SILVER SHIP RADIANCE / gratitude fills our hearts

+LA JOLLA'S SILVER SHIP+

 >right after showing my work at the aspen design<
>conference in the mid seventies i found a lot in<
>nautilus street in la jolla that was very steep &<
+(I CLIMED UP THE 32% SLOPE+
+180% VIEW AN INSPIRATION)+
>i was able to borrow the money to buy the<
>lot and build a house, all in one bank loan<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+SABBATICAL+

>leave after 7 years teaching at sdsu provided<

>me the time to make 100+ graphic studies to<

+(I MADE OVER 100 "SILVER+

+SHIP" CONST. DRAWINGS)+

>build a three story 3000 sq.ft. studio home<

>i named it "silver ship" after a ufo sighting<

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+I HIRED 5 FINE STUDENTS+
>dave fobes, mario lara, chris jung, jack<

>houston, and dennis woodard to help<

+(I HAD BUILT ALL OF MY+

+LOUISIANA BUILDINGS)+

>me at an apprentice minimum wage<

>to build the "silver ship" structure<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 +MY GOAL WAS TO BUILD+

+BY HAND AVOIDING THE+

>(all of my oeuvre had<

>been built this way)<

+USE OF MACHINERY &+

+RETAIN VEGETATION+

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>a youthful ufo sighting and a letter<
>from ray bradbury was inspiration<
+(HISTORY WAS MADE /+
+w/ DEDICATED WORK)+

>the students were inspired & eager<

>although w/o building experience<

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >dave and i in the trenches during the early days<
>of construction...roger utt helped (background)<
+(WE TRUNDLED SOIL IN+
+CHUTES TO the STREET)+
>during the difficult early days removing soil<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >this photo taken of our "footprint" just before<
>the rains came that were horrendous, slowing<
+(OUR FOUNDATION+
+BEFORE THE RAIN)+
>our conc. pour, pumped from nautilus street<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >some of the over 100 sheets of hand made<
>construction drawings i made during my<
+(HANDMADE DRAWINGS+
+I HAVE GIVEN TO SDSU)+
>sdsu sabbatical,(note the isometric view)<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >i studied several different organizations of<
>the floor plan, positioning the kitchen so<
+(SEE THE ORIGINAL DESIGN+
+DRAWINGS ON THE RIGHT)+
>that marian would have a higher view<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >i drew two different ways to build the,
>parking deck. this one using a steel<
+(THE SILVER SHIP AN+
+EARLY DRAWING,78)+
>pipe frame was favored but costly<
>so i went to curved conc blk wall<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >my favorite structural innovation was to<
>adopt lamella 6 ft long roof framing w/<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY/+
+LAMELLA CONSTRUCT.)+
>a history of use in warehouse building<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >an amazing synchronicity is that my degruy<
>ancestors & thomas jefferson both used the<
+(WAS I GUIDED BY THE+
+"GENETIC MEMORY")+ ?
>lamella frame for their 1790 dome design<
>(but i did not know this until recently)< !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the silver ship studio became the setting for<
>many other creative concepts such as this<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+ / SHELL STRUCTURE)+
>design for a biomorphic shell residence<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the love for bungalows never left me as<
>seen in this 1995 design for a beach<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+>>>/ ECO MUNDO)+
>resort bungalow w/ convertibility<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>space age technology was an inspiration<

>in our environ design prototypes class<

+LIGHT WEIGHT SPHERES+

+/ RADIANT & STRONG+ 

>w/ light weight biomorphics important<

>a prototypes approach for affordability

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

                                      

 >in january of 1972 just two years after<
>starting the sdsu, e.d program i loaned<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+/ RADIANT CONCEPTS)+
>ray bradbury a sheet of my slides and<
>this was his response just afterward<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >it was in california that george adamski took<

>his famed "mothership" photo (R) the craft<

+("RADIANT ARCHITECTURE"+

+/ "UFO"CALIFORNIA VISION)+

>that inspired my vision in california design<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO ALL+

+OF OUR SILVER SHIP ALUMS+

>(the original ship lives<

>forever in our hearts)<

+"FOR ONE BRIEF MOMENT+

+THERE WAS CAMELOT"+ !

