https://jackforinash.rodeo Jack Forinash™ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:17:58 +0000 https://jackforinash.rodeo en http://jackforinash.rodeo/stars Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:17:58 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 459465 “Looking Up” with Jack Forinash Stargazing tours led from the L88 New Cuyama Airstrip <img width="1245" height="1777" width_o="1245" height_o="1777" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/0cca8b3c65f0a37002bfe417f3f0eaaf5a88f8dcf00a73a0120ec445537526f0/IMG_5862.jpg" data-mid="1437038" border="0" /> By reservation only Email lookingupwithjack@gmail.com and include the date requested and the number of people in your party. Join for a night under the Milky Way for a guided tour of the night sky. About an hour after sunset, we’ll meet in New Cuyama at either Blue Sky Center or the Buckhorn bar, grab a to-go drink, and walk a few minutes to the L88 Airstrip as our eyes adjust, then connect the dots above us using just our eyes (no special equipment needed!). First-time skyviewers welcome! Base rate: $120 (for 2 people) Each additional person: $12 Groups welcome from 2 to 29, all ages and skill levels Includes a takeaway night sky zine specific to the night Methods of payment: cash, check, money order, or Venmo Current summer 2026 dates available (email to confirm availability) WEATHER DEPDENDING OF COURSE - refundable if clouds are more than 50% - INQUIRE FOR PRIVATE EVENTS, willing to travel - limited availability - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 2 still spots left! - Thursday, June 4, 2026 - 7 still spots left! - Thursday, June 18, 2026 - Thursday, July 2, 2026 - Thursday, July 9, 2026- act fast, limited availablity - Thursday, July 16, 2026 - act fast, limited availability - Thursday, July 23, 2026 - Thursday, August 6, 2026 - Thursday, August 13, 2026 - 4 still spots left! - Thursday, August 27, 2026 - FULL MOON EDITION - Thursday, September 11,&nbsp; 2026 - SPECIAL SHAY ONLY - book in advance “Looking Up” with Jack Forinash Stargazing tours led from the L88 New Cuyama Airstrip By reservation only Email lookingupwithjack@gmail.com and include the... http://jackforinash.rodeo/sauna Wed, 15 Oct 2025 02:28:52 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 458169 Sawbill Sauna2025 | Elberta, MichiganArchitectural Co-Designer, On-site Builder With Kelly Gregory, Teddy Nava, and Patrick Haesloop <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/37bad226ef574bf6d59373267bfa645e825a67385adebe45fd38236c49746062/IMG_3886.jpg" data-mid="1421173" border="0" />The Finnish-style sauna sits at the base of the dunes of the west coast of Lake Michigan, in the back yard of the Sawbill Surf Club. Built by four friends over thirteen days as the North Michigan leaves began to change color, supported with free tool rentals and daily visits from the surrounding community.&nbsp; Designer: Roving Studio (Kelly Gregory, Principal) Co-Designers: Patrick Haesloop, Teddy Nava, and Jack Forinash Builders: Kelly Gregory, Patrick Haesloop, Teddy Nava, and Jack Forinash Client: Sawbill Surf Club Budget: $10,000Size: 126sf | 7’x10’ interior sauna with 7’x8’ deck Funding: Sawbill Surf Club, with support from Blue Sky Center’s professional development fund for travel expenses <img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/8aadd26c06c799d54c837443b05f36dd604ed63f54a81742cd4f8dd5b4e500a7/IMG_4025.jpg" data-mid="1421175" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/4c0aecd706fbfb0f90a2bfbdeb5e04e2cf1146a1c806cc53621ed2a6490271f5/IMG_5534.jpg" data-mid="1421186" border="0" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/8383c034e491009f2fc73a3e10fcd7d64177e9b23b4d60e9ba769ee0097f20d2/IMG_3863.jpg" data-mid="1421180" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/5770196913b825f025d59c53e52b54e22288411d585b6448348a9c76a0ff3dcb/IMG_5527.jpg" data-mid="1421177" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/d8d0a68ffc73e6058291012df0901d3cb2f9681794039d4c283cbb271640dff7/IMG_5538.jpg" data-mid="1421184" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/cffc6b472a656c957cd09ce98b604f4a444b4000688a4d98e4f13611b590967c/IMG_5544.jpg" data-mid="1421190" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/ab1ce1c88d1bbd3414fe27e62203cdc55abaaae56b487db5016270edb4b12199/IMG_5559