 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 Praise for Florence Knoll Bassett From Steve Gane, President, HBF and HBF Textiles: Congrats on a wonderful issue paying tribute to Florence Knoll Bassett ("Shu U.," July 2001). From the cover by George Lois, the photographs of her papers sent to the Smithsonian, through the interview by Paul Makovsky--well done and well executed. Thank you, I plan to keep a copy of this issue on my coffee table for others to enjoy. From Jessica Hutto, via E-mail: I just wanted to commend the magazine, and especially the author, on this most incredible piece! I work in a Knoll dealership in Greenville, South Carolina, and have more respect for Florence Knoll Bassett than most other influential architects and designers of her time. Her humility, grace, and intelligence were fully demonstrated in this piece! I thank you for the way in which you interviewed her and for portraying her in such a respectful manner! The Great Dowsing Debate From J. Calhoun Gardner, via E-mail: Why not more articles on sexual positions of the zodiac, or investment decisions based on the readings of chicken entrails? It's not surprising that kids are "natural dowsers" (Perspective, July 2001). Teenagers tend to believe they're indestructible or destined for greatness and, at best, they have a 50% chance of being right. This amazing parapsychological phenomenon is called "chance." Wristwatches stop working because they're damaged or sabotaged, and it just sounds "supernatural." Shame on you, and ditsy parents, for taking advantage of kids and promoting nonsense as if it were fact. Flip a coin some time, you'll be astounded at what can happen! More photos, real articles, and less fluff, please! From Mark Waldo, Metrozoe Studio, via E-mail: Thank you for the wonderful article on dowsing. Starting projects with some silliness and/or joy is a great thing. It helps keep us human and makes the final product somehow more meaningful for everyone. The article reminded me of a day in 1972 when I saw a dowser find the water line that ran from the street to our house. My father, a rocket scientist for Aerojet General, imagined that there must be a leak in our water pipe after looking at our water bill. He called the municipal water department (in Tacoma, Washington), which sent two guys and a truck to our house. I was 11 and was waiting for them when they showed up. A big older man in gray coveralls stepped out of the truck and, after a quick conversation with my dad, did just what Miss Kading did in your article. He nonchalantly paced back and forth across our yard lightly holding bent wire rods in front of him. I was watching when at one point the rods smoothly rotated out to the sides. He did this two more times or so, triangulating like Miss Kading, and pointed to where the pipe was. Newly from the much more advanced city of Los Angeles, my father and I were amazed. We were even more amazed when the pipe was found exactly where he said it would be. It was a perfect moment and a great start to living in our new city. Competition The American Academy in Rome, one of the leading American overseas centers for independent study and advanced research in the arts and humanities, invites applicants for its prestigious Rome Prize. Each year, through a national juried competition, up to 30 Rome Prize fellowships are awarded in architecture, design (including graphic design, industrial design, interior design, set design, urban design, urban planning, and other related design fields), historic preservation and conservation, landscape architecture, and other fields in the humanities. The deadline for receipt of applications is November 15, 2001. Application guidelines and further information about the Rome Prize and the American Academy are available at www.aarome.org. Metropolis welcomes letters to the editor. They can be sent to Dialogue, Metropolis, 61 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010 or e-mailed to edit@metropolismag.com or talk2us@metropolismag.com. All letters are subject to editing. |