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>note :  i am grateful for many facbook<
>comments that have come our way in<
>recent days , especially that of jack<
+(RADIANT GRATITUDE+
+FILLS OUR HEARTS)+
>houston….dave fobes continuous aid<
>to me to this very day is very special<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
eugene ray, mfa, architect
professor emeritus, sdsu

RUINS AS ART / france to lajolla

+DEEP SUMMER IN LAJOLLA+

>(time takes its toll on<

>buildings & people)<

+& RUINS IN LANGUEDOC+

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>yesterday morning i took another walk in our<

>seaside village of lajolla photographing the<

+(L.J. RED BUNGALOWS ARE+

+DESIGNATED as NATIONAL+

+HISTORICAL MONUMENTS)+

>red bungalows at the cove beach close up<

>and a few other points of significance< 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+RUINS HAVE A POIGNANT BEAUTY+

+AS SEEN IN MY CHATEAU PHOTOS+

>(vinyard plantation ruins<

>in the bordeaux region<

>of our cavaroc people)<

+OF RUINS IN THE FR. LANGUEDOC+

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >as you will see in collage photo no. three<
>i found an historical chateau ruin litho in<
+(PLANTATION RUINS ARE+
+POIGNANT TO MY SOUL)+
>my precious book on bordeaux vineyards<
>after driving for miles i found this place<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >other favorite chateau finds were the country<
>homes of henri de toulouse lautrec, antoine<
+(FRENCH HISTORY ON+
+REMOTE CHATEAUX)+
>de st. exupery, the great poet, and the<
>infamous marquis de sade @ lacoste<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >this group of collage pages from my archive<
>document our photographic safaris in france<
+(VITAL COLLAGE-MAIL+
+EXHIBITION ARCHIVE)+
>east of the cavaroc families bordeaux after<
>finding an historical plantation lithograph<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >an expert "is someone from out of town", i will<
>not live to see my safari collage graphics in the<
+(BIOTRONIC ENERGY CONE+
+BUT DO THEY REALIZE IT)+ ?
>lajolla museum of contemporary art…but i was<
>pleased to photograph marianne w/ cone there<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the lajolla museum of contemporary art, like<
>most art museums is driven by power force<
+(AFTER VAN GOGH DIED+
+HIS PAINTINGS WERE>>+
+USED FOR FLOOR MOPS+
+UNTIL EXPERTS CAME)+ !
>of "out of town" persona….but lesson of<
>van gogh's exhibition career reminds us<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >i fell in love w/ lajolla in 1967 when we lived<
>in redwood bungalows on prospect street a<
+(LAJOLLA LIGHT /+
+LAJOLLA LOVE)+
>block from the museum and this museum<
>beach of ellen b. scripps was our beach< !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >on the same prospect street as the art museum<
>& our bungalows the la valencia hotel rears<
+(LAJOLLA'S TOWERS TIE+
+THE TOWN TOGETHER)+
>its gorgeous spanish tile head announcing<
>the cove beach and 1894 red bungalows<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the stars of todays blog are the most important<
>structures in lajolla california…red bungalows,<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY /+
+LAJOLLA BUNGALOWS /+
+NATL PARK SERV, PDF)+
>the oldest in california…poems for affordable<
>housing when less then 1% can afford such<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >this progenitor of affordable housing in the<
>usa was constructed of redwood in 1894 &<
+(READ MY 1975 PAPER /+
+OFFICIAL GOVT. PDF)+
>has resisted all earthquakes and storms<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >dear friends, these structures lie derelict, an<
>insult to national historic preservation laws<
+(GETTY & OTHER ART+
+$$$ SHOULD INVEST)+
>by googling the above you can find my<
>original paper supported by 7 experts<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >if in europe these historical monuments would<
>have been restored long ago….a questionable<
+(WE DON'T HAVE CASTLES+
+THESE ARE OUR CASTLES)+ !
>plan afoot is to build similar bungalows here<
>for hotel use…(is not historic preservation)< !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+RED BUNGALOWS HAD LARGER+

