Inform Magazine: Designer Q+A with Thom White, AIA
AIA Virginia’s Inform Magazine is back in action and WPA’s Thom White was interviewed for this issue’s Designer Q&A.
Happy Birthday! MEGA CAKE
The MEGA CAKE’s journey to Burning Man is getting close to it’s fiery conclusion! Fresh off its successful test build at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens, the 50′ tall sculpture has just been listed in Forbes Magazine as on of the “Best of the Best” to watch for in 2019.
From the article: MEGA CAKE is a large scale interactive sculpture of a 4-tier birthday cake that will serve as both a singular piece of art and a place to explore and discover art within. According to the artists, “We are a diverse group of misfits who came together due to a shared love of teamwork and crazy ideas. Each of us has a different combination of reasons for traveling to the Black Rock desert to spend a week laboring to bring a 50-foot wooden cake to life, only to watch it burn shortly thereafter.”
Architect Thom White of Norfolk’s WPA has designed a 12-sided wooden structure resembling a 4-tiered birthday cake. Art glass embellishments representing the animals of the Chinese zodiac and the constellations of the western zodiac will catch the light of the sun and sparkle like sugar in the distance. Plywood panels line each faceted tier and have perforations which recall cake icing embellishments while letting wind pass through. Flexible LED light strips are draped along the top of each level, adding to the icing motif. A propane-fueled “poofer” on the top-most tier will provide flame effects that will fire off at least once per hour at night.
“Our mission has evolved since work began over a year ago. At first, the Cake was thought of primarily as a place to gather, play, and observe Burning Man’s Black Rock City. Then, as the work progressed and construction began, we realized the piece is a singular work of art with vast potential for embedded meaning. MEGA CAKE facilitates a journey through the distinct moments that people encounter along the arc of one’s lifetime.”
Installations: The Best of the Best
Forbes Magazine article Jul 13, 2019
The Hermitage Museum and Gardens “2030 Vision”
The planning process will continue with a series of Listening Sessions, which will ensure that the voices of key stakeholders, community members and supporters are heard as we plan for the Hermitage’s future. We would love for you to join us in a fast-paced discussion to identify the most vital aspects of the Museum & Gardens and to consider how they contribute to an aspirational vision for the near, middle, and long-term. Findings from the session will be incorporated into the “2030 Vision” document and a new Master Site Plan that will guide us for the next decade.
Join us on May 7th for the first community Listening Session
Two times are available; please come to the one that best suits your schedule:
9–10:30 am and 5:30–7:30 pm
There will be a tour of the grounds led by our Curator of Gardens and Grounds, Philip Riske, beginning 45 minutes before each session (8:15 am & 4:45 pm).
The agenda for the Listening Session will include a summary of the evolution of the Hermitage and an update on programming and current events. Staff from Work Program Architects will then lead the group in a discussion looking toward the future of the Museum and Grounds. Breakout groups will be formed to focus on key areas and site factors and to generate ideas for improvements, enhancements, and new opportunities – no idea will be too small or too large! The session will conclude with a discussion about next steps in the process and how you can remain involved.
If either session does not work with your schedule you can still contribute. We will have future sessions and you can always send a comment to info@thehermitagemuseum.org.
Hermitage Museum & Gardens | 7637 North Shore Rd. Norfolk, VA 23505
www.TheHermitageMuseum.org | 757.423.2052
Transformation
Thank you to all of the artists and guest for a fantastic opening of TRANSFORMATION.
The exhibition will be on display until May 24th at the WPA Gallery. The gallery is located in the historic Monticello Arcade at 208 E Plume Street, Norfolk, VA.
#transformation
#burningman
#tidewaterburners
Transformation
Opening April 12, 2019 6:30 – 9:30
Exhibition April 12- May 24, 2019
—
Tidewater Burners, the local Burning Man Regional Community, in partnership with WPA Gallery presents Transformation, an exhibition in celebration of change. As the Virginia Burner group experiences its own form of growth and transformation, we want to recognize the transformation happening in the lives of those around us and in the communities to which we belong. Transformation is a juried group exhibition featuring artists from across the country that explore a wide range of topics related to change, with each artist contributing independent and unique ideas based on personal experience.