.jpg" data-mid="1421183" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/c9f70be23c66cff58f5b7ec9777052e2e0e2ba544b98897265a4da896d0fe101/IMG_5562-1.jpg" data-mid="1421188" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/251ffd72c4ac7f7cf00ff7317776f80b7c6dcb602ed89d9c53962e87096f4888/IMG_3875.jpg" data-mid="1421178" border="0" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/6683234e08620dfca8c60e553e8bfb1cfc00a20e0afbe1adbb6f26a24d5a3187/IMG_3895.jpg" data-mid="1421192" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/2c4cb81efe16fc1d4188562c2d3a69418093cc6f2c7deb789131126739024bd2/IMG_5598.jpg" data-mid="1421191" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/e60151b69b4ecf5da76998ead3100d0ba64ea042828d86cd725f621d644c4877/IMG_5605.jpg" data-mid="1421176" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/f8fd60335e616cab6b0c2d314b25f919d3be193f8dcae10365f81e5863ce17ef/IMG_5658.jpg" data-mid="1421181" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/e298705e9577f6f5b14ecfb7e114b6bf6ff5761e7e83f4d6f37a981bdcbf6ac5/IMG_5648.jpg" data-mid="1421187" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/a342bdf695116c166e61fa9a7bac18333da5019b0f6cc91e236ca0e113fba395/IMG_5669.jpg" data-mid="1421193" border="0" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/194e8ce13b727165952e786c6a0c12ae73484df23ba9cc8fdb7ee5cf017ca04b/IMG_3955.jpg" data-mid="1421194" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/260b35860cfe758671fb445fa3475b6e8b9eb80dad00e6ce5c456651fac6da56/IMG_3999.jpeg" data-mid="1421185" border="0" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/1eac553ee43834016ffb4eb32e93e572522bb5100eb093e955bb00edb84f99a5/IMG_3956.jpg" data-mid="1421196" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/979e54cefc429681dbb7ebe25f7c6d5a564a5d74ac98f77ac2e210f8b610f5f0/IMG_5696.jpg" data-mid="1421179" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/e3f5eacdb14e0f87c3e665f1de64375e4fba75a31363dfabc5948f713fa0dec0/IMG_5692.jpg" data-mid="1421189" border="0" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/24c871b94c4c60ca8d66978ab70e8d43e3db5cefe7b60fa7b7cad0c42cae9180/IMG_6339.JPEG" data-mid="1421195" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/5226d6c2a11c829686b2a133fa76ed2b40ec69075017220ed08f766b45356f88/IMG_4014-1.jpg" data-mid="1421182" border="0" /><img width="3024" height="4032" width_o="3024" height_o="4032" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/975295e4448a07f930a136808d33fb74538923ff7eccc85d2e2b8f443bc61452/IMG_4010.jpg" data-mid="1421174" border="0" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/be71e52419e8203d7930bf6584f8e854601f3314874beb454580df8be31d61c9/IMG_7078.jpg" data-mid="1424311" border="0" />Photos by Teddy Nava, Jack Forinash → HOME Sawbill Sauna2025 | Elberta, MichiganArchitectural Co-Designer, On-site Builder With Kelly Gregory, Teddy Nava, and Patrick Haesloop The Finnish-style sauna sits... http://jackforinash.rodeo/clubhouse Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:46:13 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 446059 Church Street Social Clubhouse2020 | Palouse, WashingtonArchitectural Designer, On-site Builder, Project Manager A 120-square-foot (not an) ADU as a place to host visitors and fellow artists in the rural community of Palouse. Bedspace for up to three guests and — when not used for hosting — a well-insulate workspace for Mary. Unskilled neighbors provided all of the construction labor and encouragement along the way.&nbsp; Designer: Jack Forinash Interiors: Mary Welcome Builders: Jack Forinash, Mary Welcome, Zach Runge, Sarah Bofenkamp, Mason, Iris, Scout, Abigail, Bridgette, Blaine, Claire, June, Taylor, Jessie, Katie, Jens, Berlyn, Amon, Felix, Finn, Fisher, Robby, Teddy, Jess, and Libby, with tools borrowed from Margo, Jess, Malcolm, Lauren and David, and Jeff Client: Church Street Social Club Budget:&nbsp;$7,467Size: 120sf plus front porch | 3 bunks inside Funding: Donors of Church Street Social Club <img width="1478" height="2400" width_o="1478" height_o="2400" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/9356d539fea0cd7c4a0a9f5795932d42d486b899a8241769d0700710cc673cda/IMG_7258-sm.jpg" data-mid="1304813" border="0" /> <img width="1500" height="2000" width_o="1500" height_o="2000" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/fa424247deaa1b8cfbf5b4be242d72eb1b935f11f760f7bf448d7ee7945e36b3/Bunkhouse-3.jpg" data-mid="1304800" border="0" /><img