From Blueprints to Brushstrokes | A Reunion in Art
In celebration of 50 years of friendship, six architects connected by the Tulane School of Architecture have come together to share their artistic insights inspired by a life of creativity. From Mobile Bay and the prairie to the art of observation and vernacular landscapes, these architects' lives have intermingled through decades of hard work, laughter, and artistic encouragement.
By Mac Walcott, Founding Member of WAV Architects
Since the mid-19th century, when architectural training became formalized in professional schools, drawing, drafting, and painting have been integral parts of an architect’s education. At the Tulane School of Architecture (TSA), like many schools, our first two years were filled with classes that taught us the essential manual techniques every architect needed. The remaining three years focused on applying those newly learned skills to our design projects. We did the bulk of our work in the giant studio wings at TSA, which were located in the old medical school building, Richardson Memorial. These wings had once been used for dissection studies by med students and featured large double-hung windows for natural cross ventilation. There was virtually no air conditioning, so we usually worked with the windows wide open.
At the start of each semester, we all made a mad dash to claim drawing tables and work surfaces, setting up our own miniature “offices.” It was a great feeling of accomplishment to create a personalized workspace. Typically, each of us set up a large drawing board table flanked by big surfaces for building the many models required for each project. Eventually, the whole room looked like an artist’s ghetto—and we loved it. Studio time ran from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, four days a week. During those hours, professors would wander around our offices offering desk-top critiques. Some professors loved to draw and would often pick up a pencil to sketch—sometimes right on top of your work. Others preferred to talk rather than draw.
One professor who loved to draw was Errol Barron. He is ambidextrous, and depending on which side he approached you from, he would sketch with either hand. His typical approach was to ask about your design goals and then say, “sounds like you're trying to do something like this…” before sketching a quick perspective of the concept you were struggling with. He also made fast diagrams that often cut straight to the heart of the issue. This technique captured the essence of what Errol and TSA (at the time) were trying to teach us: the ability to translate the ideas and concepts in our minds into images—images that could be discussed, evaluated, and ultimately built. This ability to turn ideas into buildings is the essential magic of being an architect. The manual drawing skills we learned in our early years were the foundation of this process. Many architects, like Errol, excelled in these skills—some, not so much. All of the folks in our upcoming show are 65 and older. The heydays of our careers were built on those manual skills we learned at TSA, as computer drawing didn’t become mainstream in most firms until the 1990s. Many of us still believe there’s nothing more effective than a piece of paper and a pencil in a well-trained hand.
Our “Six Architects” show is a celebration of that belief—and of our shared joy in manually drawing, painting, and making things using the traditional techniques we were initiated into at TSA. The show came together after a boat trip last summer to sketch oil rigs in Mobile Bay. Years ago, we had collaborated on an “architects’ cookbook” (see and buy My Dinner with Lawrence on Amazon), so this new project came together naturally. We enjoy each other’s company, and this has been another great excuse to spend time together doing what we love.
While the opening show has already taken place, we invite you to view the featured art for the month of September at Lyons Share Art Gallery in Downtown Fairhope.
Cedric Errol Barron Jr.
Cedric Errol Barron Jr., born December 31, 1941, is an American architect, artist, and educator. A founding partner of Errol Barron/Michael Toups Architects, he is also a retired professor of architecture at Tulane University. In addition to his architectural work, Barron is a contemporary American landscape painter who has exhibited his paintings, drawings, and photographs in galleries, universities, and museums throughout the U.S. since 1984.
Jim Good
Jim Good is a retired emergency planner who lives in Madison, Wisconsin. In his gallery and studio, he dabbles in a variety of art forms, from printmaking to blacksmithing.
Chris Knight
Chris Knight graduated from Tulane University in 1971 and began his architectural career in Charlotte, NC. After 40 years of practice — the last 25 in Washington, D.C. — he retired to Fairhope, AL. He is now a landscape painter working in both oil and gouache.
Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas and his wife operate a multifaceted architectural practice in southern Wisconsin. He enjoys woodworking, creative writing, and playing in a local brass ensemble.
Mac Walcott
Mac Walcott dabbles in everything from farming and beekeeping to caring for a host of farm animals at his Fish River home. A founding principal of Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects, Mac’s broad range of experience traverses commercial, residential, and institutional projects—large and small scale, publicly and privately funded.
Doug Wittnebel
Doug Wittnebel is an architect, illustrator, teacher, and artist based in California. He brings a unique viewpoint that blends a strong sense of aesthetics, humor, and curiosity about visual phenomena with a deep fascination for history. His work is grounded in years of practical experience as a freehand drawer and designer.
