Phoenix Commotion

TED Talkin' and Commotion Minutes

2010-11-28T18:04:00.011-06:00

Hello, true believers! Sorry we've been a little off the grid lately....things have been busy around the workshop over yonder.

As you might have noticed in the previous post, we've gotten a temporary certificate of occupancy for the Bone House, and it is being made all the more quirky and wonderful with the vibrant personalities now dwelling within. The water collection system is finally hooked up (so we can capitalize off that sweet Texas rain), the studio's bathroom/laundry room is a-go-go, and there are some more bells and whistles (and bottles) adorning the outdoor kitchen, a.k.a. the Chevron Station. From here, the place only needs the addition of a driveway, a BIG clean-up day, and a few more loose ends chased down and we'll be able to tally one more house under the FINITO column.

Another project that's we've been taking on simultaneously is the interior design for an education room in a new single-stream paper recycling facility being built by Waste Management in Houston. They want a place to take groups of kids and other tours to show them how recycling actually works, and they want us to give them a literal example of what one can do with recycled stuff....that, and just make the room look as cool as humanly possible.

So, we spent a lot of time making a pretty bodacious mural for this room, sizing up to 6'x30' on one wall and 6'x20' on another. Here are a few in-progress pics to give the audience an idea of what we're talking about. We'll try to get some comprehensive images up when we get 'em installed.

To match this, we've also been churning out a whole mess of chairs in which the curious minds of tomorrow can sit and ponder. These range from whimsical to eerie, from modernist to folk art. Here are a few of these thrifty thrones for your eyes to munch on.

For the sake of space, I'll only put up a handful on this blog, but you can check out all the one's we've produced thus far on our Flickr photostream, found here.

One last (and pretty righteous) thing to mention-- our one and only Dan Phillips gave a lecture a while back at TEDxHouston event. TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, is a non-profit that brings some the most prolific minds alive in the world today (experts and innovators in the sciences, arts, education and more) to conventions to spread their insights and ideas to each other and the world, and they post the lectures online for anybody to view for free.

This is the speech that Dan made when he was featured at the event earlier in the year, and it was just posted online right at Thanksgiving. If you hurry and check soon, he's still on TED's home page! (www.ted.com)

So, we hope that's enough for ya'll to digest for now. We'll keep ya updated as more things come along our path. Until then, stay warm and keep creating!

Dan Video on Mother Nature Network

2010-09-20T16:56:00.003-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Video linked from Mother Nature Network.

you'll be thankful for the Tankless water heater

2010-07-01T10:45:00.000-05:00

So this is a tankless water heater located downstairs left of the kitchen sink. (the white box) It is 'in the wall' and is usually covered by that little panel you see resting next to the box. The bone house has it's own passive solar heater system set up on the roof. A pipe runs along the roof and the water gets circulated from a non-heated storage tank in the upstairs bathroom. All of the water in the tank goes to the two heaters in the house for both up and downstairs hot water usage. The picture below shows you what the circulation pumps look like.

Obviously on cloudy days the tankless water heater works on its own. It's a little confusing for me but I think I'm understanding it. The typical water heater always heats up water whether you need it or not. It is a huge electricity pig. With this tankless water heater, you are only heating up water when you need it. It is much more efficient and when coupled with the solar pre-heating system you reduce your electricity consumption even more.

Dan said he got this tankless water heater new on ebay for $229. According to the Titan Tankless Water Heater site, you will save 60% on your water heating bill! Enviromentally friendly and cost efficient....go ahead, take that hot shower guilt free! You can read more here, 'how to take a shower' by Dan Phillips.

Sunday catchup

2010-06-27T22:36:00.002-05:00

Dan doesn't 'do cute'...but this little dude he made is wonderful, cute or not. I think he's a perfect pet for the bone house. Quiet and able to take care of himself. No fuss. No mess.

Bob, who is going to be renting the Bone House when its finished, got the upstairs bath sink installed and really cleaned the place up to finish the walls in there. Way to go Bob!

You never know what cool adornment Dan is going to make. Last week he finished the outdoor light fixture, a bone 'mask' if you will. It's stunning.