The artworks included in the show address physical and emotional change, as it relates to the life cycle including the undeniable impact of birth and death. They address changes in our environment, both through perception and reality. They capture society’s impact on personal growth and the effect of technology on human development. All of the works on view originate from a personal perspective yet are relatable on a much larger scale. They convey an understanding and acceptance that transformation is unavoidable. Exhibited together here, they have the potential to raise awareness and help us better understand ourselves, our relationship with others, and our relationship with our environment.
Assembly
We could not be more excited to announce that we are joining our longtime friends and collaborators @thisisgrow and @madebysway and our new friends @flagshipvisuals in @assemblynfk. Assembly is designed to connect — people, creative companies, our community and the region. Assembly will be packed full of shared amenities and collision spaces that will push each of our companies to grow and succeed faster as we learn from and collaborate with each other. WPA is proud to be designing Assembly for friends who we admire and who have been pushing each other to do our best for Norfolk/VB and the region for over a decade!
Introducing Assembly – Grow – Medium
Commercial Coffee Hampton Roads at the NSU Innovation Center on Main Street
Join us on Wednesday, March 27th for a tour of the Norfolk State University Innovation Center on Main Street. Located in the heart of Norfolk’s business district, the center was created in partnership between the Norfolk State University Research & Innovation Foundation and the City of Norfolk to create a space to better connect students, faculty, and alumni with the greater business community. Because there is no defined end user, the Center is a model for flexibility and serve many purposes. It includes small and large conference areas that can be reconfigured many different ways. The space also includes individual break-out spaces and collaborative work areas, informal sitting and lounge areas, a catering kitchen/break room and four touch-down office spaces. Work Program Architects and Norfolk State University will be speaking about the center.
A special thank you to Work Program Architects for sponsoring!
As always, Commercial Coffee is free-of-charge so please click the “Register Now” link to confirm your attendance.
Paid parking at Commercial Place Garage or on-street metered parking are available.
Virginian-Pilot article By Briana Adhikusuma, Staff Writer
https://pilotonline.com/business/consumer/article_33d2d9a6-45a8-11e9-a0e7-cf457cc788c3.html
Commercial Coffee Hampton Roads
Join us on Wednesday, August 29th to hear about the most iconic riverfront trail in the country, Elizabeth River Trail. This 10.5 mile trail stretches along Norfolk’s waterfront and includes some of the City’s most beloved treasures, including Waterside Marina, Town Point Park, The Pagoda, and Nauticus. We will meet at the pier BEHIND Nauticus. Attendees will need to walk down the path between Half Moone Center and Nauticus to get to the pier. PACE bikes will be available for those interested in riding the trail at the end of the tour. The PACE bike share app is required for use. If you do not have the app downloaded, please visit the Apple App Store and Google Play. Use promo code SOCIALCNFK for a free credit for first time users.
Special Thanks to Work Program Architects for sponsoring this event!
Parking is available at three nearby paid parking garages: Town Point Garage, West Plume Garage, or Main Street Garage.
Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/commercial-coffee-hampton-roads-tickets-48745610433
Imaginings!
A ribbon cutting on August 30th will realize the last piece of an exciting concept for downtown Norfolk’s Selden Market.
Already a vibrant place for up-and-coming entrepreneurs to develop and test new ideas in retail, food and art, the historic space once known as the Selden Arcade now boasts the Slover Makerspace, where anyone with a Norfolk library card can manufacture dreams. The space is outfitted with eight 3D printers, a 75-watt laser cutter, 17 Singer sewing machines and several soldering stations. The Makerspace is adjacent to Slover Library.
WPA congratulates the Slover on the space. We are excited and proud to have been a part of the process to design this place for new imaginings!