width="1500" height="1000" width_o="1500" height_o="1000" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/5b4c5861d9766f961c43851911f0fb2632afc991382d8615f7f330d8abc6af0d/Bunkhouse-31.jpg" data-mid="1304805" border="0" /><img width="1500" height="1125" width_o="1500" height_o="1125" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/b6e7655dd58308083e2187802a87a318422915253884f880f98082230489b7f5/Bunkhouse-29.jpg" data-mid="1304803" border="0" /><img width="1500" height="1000" width_o="1500" height_o="1000" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/4334af3303a2a92bb58e0dad38d440a290ad34bf9f279b61a1cdedabb0d6fe87/Bunkhouse-15.jpg" data-mid="1304802" border="0" /><img width="1500" height="1000" width_o="1500" height_o="1000" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/8d419dcca68fccc5dddbd7e5b4d4d702263943f99a0cb79b026e13138ca1fa8d/Bunkhouse-12.jpg" data-mid="1304804" border="0" /><img width="1500" height="1000" width_o="1500" height_o="1000" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/8352b957dfb97c61018d9f24976363f326afff4962ac8277cb85ad9c21dbd8ae/Bunkhouse-7.jpg" data-mid="1304801" border="0" /><img width="1944" height="2592" width_o="1944" height_o="2592" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/0853706b6eeafc884bab52e96617719a756fcf3787f16f216cb730c2733428db/IMG_0671.JPG" data-mid="1304812" border="0" /><img width="2592" height="1936" width_o="2592" height_o="1936" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/d28bf37a4aa415447447edb50c94dad19059e0d30c590bad2c7e7193b1677b1e/IMG_0658.JPG" data-mid="1304807" border="0" /><img width="1329" height="2048" width_o="1329" height_o="2048" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/de32a07d335a75789f1b126c3cdaab926ab3bf0705ec512083ba086677d800da/IMG_0766.JPG" data-mid="1304809" border="0" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/be47540c62bf5929be8c5ac736d7ec51b360c08678da8a86db5b27b0ccaf561a/IMG_1204.JPG" data-mid="1304811" border="0" /><img width="2592" height="1936" width_o="2592" height_o="1936" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/7632596451a375d6104afa8bcc18f247de5603fce855919414640da1324a7822/IMG_0992.JPG" data-mid="1304808" border="0" /><img width="1478" height="2400" width_o="1478" height_o="2400" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/9356d539fea0cd7c4a0a9f5795932d42d486b899a8241769d0700710cc673cda/IMG_7258-sm.jpg" data-mid="1304813" border="0" /> → HOME Church Street Social Clubhouse2020 | Palouse, WashingtonArchitectural Designer, On-site Builder, Project Manager A 120-square-foot (not an) ADU as a place to host... http://jackforinash.rodeo/CACIAF Thu, 04 May 2023 21:00:23 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 442295 Work Samples for the California Arts Council’s Independent Artist Fellowship (7.6 MB) Work Samples for the California Arts Council’s Independent Artist Fellowship (7.6 MB) http://jackforinash.rodeo/ted Fri, 03 Jun 2022 06:31:43 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 425373 Hear here Here a year and then&nbsp;two and three four more I love you. Hear here Here a year and then&nbsp;two and three four more I love you. http://jackforinash.rodeo/DH2-1 Sat, 28 Sep 2019 16:39:31 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 339084 DESIGNhabitat 2.1 House2008 | Greensboro, Ala.Architectural Co-Designer, On-site Builder, Project Manager, Team Leader A 1,052-square-foot part systems-built, part site-built home as a new iteration of DESIGNhabitat houses, meant to serve as a model for out-sourcing “drying in” the home to a factory home builder while still maintaining enough on-site work to meet the Habitat model Designer: Jack Forinash as part of a 5-person Auburn University student design/build team Builder: Nationwide Homes, Jack Forinash as part of a 5-person student design/build team, volunteers, and the partner family Client: Hale County Habitat for Humanity Funding: Hale County Habitat for Humanity and Auburn University Cost: ~$120,000 Recognition: profiled in “Designed for Habitat” (Hinson, Miller; Routledge Press, 2013) <img width="1200" height="803" width_o="1200" height_o="803" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/158c63cfebca6eb0dd6179d6de510e953cd0062ef69f867f6c5e06b26e70cb3f/Front-View.jpg" data-mid="786161" border="0" /><img