tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post331369802740726375..comments2023-10-02T08:28:06.724-05:00Comments on Ecology of Absence: The Design Competition's Jury, and Its Grand JuryMichael R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17262548806079447404noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-53101866471490593932010-01-17T09:51:45.446-06:002010-01-17T09:51:45.446-06:00...that's not to say that there won't be s......that's not to say that there won't be submissions that excellent, and merit the award because of a display of clear understanding of the city-to-river connectivity problem. A local compeitition-of-sorts, that runs parallel to the official competition, could really allow local talent and interests to publish graphically the kinds of solutions that reflect the most local understanding of the connectivity problem. Without an opportunity to somehow affect the jurors by indicating what locals desire, and have that influence their judgement on selection, there is really nothing else, is there?john w.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826793.post-82075525286197979272010-01-17T09:45:55.347-06:002010-01-17T09:45:55.347-06:00"The jury's composition, however, should ..."The jury's composition, however, should not consign local critics to passivity. In fact, having St. Louis' leading critics and designers outside of the official process allows them the free reign of critical engagement that only those with deep local understanding can offer. All of us concerned with the competition should step up to demand excellence, praise good decisions, call out bad decisions and work to guarantee that the design competition is truly a great moment for our city."<br /><br /><br />It's a pipe dream Michael, however spirited and well-intentioned. NOT having local designers as PART OF the design process is simple emasculation of the true power of the local design community, and I can promise you that any criticism offered to the entries will be noted in some perfunctory manner out of courtesy, and then summarily tossed aside as the pace cannot be broken, and powerful name designers can't be bothered with the concerns of the powerless.john w.noreply@blogger.com