Bravo! It looks like you're further along than me on your book. This looks great!

What's right and wrong with environmentalism, and how planning can resolve it. It's about 35% environmental, 65% planning, but results may vary.

Your book is really inspiring me to get cracking on mine.

Hello; I wandered over from you post about this book in peak_oil. This looks very interesting and I am very anxious to see it once it is completed!

PS Have you read "Great Good Places" by Ray Oldenberg? It's pretty good about pinpointing waht makes a place worth gathering and saving. There's a book from the mid-90's called the urban naturalist, but its thesis is much duller than yours, IMO.

Interesting.

I admit I only skimmed a few of the chapters. Your style tends to almost poetic and mystical language. That is its strength. I, however, prefer more substantial language. Mysticism just kinda confuses me.

I comment though because I have been contemplating just such a mystical journey, but in reverse. I too love the city. I really, really hate the 'burbs. My work, in progress now for 15 years or more -- wait, going on 20! -- is a bitter rant against my home land called The Sump of all Hope. What your work does for the random city, mine hopes to do for the soul-sucking area over which I plodded for half my life.

My problem? That allergy to allegory and mysticism, that poetic tin ear. My piece would work splendidly with your language. It just clunks along with old literal me.

Thanks!

i love your illustrations for "a palace with many rooms." that is exactly how i view living in urban areas. i feel so much more connected to nature, humanity and life when i'm in the city. there is an awesome park in my seattle neighborhood which i've dubbed "everyone's backyard" because that's the purpose it serves. it is located right on a major street full of restaurants, bookstores, coffeehouse, etc. every night at dusk, the park is full of people reading books, walking dogs, practicing martial arts, playing frisbee and enjoying life. i love that time of day. it is the time when people are enjoying the end of their days before heading home or they are hanging out with friends, digesting dinner and deciding where to go for the evening.

Hey Susan,

I tracked your work down via Wet Canvas. Your subjects hit a nerve with
me... I see the beauty in the "ugly" too. I bet folks are shocked to find
you painting in these areas or do you work from photo's? I see your contacts with the outside world are dated and your mailbox full, hope you are OK.


William Wray --

My Paintings:

http://williamwray.com/

http://williamwray.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your site. I have found here much useful information.
Good site ! ;)

Excuse the intrusion into your personal journal but I stumbled upon this entry and had to comment. I've read a few of your transportation entries and I think they're quite inspiring. Now I feel motivated to work on my own literature :)