Bones are starting to appear everywhere. The outter decor is coming together ~ I never know what I'm going to find next when I show up. The interior continues to move right along as well. Josh is actually taking a week's vacation which leaves myself, Tod, Linda, Dan, Bob and his son Clay to get those bathrooms done. I can see the finish line with the mosaic mirrored bathroom that I'm working on. Can't wait to be done with that!

Ave H. : the pouring of the foundation

2010-06-27T04:31:00.005-05:00

Saturday we went to Ave. H and helped George mix and pour cement for his foundation. We being Tod and I who hope to nab the property right next door and begin building our own home too! We don't want to miss out on helping, watching, and learning ~ so when George called me this morning saying today is the day we got over there asap.

For many, building a house with your own two hands probably seems daunting. I know I've always had a fantasy about building my own home but the actual building of it always intimidated me. I think I like the idea of getting my hands dirty, being self sufficient and basically learning skills that really aren't that difficult [but daunting to someone who is right brained]. It is a challenge mentally and physically I am sure, I really have no idea. That is why I am especially interested in being there as much as I can while George and Linda work on their home/art studio.

Tod and I were excited to get over there and see what this foundation business is all about. It is surprisingly simple. A few weeks ago George got all the property space figured out, various stakes and strings were posted on the property so when they lay the foundation they know where it's going and how to level it. The inspector had to come out and make sure the ditches were deep enough etc. and once the water got turned on all that was needed was a big ole stack of 80 lb bags of cement and lots of muscle.

Dan popped by to get the water set up and to show us all the drill. [he is going to be their building mentor and Tod and I will have Josh be ours] His truck trailer was stacked with bags of cement for us to unload. We all got a lesson in cement mixing and basically were good to go. As you can see in the photos, rebar is placed onto the cement. Basically the corner ditches had four pieces of rebar (all attached by wire to make a square) and the smaller holes got two pieces of rebar. We mixed one bag at a time, wheeled it over and dumped it in. After two bags you lay the rebar, measure out from the top of the cement line to the string above, add 11" and cut a steel strip that attaches to the rebar then dump more cement on top of that. The steel serves to better secure the foundation as Huntsville tends to get some intense weather when Hurricane Season hits.

I had an appointment so after a few ditches were filled I was out of there. Tod and George were whipping through those bags but they all needed to get used up so a few hours later it was my turn to help. Tod had already left when I got there and George was working away on his own. I'm sure he would have been fine without me, but I'm glad I was able to help with the last six ditches. It was very satisfying I gotta say. I loved mixing the cement, there is a certain groove to it and when you get it right its like batter. It's delicious. Hard work yeah, but mighty satisfying.

By 6pm all of the ditches for the house were filled as well as 1/3 of the studio. It takes about three days for the cement to fully dry and then blocks of cement are placed onto that. I will find out whats up with that and keep you posted. In the meantime George is going to show Tod and I how he got his house blueprints made up so we can get ours done and march off to the bank to see where we stand with a loan.

* the name of the house is still being worked out ~ for now it's listed on flickr as the Butterfly Glass House on Ave. H. Click here to see a slideshow of the progress.

labor of love and then some

2010-06-19T08:43:00.000-05:00

Linda has made progress in a big way this week. I think one of my favorite things about this bathroom shower is the cut out bottle parts she employs. A rather difficult endeavor by the sound of it, the bottles can break easily when she cuts them. The end result varies from delicate to chunky sized 'rings' that she then fills with a chunk of mosaic. (post below) Long thin ceramic pieces lead up to these circles creating a stem or vine like image. I still don't know how she is able to blend so many pieces into a cohesive piece of art!

I'm still working on the other downstairs bathroom that appears to have worn everyone out (don't forget the art studio walls are 2/3 mirror shards). It is going to be 100% mirror shards from floor to ceiling. Tod has spent most of his work week cutting mirror and smoothing it so I can add it to the walls. I am always reminded when I pop in to work a few hours here and there of how hard everyone on the crew has worked to make each and every piece of this house unique!

bathroom details

2010-06-16T05:39:00.001-05:00

Linda's Mosaic Design in the downstairs bedroom shower.

Below is the redwood ceiling that Josh made in the same room.

Upstairs shower: tile mosaic in progress

The bathrooms seem to be the focus right now. Linda is diligently working away on the downstairs shower mosaic. It took me awhile to 'get' mosaic, and this shower wall is sealing the deal for me. It is chunky and funky and full of variety. It's fun to follow the 'trail' of vertical pieces and run into the big round broken glass; visually it is a great stopping point that really works! Josh made the ceiling from donated Redwood and worked that wood until it was smooth and beautiful. By sealing it with polyurethane it is good to go! Beautiful, rich and compliments the shower mosaic perfectly.

The upstairs bathroom is still in progress as well. As you can see in the last photo, tile is being used in the shower and it blends in with the tile floor quite nicely. Meanwhile, Dan and Clay are doing the underpinning of the foundation right now, nasty hard work with lots of bug welts by the end of the day. I'll spare pictures of that!

Bone House progress report

2010-06-11T17:42:00.003-05:00

Believe it or not I went to the Bone House yesterday to take some pictures of the latest progress. Upon first notice, the most noticeable change is the garden and outdoor yard area. While it is true we are having a drought here, you'd never know it by the flourishing garden alongside bushes and trees that are big and green with new growth. The devastation from last years fire is barely noticeable to the untrained eye. It's beautiful and lush as the corn towers over my head, the herbs and other vegetables are growing like weeds!

The outside of the Bone House and the studio look pretty complete too, both buildings are large by Dan's usual standards and give off the sense of having been here for a long time. Perhaps it is just the look of the wood, but it feels very old and wise ~ this place that Dan, all the wonderful volunteers and the crew have nurtured for well over a year now.

Bone House back view

side of studio behind the bone house

The inside has changed the most, the downstairs 'Phoenix Rising' floor made entirely from cut pieces of Honduras Mahogany, Walnut and Pine is complete! It is stunning. Linda's son George drew the design onto the floor from a previous drawing done by Jared Gamble and then Linda the cut the wood out with a band saw. My favorite part about this is the beautiful 'black' color from the wood, it looks so much like a tile of some sort I had to take a closer look. It is mind blowing how anyone can make all those pieces of wood 'fit'....make it work into a cohesive piece of art! The hours and hours that it took for the crew to cut up small pieces of wood is also mind blowing. We are talking weeks and weeks of very tedious work, but it is worth it as it is an original piece of art that leaves no reason to fill up the house with too much superfluous STUFF. You see, the entire house IS the art. Dan is a visionary. He isn't a home builder as much as he is a visionary Artist who also happens to care an awful lot about the environment, waste, and helping people to help themselves. His medium is 'homes'. His work of art. The Bone House is a testament to the creativity that resides within him.

Here are a few more pictures of the latest progress. Go to the Flickr page to see a slideshow or individual pictures of each project. Here is the link to Bone House set of photos. Five pages worth!

above: 1. bone 'tile' kitchen counter. 2. 'Phoenix Rising' wood floor 3. sliced bone floor 'tile' on steps
4. tile mosaic in the downstairs 'bottle cap bedroom'

And in other Phoenix Commotion news: Both Linda and George are literally breaking ground on their Phoenix Commotion House/Art Studio that they will share together, so look for posts about their progress in the near future! Linda has been on the 'crew' for the last year + , working hard at the Bone House. George is her son, with 2 children of his own, and both are artists so I cannot wait to see their place when it is done!

Josh, who has been Dan's 'main man' has also bought land and will be working away on his own home very soon. Josh is also going to start his own Phoenix Commotion here in Huntsville. If Tod and I are able to buy a lot next to Linda and George, Josh will be our building Mentor. As it stands, right now, Dan is going to be George and Linda's mentor. Their property is right across the street from Eric's house, which if all goes as planned will also be finished this year. So, lots going on and I look forward to being a better reporter here!

He Did Build It, And We Did Come

2010-04-23T22:36:00.017-05:00

Resilience is a beautiful thing. This is no news to those already involved in this phenomenon of brainstorms, reinvention, and rebirth we call the Phoenix Commotion. These dwellings, crafted with sincerity, screws, and sheet metal, have been expanding the minds of the nation’s freshly opened eyes for some time now—some would say for months, others would say it is but a new vehicle for that same echo of stewardship and creativity that has resonated through countless civilizations and our very hearts ever since a being was capable of care for those around them and the earth beneath their feet. It is a pulse of compassion and community, an echo of that both sustainable and pastoral, that small but unmistakable voice that compels you to build a shelter within which love and hospitality can incubate and bloom into a cherished home, giving warmth to all that enter its doors. And that delightful voice did finally trickle its way into twelve little Kansan ears. More specifically, ears from Lawrence, Kansas. I suppose that’s where I come in.

I am Matt Gifford, and I was given the opportunity to contribute to this wonderful project that has taken root in Hunstville, Texas, along with a rag-tag crew of dreamers with golden hearts and wide-eyes. Together we were six students and/or recent graduates from the University of Kansas:

Ryan Kuster – ’09 KU grad. Bee dissector. First-level Thai speaker.

Young Han Lester – English/Education student. Epic storyteller. THE Swiss Army man.

Emily Hane – Poli Sci Student/Creative Writer. Trip orchestrator. Super-cute sneezer.

Stevi Ballard – English major. Highway wrangler. Late night beat writer.

Chris Worley – Environmental Studies student. Dunk-slammer. Immaculate napper.

Myself – another ’09 KU grad. Metal-smither. Fast talker. In this case…narrator.

From Left to Right: Young Han Lester, Ryan Kuster, Stevi Ballard, Emile Hane, Chris Worley, Sir Daniel Phillips, and myself (Matt Gifford)

Organizing this endeavor was the lovely Emily Hane, having seen the Commotion’s work in a September issue of the New York Times. It is to her whom we all owe the fortune of this experience….thank you! Once she made contact with PC and let the rest of us know what all the buzz was about, we were hooked. We had to have more. We had to be a part of this.

So, we waited for the right time, deciding to head down during our spring break (being March 14^th to the 20^th of this year, 2010), and piled into the extremely intimate space of a donated Durango (courtesy of Stevi Ballard’s family….thank you guys!), and crawled out of the then-snowy Kansas plains towards the tropical promised land of Texas. As the mile count did rise, so did the temperature, adding even more teeth to our widening smiles.

With us, we brought gifts of recycled materials from the eastern Kansas area: collected bottle caps and wine corks from eight local Lawrence bars and restaurants, and seven seed bags full of cattle bones for the Bone House. We had scapulas, rib cages and femurs galore. We even nabbed a skull or two.

We didn't bring near all of this, but you get the idea.

We arrived to the open arms of Ms. Kristie Stevens, Commotion administrative guru and kitchen muse extraordinaire at the surprisingly expansive and delightfully eccentric Smither Company Real Estate, aptly dubbed, “Crazywood.” This was to be our new base of operations, where we would meet to strategize and pow-wow for lunch and dinner. John Smither was also generous enough to provide us with an OUTSTANDING lakeside bunkhouse just outside of town where we could lay our heads. To him we owe a considerable amount of gratitude (many thanks, you snazzy man you!)

A little view from our bunkhouse

After a wonderful first day of touring the Commotion’s previous projects and meeting and greeting all the friendly faces of the crew, including the mythical Dan Philips himself, we were divvied into two teams: one to take on the reconstruction of a garden bed from some charred remnants of a tree from the original Bone House layout, the other migrating to the workshop site to begin the massive undertaking of reorganizing and salvaging some TLC-lacking materials.

We constructed the stump-perimeter garden next to the Chevron stand.

It soon became our daily routine to stick together as one group, break bread at the bunk house, then proceed to the aforementioned workshop to keep with the reorganizing. This apparently used to be Dan’s residence, but due to increasing momentum of the Commotion, and consequently, increasing donations, this site had become a storehouse for many generations of metal, tile, wood, and glass. We spent many lumbar-bending hours enacting triage on what was still usable and stacking tiles and stacking tiles and stacking tiles. One had to keep thinking, “It’ll all get it a home someday. It’s worth it.” Hopefully they’ll make their way to somebody’s floor or walls or ceilings or entire backyard (we were convinced you could tile Dan’s entire yard with it all). A whole lotta tile, it was.

This chandelier may be old news to some, but it still blows my mind every time.

After throwing together some lunch back at Crazywood, we would make our way back to the Bone House, where we became in charge of filling all the holes we could in the mirror-mosaic studio. It was great to swing from the rafters and be a part of something which we had all read so much about and drooled over innumerable hours online. It was like walking right into a photograph, which I learned do not do the real constructions justice. Also, we made sure to leave a few Kansas shapes in the mosaics. See if you can find them.

Ms. Hane, arduously....working....on some pressing matter.

We managed to find some time early one afternoon to slide back to the workshop and make a piece of art for the house, as such a task was issued as a challenge from Ms. Kristie. Aptly enough, we decided to make a phoenix to mount somewhere around the property. It was made from an old school desk frame, piano keys, and other random stuff we found about the premises (and lots of wire). The effort was spearheaded by misters Worley, Kuster, and myself, although the entire team helped out with the project (Team work makes the dream work!) Dan PROMISED it’d be in Architectural Digest, so we’d better see it in there soon, or he owes each of us twenty bucks. We’ve got our eyes peeled, Daniel.

Presenting the new mascot for the Phoenix Commotion.

Detail of his vicious, but well-loved wing

Smile pretty now (clever girl....)

But, before we knew it, the time had flown out from under us, and we were due back to Kansas in a few days. So, we sadly said our goodbyes (over a few beers at the Stardust Room, why not) and headed back to the snow packed plains of Kansas. And, as if the gut feeling of, “No! Stay! Stay here!” wasn’t enough, we had the lucky opportunity of driving back through what was declared blizzard conditions passing through Oklahoma and Kansas. We literally crawled (at least as literally as possible in a vehicle) back home, our average top speed an eye-parching 35 mph. I declare, the fates were indeed trying to convince us to stay.

Oh, and it just so happened that all the snow melted about a day after we arrived home. What beautiful timing.

So what did this previously-described group of rag-tag dreamers take away from all this? It’s a little hard to put into words. To me personally, it was overwhelmingly a sense of confirmation that a solution is out there. We are blessed to live in this land of plenty, but too often the world treats the plenty as if it holds no repercussions—that somewhere someone isn’t going without so you might go with more, that there aren’t hectares of trees being cleared daily, that the planets temperature isn’t rising, and that people don’t feel like squatters in the one place they shouldn’t: their own homes. It’s too common in our society today that people hold no intimacy with where they live or the objects they own, which contributes immensely to the waste we produce.

This isn’t to say that Dan Phillips has all the answers (though he has my vote in 2012), but the ideologies of hard work, creativity, resilience, resourcefulness, responsibility, community, and humility that he and the other Commotion folk promote through everything that they do is enough to make you get butterflies. Their efforts have refused to be put down, and they are turning so many heads out there because what they are practicing actually makes sense. There’s a certain brilliance to it that just feels right, and I think people are finally picking up on it.

Being amongst the minds and hearts churning in Huntsville makes me believe it is possible to have a positive influence on where the next leg of the human equation will span, to help preserve and beautify a place for our kids to grow and learn and prosper—and to be a part of this team makes you feel very, very good inside, and we (I’m sure I speak for the entire group here) can’t thank them enough for the experience. Kudos to you all, from the bottom of our hearts. Keep building, and stay beautiful.

"Ya'll come back nah, ya hear?"

floor progress

2010-02-21T10:32:00.008-06:00

The downstairs floor is shaping up. Made by cutting slices of Hungarian Mahogany, Redwood, Pine and Bamboo the pieces are then broken up and tile adhesive is used to affix it to the floor. As with the bottle cap and wine cork floors, grout and resin will be applied over this for protection and highlighting.

The design of the floor will morph into a Phoenix. As you can see on the left, a feather has been made from redwood. The bird will be on the east side of the kitchen ~ photos below are on the west side ~ kitchen in the center of one long walkway with doors on both ends to outdoor studio and front of the house.

pieces of pine cut and ready to be used on floor

view facing west to the front door

center of kitchen walk area

view from upstairs landing

Josh's cabinetry job in the upstairs bedroom

Cob Workshop with David Reed Part II

2010-02-17T12:30:00.000-06:00

David Reed will be hosting a cob workshop at the Bone House March 28. I asked David to tell me a little bit about himself, how he got interested in cob and what exactly IS cob?

Q: the obvious question is: what IS cob and how is it possible that it can withstand heat and moisture?

David: Cob is a very ancient medium used to build homes and structures, it consists of a mixture of clay, sand and straw. The earliest use of cob can be traced back to Yemen and the city of Shibam which is called the Manhattan of the desert in terms of age, Shibam is mentioned in the bible. It was used throughout the UK in many a regal homestead and can still be found there today as it has had an explosion in rebirth.

The ingredients are as important as those of any creation, the clay must be very sticky and thick, preferably local to the build site, the sand must have a rough silica content as this helps the sand particles lock together as opposed to a smooth silica content which will roll apart like stacking marbles into a pile. The straw must be clean straw with very little moisture content, preferably just turned from green to tan. The straw acts the same to cob as rebar acts to concrete: it gives it tensile strength as well as lateral strength. When compared to the strength of concrete, on the Newton scale concrete rates at 2-3 Newtons, cob rates at 1-2 Newtons. Obviously not as strong as concrete but pretty close for a sustainable medium. It is this slight difference that allows cob to stay more flexible as opposed to concrete in an event such as an earthquake or floods.

The heat resilience is based on the natural resistance of earth to burn. This kind of works the opposite for thermal gain, the mass of the walls in conjunction with the sun helps to absorb and hold in the heat on cold days and then repel the heat on hot days. With cob ovens, this is the perfect effect. Heat the cob up and it holds the heat for hours. Moisture is only an issue if it is allowed to be present or to penetrate the cob. Typically a water repellent ingredient is used to prevent moisture penetration; lime is the preferred natural moisture blocker, and this, added into an earthen plaster will prevent water from infiltrating the cob and the more layers you do almost guarantees it.

Q: is the cob oven built differently than a cob house?

David: In ingredients no, in build yes. In a cob oven there is need for specific functionality so the way an oven is built can vary from a home in a couple different ways. The oven needs to retain as much heat as possible so the structure is layered to allow this more efficiently. In a home a mixture of cob is made then applied in a thickness typical of 16-18 inches, in a cob oven the thickness is typical of 6-8 inches. Then of course the home has framing aspects as well at windows and doors.

Q: when and how did you get interested in building with cob?

David: I have always been intrigued by building methods such as Log Homes, Yurts, Tipi's and even Subterranean homes, but after being introduced to a more sustainable and earth connected type of building I realized my spirit was trying to reach me in any way it could and it used those building methods as a primer of sorts. I lived with a communal group in Florida, learning to eat better and communicate in truth as well as living and growing in a large group of people all with their own hang ups but united in our effort to drop the societal learned lies and be real with each other. We built housing structures on the 16 acres of land we lived on using reclaimed materials from abandoned drug houses in the nearby city, we would form "demo crews" and go demolish a home for the materials as per agreements made with the home owners. This was my first lesson in reclaimed building and communal living.

I was first introduced to cob as a application to straw bale about 3 years ago. I took a straw bale class in Butler, Tx. from a natural builder named Nick Moser, I learned how to build a straw bale home from the ground up, this woke me up to the possibilities of natural building.

1/4 turn spiral stair designed by David for Dr. Craig Sommers
new cob home

I scoured the net for information on as many topics as I could find. After learning what I could and attending some webinars and seminars, I was asked to come help a guy in Bastrop named Dr. Craig Sommers, frame in the second story of his cob home; we had been introduced by Gayle Borst of Design Build Live out of Austin Texas. I live in Houston and you have to understand this town is not like other towns in Texas, it is very money and fashion and oil based, there are people here that want to build naturally but the odds, as well as building code are really high against it. I called around to try and find any natural building groups in my area and found none, there are a couple great permaculture groups, ( I wanna thank those guys at Last Organic Outpost ) and Dan Phillips wonderful work, but nothing geared towards natural earthen building.) Gayle and I had emailed back and forth about the possibility of starting some type of group here in the Houston area, and passed on the contact with Craig.

finishing up the 2nd story frame, David and Craig

I was thrilled to be able to be part of a full cob home build workshop, I spent 37 days at Craig's place and learned a lot about what it takes to live sustainable. I converted to vegetarianism while there, I, along with a couple other people, built this home by sinking cedar tree trunks into the ground for corner posts, framing up his window and door bucks, rebuilding some old doors he reclaimed, and framing up his second story to prepare for the first floor cobbing. Christina Ott from Barefoot Builder came to teach the cob workshop for a 7 day course, this woman is a gold mine of natural building knowledge as well as a powerful spirit. She is also going to be our instructor for the 10 day owner builder workshop in October at our place in Hempstead.

The connections and friendships I have made since beginning all of this has been extraordinary to say the least. The opportunities to further my skills also have been presenting themselves in ways I would never have noticed before. I am glad for this type of lifestyle as it is allowing me to truly give my children a solid and secure future here on this planet, in truth they are my driving force, and teaching them to live in connection with this planet and the nature on it and building beautifully sculptured homes for them to live in as well as the knowledge of how to do it themselves is by far more in line with the responsibility of a parent and friend and a human.

___________

I asked David to share what current projects he is working on. Here is his reply:

1) Building my own website (New Jura Building) based solely on natural building and not just off grid living as is the forums main focus.

2) Design and consultation with John Matznick of GreenTechFusion on a couple of sustainable container homes he has planned for the Conroe area. I have submitted some simple designs based on his and his wife's ideas and they are in the process of submittal for permits. I will be doing some of the hands on build with John and teaching some unskilled college persons how to frame up these builds, and to utilize and install rainwater catchment, grey water diversion and reuse, and maybe some composting toilets but I am not sure about the latter.

3) I am also working with Kevin Rowell of The Natural Builders, as well as many other natural builders to create a volume of downloadable PDF's based on natural building building techniques drawn or illustrated in step by step form to be able to empower the builder and non builder alike. Conventional building has its technical manuals and they are very hard to read for the lay person, we are trying to come up with one for the natural building process that is easy to read, understand and easy to follow so that anyone may instantly see the steps necessary to build their own whatever even if they don't speak English.

4) I have the cob oven with you guys March 28th

5) April-May I will be attending the Mariposa Ecovillage in Amarillo Tx. for 2 months of a 6 month Natural Building Summer Camp where,"we will craft a village of nine eco-cabins of various methods and materials to act as mini-model homes and lodge where people can stay when they come to visit the ecovillage, or if they are interested in natural building and just want to experience staying in one. To facilitate the construction of these demonstration units we are putting together a "Natural Building Summer Camp", bringing together paying workshop participants, work-trade apprentices and expert teachers for an extended learning experiment combining the best aspects of a fully supported multi-project building site and a community workshop environment."

This event is sure to be a blast as I will be heading the woodworking teams for a couple of the build groups in this summer camp.

6) June I will be back in Hempstead were I will be hosting some work traders to come live on my land and help get it in the necessary shape it needs to be in to host the 10 day owner builder cob workshop in October. We will be building a 4 person composting toilet house made from re-purposed wood pallets, a shower house also made from wood pallets and finally a workshop kitchen house also from pallets. We will then install the recycled urbanite stem walls in preparation for the cob walls to go in, and install the round wood timber framing for the roof structure.

_______________________

As you can see, David is passionate and fully committed to learning as well as teaching others about self sustainable living. Thank you David, it is inspiring to learn more and see what one man can do! We look forward to meeting you when you come to The Bone House in March. You can find out even more about self sustainable living on David's Off Grid Homesteading Forum.

Cob Workshop with David Reed Part I

2010-02-14T12:30:00.000-06:00

March 28th David Reed of New Jura Natural Building will host a Cob Oven Building Workshop.

In collaboration with Dan Phillips and The Phoenix Commotion, we will be holding a cob oven workshop March 28th from 10am to 6pm in Huntsville Texas at the world famous Bone House.

In this workshop you will learn how to build a cob oven and then fire it when finished. Earthen ovens are simple, low-cost and fun to build. Ideal for baking bread and pizza, earthen ovens are beautiful as well as functional, making wonderful additions to any home garden or patio. Dress to get dirty, wear shoes that you don't mind getting trashed. A 6'x8' tarp would be handy to mix the cob on. We will get started at 10am and go through some preliminary cob philosophy as well as some history.