width="3072" height="2304" width_o="3072" height_o="2304" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/3633e375884490cd4365b36e6caae35dd4536ff6df8424d2494287306c71870e/DSC05457.JPG" data-mid="786163" border="0" /> <img width="426" height="300" width_o="426" height_o="300" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/ad374d50100855456e9711470583fd2dab0e2da6686d6f967f5ca6a1615b0c02/DSC_0083.jpg" data-mid="786160" border="0" /> <img width="3509" height="2550" width_o="3509" height_o="2550" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/aa22804fb90fe5f605dc47f43af6876ed4a0fe74f3b1365b6cc3d87a931bc83d/img007-raslyn-green-drawing-of-DH2-1.jpg" data-mid="786159" border="0" /> → HOME DESIGNhabitat 2.1 House2008 | Greensboro, Ala.Architectural Co-Designer, On-site Builder, Project Manager, Team Leader A 1,052-square-foot part systems-built, part... http://jackforinash.rodeo/DH2 Sat, 28 Sep 2019 16:19:58 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 339083 DESIGNhabitat 2 House2006 | Greensboro, Ala.Architectural Co-Designer, On-site Builder, Team Member A 1,050-square-foot part systems-built, part site-built home as a new model for out-sourcing “drying in” the home to a factory home builder while still maintaining enough on-site work to meet the Habitat model of community support of a partner family Designer: Jack Forinash as part of a 16-person Auburn University student design/build team Builder: Nationwide Homes, Jack Forinash as part of a 16-person student design/build team, volunteers, and the partner family Client: Hale County&nbsp;Habitat for Humanity Funding: Hale County Habitat for Humanity and Auburn University Cost: ~$120,000 Recognition: an ACSA Collaborative Practice Award (2007), a national AIA Housing Design Award (2007), an AIA Alabama Honor Award (2006); profiled in “Designed for Habitat” (Hinson, Miller; Routledge Press, 2013) <img width="540" height="405" width_o="540" height_o="405" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/608b81f05fb285e2b7811fc2bcd03cd327bea4e0d71db6d33887059773d7c3c7/DH2.jpg" data-mid="786156" border="0" /><img width="2592" height="1688" width_o="2592" height_o="1688" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/02cd6b849ba37882870c2c62cb2e0013d8148024687644045ff12ead934d7d10/frontnight.jpg" data-mid="786158" border="0" /><img width="3072" height="2304" width_o="3072" height_o="2304" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/f1ad4ca5354030e4b38307a19ac30a690040b739b21b6b7d58c72f5cad6350a2/exterior01.jpg" data-mid="786157" border="0" /> → HOME DESIGNhabitat 2 House2006 | Greensboro, Ala.Architectural Co-Designer, On-site Builder, Team Member A 1,050-square-foot part systems-built, part site-built home... http://jackforinash.rodeo/manifesto Thu, 19 Oct 2017 03:37:42 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 222547 Epicenter’s original manifestoSpring 2010The following is the published original manifesto of Epicenter. Its vigor and urgency exposes Epicenter’s original intent of pursuing an alternative model of professional practice along with some of the naiveté inherent in young but passionate doers. Jack Forinash served as the main author, writing in the fall of 2009 as the building renovation was underway and the first grant (from USDA Rural Development) just received, with editing by other members of the Epicenter’s crew and advisors. The manifesto was once a prominent feature on Epicenter’s website, since removed in recent years.Supporter and first-class Frontier Fellow artist-in-residence Nicole Lavelle credits this manifesto for her initial connection to - and subsequent history of work with - Epicenter. The Epicenter (Economic Progress Instigation Center)a is a community-based housing and business resource center, instigating economic progress and creating decent shelter in the town of Green River in the desert of southeast Utah. It is a part of a larger umbrella nonprofit organizationb, which serves the town with a myriad of unduplicated social services, including affordable rental housing, a Boys &amp; Girls Club, a soup kitchen, and a thrift store (the only place to buy shoes in town). The Epicenter crew is a studio-of-sorts currently made up of graduates of architecture, graphic design, industrial design, theology, Spanish