution that I forget about before the first week of January comes to a close. It is not always a word that guides me during the year, but focusing on a word has had some power a few times as I was going through some rough patches in life. Grace is a word that I have adopted a few times and I feel like I have grown a lot into accepting things I cannot change and giving myself grace along the way. After a rather rough 2024, I think I need to focus on a new word for 2025. As I look to the year ahead, I know there will be challenges, but I am going to focus on joy this year. I am going to try to allow the frustrations and challenges in life to have less weight than the joy that I will have this coming year. I know I have a blessed life and have been given many opportunities that others have not been given. As I think back over the past year and all the challenges faced, I can see there was more joy than frustrations, I just gave the frustrations power.
In an effort to remember joy first, here is a list of some of the things that brought me joy this past year.
My youngest daughter graduated high school, traveled to Europe, and found the right college for her next chapter. My oldest daughter continues to thrive, impress, and conquer the world. They are both wonderful humans and bring me joy on a regular basis.
I got to celebrate Mariya as she entered the next chapter of her life while hanging out with some of our awesome Harrisonburg team members.
The MTC foundation formed and held its first fundraising event. I was able to support the event through social media promotion and giving time to the organization.
I got to see the Orioles win over the Yankees in dramatic fashion and share the experience with family (not all of which were thrilled with the outcome of the game). We also got to see a lot of fish, which is fun, and should always be part of a baseball game trip to maximize joy.
Another year of supporting WNRN’s books and brewswas a highlight, especially when one of the authors is also one of your clients.
We got to see the finished cabin in West Virginia, the saved historic building in Broadway, the saved porch in Rockingham, the modern house in Rockingham, got a new office in Charlottesville, and started another project at Eastern Mennonite School – all of these and those not mentioned (especially those cool houses we have under construction that I will do updates on later) bring so much Joy!
Fireworks are fun and I had the chance to enjoy some thanks to Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and the Downtown Lottery. If you like fun things like fireworks you should support HDR too. Downtown also got a lot of new art work to fill our town with joy.
I made it to the Hot Air Balloon festival this year and the weather was nice enough that the balloons got to float away.
Our Rotary Club does amazing work allowing me to serve community through so many events including the Harrisonburg Soapbox Derby and partnering with We Serve at Eastern Mennonite High School to stuff stockings and clean up the highway. The best part of Rotary are the friendships we get to build and the difference we can make together in our community. The sense of joy in making our community better is endless.
We were able to host 12 artists for First Friday and I think they all made a least one sale at their shows. If nothing else, we added exposure to their work and celebrated the beauty of art creation in our community. Supporting local artists is a great source of joy.
I was able to attend a lot of musicals this year including Beetlejuice, Twelfth Night, Tina, Fiddler on the Roof, and Annie. Regardless of what you heard, I enjoy going to see these talented performers.
Dad and I attended our first JMU Men’s basketball games and they won.
I got to attend some amazing concerts to see some amazing talent including Judy Chops, Who Shot John, Wood Brothers, The Steel Wheels, Christone Kingfish, AJR, Almost Monday, mxmtoon, Nickel Creek, Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, EMS Touring Choir, and more.
Our clients fast food oriental restaurant finished construction and opened and I got to eat some of their amazing food!
Red Wing Academy brings me so much joy each year playing at our First Friday event in December.
I got a Charlie Brown cake for my birthday!
Our Rotary Club took on the challenge to plant new Peace Poles in the community and register existing Peace Poles on the international Peace Pole map. This effort is so fulfilling, spreading Peace in our world that is so focused on violence. The Peace Pole is an internationally known symbol of Peace and stand as a daily reminder that we each have a role in spreading Peace on Earth. True Joy comes from helping build a stronger community.
I love mentoring, teaching, and sharing about architecture, building science, aging-in-place, using empathy as a design tool, and of course the history of the depot. This past year we hosted job shadow students in our office. I also had the chance to teach at Massanutten Technical Center. On the Road Collaborative students visited our office as did the Bridgewater historical society. We had the Central Virginia chapter of AIA visit the office to hear about our work.
Probably the best joy filled highlight of the year for me is how many times I have had a crowded table at my house filled with family or been invited into April’s house to join her crowded table. It is an awesome blessing in my life to have such a large group of family so close and we even got to spend some time with family from out of the area this year. I may not be the best cook around, but with April by my side (who is an excellent cook), we were able to make several meals that kept everyone happy this year.
Finally, what could be more joy filled that hanging out with Santa! Even better, finding out once again that I am Santa’s favorite Architect.
Photographers work in this blog post include Digital Minerva, Charles Hendricks, Asha Beck, and Herr and Company.
Each month at the Depot we feature new artwork (except for January and February) for First Friday Harrisonburg. This outreach with our community artists is to give them a platform to feature their work, but it is more than that for us. We invest in our community in a variety of ways and supporting local artists is one of the primary methods that we use to build a stronger and more vibrant community. These monthly events are just as much about the artists sharing their creations as it is the community coming out to see it, talk to each other, and to get to know each other. Our community is stronger and more resilient if we know our neighbors and celebrate beautiful creations together. So I hope you will come for a visit on December 6, 2024 from 5pm – 7pm to see what Justin has created.
Justin Pooleis our featured artist for December First Friday. His show entitled “Vistas,” represents a new phase in his development as an artist. The oil pastels are an attempt to foster a looser approach in his artwork, while the new oil paintings are an attempt to lean further into the fantastical, dreamlike, and sublime. More works of both types are being dreamed up and created as this new show launches, and Justin looks forward to where these new styles will lead.