+WINDOWS ALLOWING HEALTHY+

>(light tensile frame…resilient and<

>resisting many quakes & storms)<

+LIGHT TO ENTER THE INTERIOR+

+MODERN DESIGN PROGENITOR+

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

eugene ray, mfa, architect

professor emeritus, sdsu

KUDZU IN THE HEAT /

+DEDICATION+

>to gilbert dufouchard degruy, father of degruy< 

>genealogy who first introduced me to that<

+(GRATITUDE W/ LOVE+

+FOR THEIR SUPPORT)+

>fascinating subject & my brother walker<

>who has been ill in the hospital recently<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+JEAN BAPTISTE VERLOIN deGRUY+

>cleared the impenetrable cane along bayou barataria<

>in the jungle south of new orleans while living in<

>a french tropics house on an indian mound that<

+(GROWING INDIGO WHILE+

+PLANTING SUGAR CANE)+

>his de monberaud bride had inherited after her<

>first husband, de la croix, had passed away<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+THE INDIAN MOUND HOUSE+

>(barataria was dangerous<

>w/ wild animals & pirates)<

+WAS LIKE "LACOUR"HOUSE+ 

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+GIANT PALMETTOS+
>25 ft high along w/ oaks & cypress dominated<
>the thick vegetation while alligator multitudes<
>sunned themselves on the barataria river bank<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+ALLIGATORS GREW LONGER+
+THEN PALMETTOS 25' HT. IN+
>(alligators teeth were<
>sharp as metal razors)<

+18 C LOUISIANA JUNGLES+

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >there is an early french tropic house at<
>mandeville i have photographed that<
+(GRUY INDIAN MOUND+
+HOUSE was LIKE THIS)+
>looked much like this lacour house<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >new orleans was officially colony of the<
>french west indies & the african people<
+(NOLA WAS CHILD OF+
+/ FRENCH W. INDIES)+
>had artistic talent & construction ability<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>radiant color reflected the rich indigenous<
>folk culture from french west africa into<
+(NOLA FOLK CULTURE+
+REFLECTS RADIANCE)+
>vernacular  contemporary soda labels<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >many hours we spent looking for remnants<
>of my grandmothers french creole culture<
+(FRENCH CREOLE ART>+
+TOUGH & PERSISTANT)+
>which was found in some remote locals<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >african okra was a vital essence in the daily<
>ritual of preparing french-african seafood<
+(OKRA ESSENCE IN+
+SEAFOOD GUMBO)+
>gumbo w/ its amazing organic powers<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^                                                                                                                          

 >our mother and older brother both had<
>seering metaphysical talent in the arts<
+(COSMIC CONSCIOUS+
+OCCULT MANIFESTS)+
>and in visionary occult prognostics<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >in the 1990s i discovered the poignant photos<
>of artist william christenberry born into a poor<
+(WE SHARED EMPATHY+
+/ IN ORGANIC ISSUES)+
>cotton sharecropping family in rural alabama<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^                

 >william christenberry and i shared some<
>correspondence and i sent him a packet<
+(CHRISTENBERRY is now+
+A PROF. IN WASH. D.C.)+
>of my mail art w/ its french rural spirit<
>(thanks to cousin neal for his packets)<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the prolific vital persistent growth of asian<
>kudzu vine caused alabama highway dept<
+(KUDZU "EATS" SMALL+
+ALABAMA HOUSES)+
>to plant in rural areas BUT it takes over<
>(it grows so fast one can see it grow)<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >(the original house above<
>& sculpture model below)<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >william christenberry is so empathetic w/ his<
>alabama folk culture he crafted sculptures as<
+(RURAL HOUSE SCULPTURE+
+OF W'M CHRISTENBERRY)+
>based on rural alabama sharecropper houses<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the simplicity of some of the rural alabama<
>houses reflects a classic vision related to<
+(CLASSIC SIMPLICITY+
+/RURAL ALA. FIELDS)+
>bauhaus principals & modern concepts<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                      
>long before i met christenberry & his work<
>in alabama i was documenting nola creole<
+(NOLA ORGANIC RUINS+
+NEW GROWTH RITUAL)+
>ruinous houses & making collage graphics<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+GOOGLE : WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY+
>(plant kingdom vital kudzu meets<
>organic ruins in rural alabama<
>radiant w/ soda sign color)<
+FOR HIS TALENTED ORGANIC VISION+
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
eugene ray, mfa, architect
professor emeritus, sdsu

