Architecture, Society and Culture

I watch trees sway through a tiny window as a warm breeze throws itself against the buildings, structures of concrete walls and cold steel that leave much to be desired by the senses. We are slaves to the architecture that should be serving us. Yet we have a choice; the cultural decisions we make can also have a functional purpose in society and our architecture.

Here are a few shots I took while covering a presentation by my architecture professor's Design 4 students on a theory in architecture that is being enforced, thankfully, by the professionals of our age: space surrounding a structure or object- the available resources of the natural landscape, the cultural purpose of those creating it - is what influences creation of the object. This theory contrasts with the centuries-old, hierarchical practice of a city created by powerful figures and institutions that deplete the surrounding environment.

The "illuminated creations" shaped by the student represent the cavity-minded view that instead of experiencing just the thing, the object itself - a common mindset of Western culture and architecture - structures are formed by the space surrounding it, a bottom-up process of influence, history and correlation.

Don't we just want to break the windows and let the breeze flow through?



Professor Dwayne Bohuslav gives feedback to his Design 4 students while they model "illuminated wearable creations" Feb. 15. Bohuslav received $1,000 from the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and lighting from Del Lighting to fund the project. Four teams will compete with their costumes at the private AIA San Antonio Beaux Arts Ball Feb. 26 at the Grand Hyatt, followed by an exhibition at AIA's Pearl Studio, 200 E. Grayson, and at Luminaria downtown March 12.



Architecture sophomore Judith Fernandez models her costume Feb. 15 while team members Marcela Resendez and James Stopher watch. The design represents themes of stereometry, the process of determining the volume and dimensions of a solid, or the kind of space we live in.



Lucas Cornelius, Ivonne Perea, Oscar Rincon, and Judith Fernandez.

Asian Festival

Seeing, tasting and hearing new things today at the Asian festival at the Institute of Texan Cultures renewed my life-long passion to one day travel the world, to feel and share the most that I can, anywhere. Click the photo to view a slideshow!



The Tinikling, a famous dance of the Philippines where jumping between bamboo rods gets harder and even more fun to watch.

Creation's Wonders

Seed falls in the wind



The first winter solstice, full lunar eclipse - in 375 years!

Caterpillars and Moths

What a beautiful variety of caterpillars I've seen squirming around San Antonio College...








Now, apparently, this is the North American Puss Caterpillar, one of the most poisonous on the continent, that turns into this:

From the Family

Some moments with family in 2010:





Dad gearing up to battle the yard, haha.



Sink repair!



Mike and Lisa after running the Rock and Roll Marathon.



Waffles in the morning.



My mom and tia Nancy visit St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Seguin, where they grew up.



Cousin Roger, Eagle Scout and Austin's Westlake High School '11 graduate.





Foster's tongue sticks out.

Farmers Market Finds

While sifting through photos taken last year, I found these beauts from a visit to the Pearl farmers market...



Oyster mushrooms.



Mini bell peppers.

"It's Possible"

While taking a slow exposure during the 24th Martin Luther King Jr. March, two friends walked into the frame and hugged...



Tamala Price hugs longtime friend John Keno Monday at Badger Street and Martin Luther King Drive during the march. Price said she abused crack cocaine for 16 years on that corner, where she lived in a vacant home there until being evicted ten years ago. "The people look at me like they saw a ghost," she said, describing how she "finally broke down and prayed to God one night" and recovered after spending only three months in a rehabilitation center, became a nurse and eventually built her own home. "It's possible," she said. "It really is possible."

Christmas 2010

Copper and other chemicals burn green, blue and violet flames in the evening fire. Click to view a slideshow.



Pops hugs a tree while shopping at the farm:



A few photos of my nephew Ethan Erich Wimberly, born Nov. 19, and 2-year-old niece Eva Kay Wimberly with family:







Rain finally falls while at The Cove, a lovely organic-eats restaurant near SAC.



Click the photo to view a slideshow of Christmas morning and evening on the river downtown!



"Mine" became Eva's favorite words this holiday season :-P



Mom pouring Tang into the orange spice tea mix.

Fall 2010 Portfolio

Art freshman Elisa Rodriguez sleeps among the fiction Dec. 12. "I was just tired today, so I looked for somewhere to sleep," she said. Click the photo to view a slideshow of the semester's best.

Featured audio slideshow:



Featured Video:

Virus: A Haunted House at San Antonio College from Journalism Program on Vimeo.

Lanier, Fox Tech Chili Bowl Gala

On any given year this time, thousands of fans would gather at Alamo Stadium to witness what nobody would then call "history in the making," but now exists as only a memory for so many since 1942: the Chili Bowl.

Fox Tech high school has begun its transformation into a magnet school for the West Side, going from hundreds of graduates to only one hundred, meaning too few students for a football team.

Graduates of Lanier high school and longtime football rivals Fox Tech gathered Saturday to "keep the tradition alive" at the grounds of the Freeman Coliseum:


"How have they changed?"







People dance, laugh and drink.





A graduate shares wise words of many years with youthful Major Julian Castro.

Lunch with the Los

A few shots from an unforgettable afternoon lunch spent with my photo Professor Dr. Lo and classmates at his house



Courtesy of Dr. Lo
So many delicious dishes.

food pantry closes to the public

Joseph Sky Martin carries a bag of grapes Wednesday while leaving the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belknap and Courtland. Martin said he uses the pantry to help support his family of four, however, the pantry will serve only students and staff at this college beginning next week, from noon-4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

History sophomore Angela Henry grabs cans off the shelves while social work sophomore Brent Walker moves boxes Wednesday at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center. "I felt kinda naive because I didn't know it was here," Henry said on her first day volunteering. "Everyone is so friendly that it makes me want to do more."

Economics Professor Susan Spencer, coordinator of the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry, reacts Wednesday to the surplus of canned food available in the pantry, located in the basement of the Catholic Student Center on Belknap and Courtland. The pantry recently won $5,000 in a Pepsi Challenge and were able to buy new appliances and food. The pantry will be closing to the public for reasons declined mention by Spencer.

Volunteer Carla Calderon carries food Wednesday while volunteering at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belknap and Courtland. "You can't come here and just leave, because it's so rewarding for everyone," said Calderon, who has been volunteering at various food pantrys since 1989.

Education sophomore Richele Brooks looks for a recipient's file Wednesday while volunteering at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belnap and Courtland. "I don't like having to tell people that we can't help them anymore," Brooks said of the new policy requiring that only students and staff at the college may use the pantry. Thousands of files will be discarded, she said.

Kysean Ferreira, 3, waits to pick out a toy with volunteer Carla Calderon Wednesday inside the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belknap and Courtland.

Volunteer Carla Calderon apologizes to an unidentified man Wednesday at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry because the pantry is unable to serve the public beginning next week. "It's upsetting because (the pantry) helped alot," the man said.

All photos copyright protected by The Ranger/Tyler K. Cleveland