Justin Poole is Associate Professor of Theatre and the Theatre Program Directorat Eastern Mennonite University, where he has also taught classes on art history. He and his wife Amanda lead semester-long performance and visual art-themed study abroad programs to Europe and Morocco. Traveling is the greatest source of inspiration for Justin’s own performance and visual art. Largely self-taught, Justin hones his drawing and painting skills while observing and sketching the works of the masters at some of his favorite Europe art museums, especially Vienna, Austria’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Tate Britain in London. He is also the Artist-In-Residence at Asbury United Methodist Church, where he manages the gallery space and seeks to integrate art and faith.
If you would like to purchase his painting(s) you may contact him via email or phone. You can also visit his website to see more paintings. He also gladly accepts commissions!
On Friday, November 1st from 5:00pm-7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a First Fridays Gallery Opening at The Depot featuring artist David Sutton! Join us to welcome David and view his wood turnings, and to enjoy refreshments and community. RSVP for this event on Facebook here and get to know him more in his biography below! Also don’t miss our other featured artist, Taylor Endres for her photography exhibition, “The World in 2-D”.
*Accessibility Note: This building was previously restored from a fire. The elevator shaft is currently not functioning and there is an absence of ramps in the space. Because the show is on the 2nd floor, this may pose an issue for those who have mobility needs. We are aware of this need and we apologize greatly if this changes your ability to attend.
Bio:
Wood Turnings by David L. Sutton Port Farm, Port Republic, VA
General Information: All wood turnings are food safe and water resistant. A mixture of Tung Oil and Citrus Solvent is used to seal the pores of the wood followed by an application of a Salad Bowl Bees Wax. Periodic applications of bees wax will help maintain the luster of the wood and water resistance.
Pricing: Quotes are based on species of wood, degree of difficulty in obtaining the wood, and dimensions of turning.
Guarantee: If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, a full refund will be given.
Custom Turnings: Designs based on current inventory or other dimensions will be used to produce a turning to your specifications. No deposit is required, only a signed contract with your email and telephone number. Delivery can take up to 4 weeks or more.
My Wood Turnings are in homes and bakeries in the following states and countries: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NM, NJ, NY, LA, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, Washington, D.C., Australia, Basque Country, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, & Saudi Arabia.
I learned to turn wood in High School Shop back when Montevideo was a high school. After retirement I was able to devote more time to turning. I try to source local native trees as much as possible.
Sneak Peek of David’s Work
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This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there!
Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!
What better day than Saint Patrick’s Day than to give you tips for to go green! As a bonus, if you forgot to wear green for Saint Patrick’s Day, maybe you can evade the pinching by trying these green tips! … Ok, that might not fly, but taking care of the environment and creation is a pretty worthwhile reason on it’s own to try one (or all) of these.
Cut your water usage.Not only does this conserve precious water resources but it saves you money as well.
Try a free carbon footprint calculator to identify the ways your household may be producing carbon. Then reflect on how you might reduce your footprint in feasible ways for you.
Choose LED bulbs for more energy efficiency. Not only will you not have to replace a bulb near as often but LED bulbs have some of the most versatile options today with numerous color temperatures, shapes, and sizes.
Install Solar PV on your roof. This can be a large investment, so it’s not surprising that there are often a lot of questions surrounding investment in solar. Eric Beck, owner of Green Hill Solar, and Charles Hendricks answer some of the questions we’ve heard the most. If you’re interested in hearing more, check out the answers and discussion in our blog posts: Should you install solar pv on your roof? Part 1 and Part 2.
Another option for when the Virginia Spring swings from cold to summer-feeling heat outside is to open your windows. This is called Natural Ventilation and it can improve the quality of your indoor air by circulating fresh air, while reducing energy bills when designed right. However, if your allergies are bad in the spring, this tip may not be worth it, and that’s ok.
While most of us around here are swept away in the excitement of this holiday season, we playfully enjoy airing our grievances in honor of Festivus. Our new years resolutions are being carefully crafted but in the meantime, it sure does feel good to get some of these grievances off our chest. Let us know if you can relate to any of these or what else is on your list!
Deborah: “I only have two hands, so I can only walk two dogs at a time…or else I’d adopt a passel of them.”
Annie: “three words; Ticketmaster & Taylor Swift. Also worth mentioning, can the tripledemic be done now and why is self-check out at the grocery store seemingly the only option these days?”
Charles: get ready for a long list! “Supply chain brokenness, can we just go ahead and fix it already? Left lane slowness, I have places to go, move over people. Why is daylight savings still a thing? Starting work before dark and finishing in the dark makes no sense. As always, lack of good design is at the top of my grievances, plain and simple, hire an architect. Air permeable insulation is a waste of energy, vapor barriers in the wrong places is just wrong- let it dry out. Lastly, anyone who doesn’t love grumpy architects because we are the best. It’s outrageous, egregious, preposterous!”
Adrienne: “Toddlers who ask for food to then only take one bite and say ‘ew, yucky’, especially when that food is at a restaurant and you paid for their dinner. Dogs that act completely blind and deaf in the house but then coincidentally know exactly when a neighbor is walking a block away and needs to sound the alarm and bark! Also, our cars, for constantly giving us new reasons they need to be replaced, but also being so expensive to purchase right now. Lastly, I’m looking at you Netflix. Why do you give me an option with ads that I sincerely dislike but am too frugal to pay more to get ride of them? Oh and one more, laundry, because it’s laundry.”
Carla: “Bloop tone (not the frozen yogurt store) and robo calls. A forecast of snow but then it rains will always be at the top of disappointments. Lastly, when your car thinks there is someone in the empty passenger seat and the fasten seatbelt warning comes on. Enough!”
Not sure about you, but those of us who aired our grievances feel like we took a big exhale and are ready for both the exciting opportunities frustrating small moments ahead. Give it a try and let us know what is on your list. Happy Festivus from the rest of us!