LAJOLLA TREASURES / cove, bungalows, athenaeun, star, jungle pig

+DEEP SUMMER+

>by gwen bristo was our mother's favorite book<

+LIGHT IN AUGUST+

>by faulkner was our first wife's favorite book<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+MARIANNE & I ARE ENJOYING+

+LA JOLLA EACH DAY DURING+

>(we had a great time at the<

>lajolla historic society sat.)

+THIS RADIANT AUGUST TIME+

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>yesterday i took a walk in lajolla and,

+(COVE BUNGALOWS+

+CHURCH-LIBRARIES+

>(plus special secret)<

+"PIG IN THE JUNGLE")+

>visited some favorite radiant places<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

                                     
 >the red lajolla bungalows above the cove<
>beach as you know, is very special in my<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+LAJOLLA BUNGALOWS)+
>matrix of magical places in old lajolla<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>(national historic monuments since 75<
>thanks to our small group's effort)<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >our home is around the bay, a few blocks<
>beyond and above the famed beach club<
+GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+/ IRVING JOHN GILL+
>& irving gill's houses on princess street<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the cove beach is lajolla's "living room"and<
>radiant w/ solar energy & negative ions<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+(/ RIVIERA RADIANCE)+
>read my bungalow paper on the www<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >within 5 minuetes i had found 2 books for<
>sale above the cove at the "athenaeum"of<
+GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+/ PABLO PICASSO+
>lajolla library a vision of ellen b. scripps<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the athenaeum is my favorite economy "arts<
>club", in downtown lajolla charging $50<
+GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY/+
+>/ LAJOLLA OASIS+
>a year, where books & records attract<
>(i love the circular-cone roof on side)<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >d. g. wills bookshop in downtown lajolla<
>is of course our star of fine art books and<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+D.G. WILLS BOOKSHOP)+
>i also enjoy quiet moments in this corner<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >marianne and i enjoy together quiet<
>moments in "mary star of the sea"<
+GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+/ TEMPLAR CHAPEL+
>/ the alter area is very beautiful<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the secret star of our lajolla visit this morning<
>is the lajolla "racket stringing workshop"and<
+LAJOLLA'S SECRET "STAR+
+PIG IN THE JUNGLE" SIGN+
>it is a work of vernacular folk art on the side<
> of the building in a jungle that stars bright<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >this mini bungalow was once part of ellen<
>b. scripps houses for her domestic"help"&<
+(BISHOP SCHOOL HAS+
+EATEN them ALL UP)+ !
>sadly all but one are now destroyed w/<
>the first lajolla library sadly included<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the deep summer lajolla jungle grows wild and<
>radiant in front and side of the "racket stringing<
+(THE SECRET PIG SIGN IS+
+LEANING ON THE SIDE++
>workshop" honoring the secret metal pig sign<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >this badly faded "jungle pig sign" is the star<
>of our grass roots tour today and it once was<
+(SEVERAL SIGN PHOTOS+
+MADE IN MANY YEARS)+
>seen high on a metal pole selling hot dogs<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >i photographed this transcendent manifestation<
>with the gigantic ancient cactus smiling down<
+(SPEAKING WITH PLANTS+
+IN LEONARDO'S CODE)+ !
>honoring our aged effort of documentation<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+FOR A JUNGLE+
+PIG LINKAGE+ !
^^^^^^^^
+GOOGLE :> EUGENE RAY+
>(a (pig farm) school<
>for island deaf kids<
>using conc slabs)
+BOHOL ISLAND SCHOOL+

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

eugene ray, mfa, architect

professor emeritus, sdsu