Brad Emery

     So I was reading an Architectural article for my studio class (and surpisingly enough it was pretty interesting) and was doing some reasearch *read: looking up pictures of the buildings* about some of the structures the author mentioned and I discovered some really neat stuff. I was checking out some images of Frank Llyod Wright's Fallingwater (which I highly recommend looking up if you haven't seen it before - it is amazing) when, to my surprise, I saw a Lego representation of the structure! Having grown up playing with Legos, they hold a special place in my heart and as an adult I welcome any chance to build with the wonderful little blocks. Of course I had to investigate and I discovered that a guy named Adam Tucker (who graduated from K-State in '96) makes massive Lego representations of buildings in the US that are very detailed yet stunning beautiful. Ok - maybe I'm exagerating a bit for most people but they were beautiful to me (remember I'm the odd kid who loves Legos - even in college). Turns out he has paired with Lego to release a series called the Lego Architecture series that has been made available for purchase to the teeming masses of America and the world (although it's likely targeted at a much smaller group of people like myself). The Lego sets are desktop size - I believe they are all under 12 square inches - and they are ridiculously over priced, but they would make a great conversation/decoration piece. Here are a few pictures and links as a reward for putting up with my rambling:
http://www.swipe.com/?p=2711 - This is the site I found first.
http://www.brickstructures.com/Home.html - This is Adam Tucker's site - it has some really neat stuff on it and if you google his name you'll find all sorts of neat Lego structures that he has done.

     Well I was wrong (again); I didn't get back to writing last week. So here I am providing an update after the first week at KSU. Turns out they weren't kidding when the College of Architectural Planning and Design (CAPD) said we'd have a full work load - we had an assignment the first day of studio to be done by the next class; we were to sketch a floor plan and two section views of a small chapel (Danforth Chapel) on campus. The tough part about the assignment, aside from the sheer amount of time consumed completing it, is that it is to be done freehand - which means no ruler, t-square, or straight-edge and our scale was to made from our bodies rather than more traditional measurements. After finishing the rough draft, we revised it multiple times and I breathed a sigh of relief as I turned in my final copy (for now) at 5 today after a full day of sketching. Next week we start right in with a one-point perspective, also done freehand, that is (hopefully) due on Friday.
     When I'm not working in studio I've been catching up on reading for my other classes, although I've been able to have a little pleasure reading to relax before bed each night also. All in all I feel like I'm settling in alright at K-State; the meals are much better than expected (although they certainly aren't home cooked), I've been able to meet a few people, both in the dorm and out, and (judging from this week) I'll be getting to know my fellow students in studio very well (we have a class of 18 in studio including me). I have a good roommate who has helped me locate everything and have found a good church home at Grace Baptist Church, where I am looking forward to trying Sunday School tommorrow morning. I was able to sign up for a small group study at Grace that will meet the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month in the evenings and I'm eager to experience this opportunity as well, and if all goes well I will be able to help with Awanas (a gathering for children similar to TeamKids) at the church as well on Wednesday nights.
     Last week I mentioned a project I was working on for my dorm room that I finished and would like to share with you also, unfortunatly it wasn't needed in my room but perhapes I can use it another year or at home. It is a metal board for decoration and reminders (using magnets).

     For those who are actually keeping up with this blog (I know you're out there! maybe . . .) you've probably noticed that I haven't posted in a while - the reason for this is a funny little thing called College! I've been busy enough preparing to move out this year that this is my first posts in a while - I hope to post a little more often at college to keep you (that's right you mom) updated with college life. In the meantime thatwas your explanation. I hope to post a little later today on a project I've been working on for my dorm so until then . . .

     The Emery clan gathered again this year for our 7th Family Reunion which we held in Gatlinburg, TN. It was a beautiful area near the Smoky Mountains that worked well for our large group, plenty of attractions close by, like Dollywood (where we spent an entire day), and the town itself. We were shocked by the shear amount of people, it was truely a tourist destination with people everywhere you turned - if you're looking for a quiet getaway this is not the place to go - but it was a beautiful area all the same. Here are a few photos I took while we were out and about: