I went into the Hatfield gallery one day, when I was about to start a new
canvas. This was shortly after I started with the gallery. I asked the
people working that day where was a good place to paint nearby. They
pointed me toward this courtyard that
I could see from across the corner. So I set this canvas up there.
I could be seen from the front window of the gallery. The staff
enjoyed sending people over to talk to me while I worked. I enjoyed it too.
One day a woman passed with her kids in tow. She liked the painting and
commented that her uncle was the architect of that plaza. About three
days later, and I do believe not coincidentally, a tall,slender, stately
gentleman with white hair, and wearing a dark, pin striped, three piece suit
came up to me.
The first question he had was, where had I gradauated from.
"U of O." I said.
Then He asked how good the architecture program there was.
I told him that I thought it was excellent. I discussed with him how the students
had to understand
how architectural, anatomical, environmental, organic, sociological,
mathematical and esthetic elements had to combine in order to properly design
architecture before they were even considered for admission. He
seemed gratified that I was handling my work well. We talked some more.
Then he left in the same direction he came from.
I feel fairly certain that he was, in fact, the architect
of the causways that I was painting.
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