language, and high school. Expertise is valued in any allied design field, or from anyone simply willing to sweat and wanting to build something with their hands. In this rural town, the Epicenter has an opportunity to engage, collaborate with, and learn from a community that the design professions have chosen not to serve. Current projects include renovating a 104-year-old building, developing affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity and USDA, organizing a music, art, and film festival, acting as a liaison for the design and construction of a new community center (designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects), provoking the idea of a river walk as an amenity for the town, applying for grants, involving the community in the construction of a skate park, collaborating to build volunteer housing, and partnering with the University of Utah’s College of Architecture + Planning to bring expertise and enthusiasm for the town. We see ourselves as part of a change led by students and recent graduates who want more than the ability to work unapologetically for the socio-economic elite (the most prevalent opportunity offered by the profession). We are crafting an alternative model of practice, one that accommodates our fervent desire to collaborate, to provide “shelter for the soul,” and to emphasize place and circumstance. Our insistence for these ideals has led us to a radical mission, to be taken on by “citizen architects” (and citizen designers, more broadly). The Epicenter was formed by recent architecture graduates who studied at Auburn University and participated in the Rural Studio. That program influenced our path, directing us away from traditional internships we worried might result in disillusionment and instead towards positions to serve. The lack of traditional jobs in the current economy, coupled with the availability of socially minded positions available through organizations like AmeriCorps and Project M, brought us to Green River, Utah, or what we like to call the “Epicenter of the Revolution.” We have learned to create a framework that is completely adaptable. We talk and write about what we are doing, evaluating ourselves, our abilities, and the community in the process. Based on that critical assessment, we adapt. At first, our inclination was to come up with and execute concise, easy to digest, simple ideas. But through our experience, we have realized that 80 percent of our time and effort is preparation, phone calls, community meetings, estimates, budgets, emails, submissions, organizing, filing, presenting — only after all this do we get to the part the community actually sees: the product, the “architecture.” Our biggest lesson to date is that it takes a significant amount of initial work to create something tangible; we do not presume to come in as “outside experts,” as that would be the wrong approach. We collaborate from within the community by capitalizing on existing systems, infrastructure, and the expertise of locals. The town of Green River is a rural community of just 971 residents at the junction of the Green River, Interstate 70, and the railroad. We are often asked, “Why Green River?” At first, we didn’t know (and we still aren’t sure). But we know the fact that question is even asked is a significant portion of the answer. If it was easy and simple, then it would already exist. We do know some factors that answer why. The transparency that exists — the ability to understand who the decision-makers are — is requisite for our ability to create the Epicenter. The town is manageably small; it gives us the chance to wrap our heads around the dynamics of decisions made by residents. Even still, because of the context, the town is different and unique enough that when we seek out prototypes and examples from other similar places, they are hard to replicate here. Our satisfaction comes from the ability to create social change at an individual scale along with the opportunity for creative expression rather than monetary compensation. In school, we learned techniques of design/build through the Rural Studio and DESIGNhabitat, and we felt the impact you can have in working within a community. The Rural Studio has been in Hale County for nearly 20 years; current students benefit greatly from an already-established and proven program that the community trusts. That trust was earned over time. We have been in Green River for a year and a half and sometimes forget that we have not yet earned that same level of trust. None of us ever met Samuel Mockbee, but his provocative disturbance of both the academy and the profession put into place ideals that have outlasted his physical presence. He said: “Every piece of architecture should express some moral. If it has moral merit, it deserves the title of ‘architecture.’ For me, professional challenge, whether I am an architect the rural American South of the American West, is how to avoid becoming so stunned by the power of modern technology and economic affluence that I lose focus on the fact that people and place matter… Everyone’s too busy trying to make a living. We have to be more than a house pet to the rich; we need to get out of that role.”1 What Mockbee described can only happen by valuing the specificity of a place and the experiences of those who have lived there. We are young and able, but we are often reminded of our limits. We see those limitations as opportunities to include others who can help us achieve our goals. As citizens, we must use our privileges and our talents to serve the public good. We have not learned anything we should be hesitant to provide to others. The elitist status-quo of the profession, selling knowledge products without context, has led to the commodification of architecture and the creation of a built environment that is too often uninspired and irrelevant. It has also created a job sector too easily affected by the pendulum of the economy. We are entrenched within the community. From this place, a microcosm of so many others, we strive to maximize our role as architects and citizens. We value the potent outcome of collaboration over the egotistical assignment of credit, community participation over subversive upheaval, and local solutions over top-down decrees. To this Revolution we hereby pledge allegiance. 1. Andrea Oppenheimer Dean, “The Hero of Hale County: Sam Mockbee,” Architectural Record, 2001. (footnotes denoted by letters [below] are author’s notes as of 2017, made for clarification)a. “Epicenter,” or sometimes “EPIcenter,” was a backronym created for the purpose of appealing to the grantor’s priorities in the USDA RD original RBEG grant application. “The Epicenter,” as was often the phrasing, became simply “Epicenter” (without the acronym) soon after.b. Epicenter became an independent nonprofit, as part of a long-established strategic plan, in September of 2014. → HOME Epicenter’s original manifestoSpring 2010The following is the published original manifesto of Epicenter. Its vigor and urgency exposes... http://jackforinash.rodeo/dispatch-1 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:50:22 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 213682 September’s Dispatch Clarifications and additional information, intended for the recipients of the mailed September Dispatch <img width="700" height="525" width_o="700" height_o="525" src_o="https://cortex.persona.co/t/original/i/47f002a50e8f997c114dcbe7e73829590a018b69980c773e81c03b08c0b21da5/IMG_4908-sm.jpg" data-mid="292291" border="0" />on Main Street in Frankfort, MI (September 2017) Within the body of the letter, after writing, sending, and thinking on it, having restless dreams about it, I have these clarifications, notations, and edits:- “the garbage show” / the use of the term “garbage” is a shout out to my friend and collaborator Spence, who uses that word fluently- “between the bars” / this is the title of an Elliot Smith song that Christian and I listened to a lot back in 2010- use of the word “lost” / meaning, the relationship ended (not due to death); hope that wasn’t misleading- “But, I believe it...” / I’d like to edit this to read instead: “But, I believe it, I’ve seen my parents enact it.” (I love you Mom and Pop)- “no posts to drape duration on” / a quote from “East of Eden” by J. Steinbeck, one of the few books I’ve read (orginally back in the fall of 2004, after being gifted the book from Rand). The next line is, “from nothing to nothing is no time at all.” Mary used that as the title back in March for an exhibit that included as a small portion of the exhibit a commentary on my life- “Insecure with gaps and unknowns” / reference to the title of Lauren’s exhibit I saw just