NATIVE PLACES: THE NEWSLETTER
A collection of thoughts and hand-drawn sketches that illustrate the value of looking closely at buildings and places.
Leaving the Porch Light On
A neighbor across the street sometimes leaves the light on in his second story window. I saw its glow one morning at 4 a.m. as I left for the airport. Why did I find a light in his window so moving? Am I as a moth who sees hope in the dark?
Other people in my neighborhood leave their porch lights on at night. Each house is a different style and color, and no two families are the same. But almost everyone keeps a porch light glowing in the dark. At a time when the mosaic of the country may be shattering, is it possible to imagine that porch lights suggest E Pluribus Unum?
No matter how grand a building is, a small light may be more memorable. At Chartres Cathedral, sunlight passes through stained glass windows and splashes color on bare stone walls. What I remember most vividly, though, are the votive candles flickering in the alcoves.
Eudora Welty wrote, “The difficulty that accompanies you is less like the dark than a trusted lantern to see your way by.”
I’ll remember that tonight.
Native Places: Drawing as a Way to See: A book by Frank Harmon. To learn more click here.
Frank Harmon is an architect, educator, and writer who is well known for designing buildings that cultivate the “native wisdom” of their place.
He sketches often, finding that the practice enriches his connection to the world. In his recently released book, Frank offers an invitation: drawing as a way to inspire curiosity, presence, and everyday joy.