last week at the U of Idaho - “I’m now more orbital” / more on this idea within this recent interview- “I built...an avant guarde organization” / this should clarify to say “I built with the help of many of you an avant guarde organization” (I sincerely don’t mean to not recognize all the value of your support and work)- regular appearance of “three” / coincidental, mostly, but also the best of the early prime numbers; also references triangles, the best and most sturdy shape- shout outs to Rabbit Island and Common Field / looking back, I would not have named these organizations, as it sounds too “look at me, look who I know”; I instead would have just said “for an exhibit” and “at a conference”- “creating diptychs” / a gave a recent presentation at Outpost Winona consisting solely of ditypchs and triptychs, one an image from the internet and a second (or third) from my life that closely relates to the internet (anonymous) image- “megaphone” / Mary is always talking about wanting a $300 megaphone- “is this thing working?” / a double reference to the “new administration” line earlier in the letter and to former President Obama’s first tweet post-presidency- use of “periphery” / I don’t need to explain this, right? I guess there’s some new readers. I used to use the salutation, on every past letter, “from this frontier.” This edit recognizes my new positioning of myself and my work, namely away from Epicenter. Armando and I used to talk regularly, in a joking but also serious way, of starting a complementary organization down the street in Green River and calling it The Periphery.&nbsp; September’s Dispatch Clarifications and additional information, intended for the recipients of the mailed September Dispatch on Main Street in Frankfort, MI... http://jackforinash.rodeo/writings Tue, 08 Aug 2017 03:41:51 +0000 Jack Forinash™ 202247 WritingsFebruary 2009The project featured here was a collaborative exercise of three friends (J, R, and C) living in separate places. A list of “first lines” was created and each participant had the opportunity to start with that line or create their own.Beyond this first iteration, this same tactic of prompts - pre-typed at the top of a piece of paper, placed in a stack at a humming typewriter - has been used in multiple occasions and venues as a way to build on our shared experience. Before you read any of the ones below, consider choosing about 2 or 3 or 11 to be your first lines, and try it yourself. Format dictates that they must be typewritten (your library has a typewriter if you don’t... but you should). You can go as long or short as you want, limited to one page. Once you’re done, consider mailing your responses to PO Box 442, Green River, UT 84525, to be included in the permanent archive. Whether you mail them or not, compare them to the ones below, graphing where our paths cross and diverge. do you want to participate in the naming of things?&nbsp; &nbsp; Runtitled for the moment &nbsp;&nbsp; R&nbsp; &nbsp; C beards and great men &nbsp;&nbsp; R&nbsp; &nbsp; C for me, inspiration comes from&nbsp; &nbsp; J&nbsp; &nbsp; Rthere was once a little boy who would always wear &nbsp;&nbsp; Rthings I have lost in the past 98/126 days&nbsp; &nbsp; J&nbsp; &nbsp; Rregarding branding&nbsp; &nbsp; J&nbsp; &nbsp; Ri am [never] only now&nbsp; &nbsp; J&nbsp; &nbsp; Rportrait of a rebel_. &nbsp;&nbsp; Rhow do you make your decisions? &nbsp;&nbsp; R The unrealised importance of neon: (4-part series)&nbsp; &nbsp; pink&nbsp; &nbsp; orange&nbsp; &nbsp; yellow&nbsp; &nbsp; green A SHORT LIST OF CAPITALIST ENDINGS &nbsp;&nbsp; Ji am no island &nbsp;&nbsp; Jatleast I feel that today&nbsp; &nbsp; J &nbsp;&nbsp; C &nbsp;&nbsp; Rto us, the physicality of a space is just as much:&nbsp; &nbsp; Jalcohol sure does cause a lot of problems&nbsp; &nbsp; Jwho are, and who can bem the young professionals?&nbsp; &nbsp; J in regards to credit&nbsp; &nbsp; Jvagabundo &nbsp;&nbsp; Cas I felt @ one point in time and still reference &nbsp;&nbsp; Cmeaning varies by spatial scale &nbsp;&nbsp; Clyrics: for the moment &nbsp;&nbsp; CDont let the hurricanes and shark attacks hold you back &nbsp;&nbsp; Cthe world needs less glitter: &nbsp;&nbsp; C → HOME WritingsFebruary 2009The project featured here was a collaborative exercise of three friends (J, R, and C) living in separate places. A list of “first lines”...