At around 1pm we will break for lunch, David will be serving a delicious vegetarian meal, something simple and light to keep you full of energy and not bogged down. A handmade salad and some grains and legumes. You are more than welcome to bring your own lunches or to go grab a lunch. We will resume the cob oven at around 2pm.

We will have some fun activities for any children that attend such as making adobe blocks and cob sculptures.

The price for this event is $100 per participating adult, the deadline for registering is March 21st. We are taking registration fees by PayPal. Click here to sign up.

Part II: More about David Reed, cob, and self sustainable living.

Phoenix Commotion Forum is up!

2010-02-12T10:44:00.004-06:00

Happy to announce the Phoenix Commotion Forum is up and ready to go! You are cordially invited to join the new free internet forum created by The Phoenix Commotion. Here you will be able to connect locally as well as internationally with others who want to be part of the The Commotion by exchanging knowledge and ideas. Dan Phillips and members of the Phoenix Crew will be weighing in on questions and comments that range from sustainable construction and deconstruction to land acquisition and creating relationships with municipal entities; all in the interest of inspiring and educating people about about building with recycled and reclaimed materials.

Included in the forum:

Construction: foundation/framing/plumbing/electricity/roofing/flooring/walls and ceilings/heating, cooling, and ventilation.

Materials: collecting/storing/new uses and experiments/ identifying problem materials

Property: purchasing and zoning

Connect Locally: connect with people where you live

General Forum: affordable technology/municipal relationships/ legal and tax info/ job and volunteer opportunities/ funding/ events

Drop by and write a post, we'd love to hear what you think!

then and now, the bone house continues

2010-02-08T13:29:00.014-06:00

the old bone house pre-fire

While I personally have not been working at the Bone House as of late, I do still drop in and keep abreast of the progress as well as interesting tidbits of news that is happening in and around the Bone House. Check in on Facebook as Kristie does a great job of relaying news and events there, as does Tod when it comes to projects/events and workshops, all posted on the website.

Yesterday I dropped by and was happy to see that the bottle cap floor has been grouted and cleaned and ready for Dan to coat it with a polyurethane finish. The metamorphosis that takes place during the installation of the cork and now the bottle cap flooring is astonishing. Each step brings out another layer of patina, texture and beauty. While I loved how the raw floors looked when just cork and caps were glued down, after grout has been applied and cleaned, everything just 'pops'. The cool thing is you can use any color grout you want, adding to the overall flavor of the entire room. For the bottle cap floor a light charcoal grout has been chosen, giving the room a nice cool feel.

unsealed, grouted bottle cap floor

bamboo floor/cut tiles

The third downstairs bedroom floor as noted in the previous post, is comprised of donated bamboo [above]. Now that the floor has been laid its time for the detailing to get started: that being the cutting of more bamboo into 'tiles'. The tiles will morph out into the front entryway and then bump into the sliced redwood pieces which will cover the kitchen floor. As you can see in the pre-fire photos [top photo], there are two steel stools at the kitchen bar. The stools once inhabited Goolsby Drugstore which was located on the corner of 12th and Sam Houston Avenue and closed in the early 80's. While I couldn't find any information about the store online, you can practically taste a chocolate sundae just looking at these candy caned relics. Very cool that Dan had extras in storage so he could replicate the original kitchen bar area!

today's bone house kitchen bar area

upstairs landing/office area

Bob's garden grows

And, as you can see in the photo above and below, the yard is slowly turning into an organic garden and food prep area. Yep, in just another month we are having David Reed host a Cob Oven Building Workshop. (interview with David coming next week). In the photo below an outdoor kitchen area is underway. It is hard to see in this photo, but Dan has placed two huge Chevron Signs on top of the kitchen structure. Surely this will serve up interesting table talk after say a cob oven flat bread pizza has been fired up and food and drink are served, perhaps on Dan's outdoor bone furniture...

another visit and update at the bone house

2010-01-25T09:27:00.005-06:00

upstairs banister

donated bamboo flooring getting installed

bottle cap floor drying, waiting to be grouted and sealed

Plenty of progress still going on here at the bone house. As you can see the first floor bedroom floors are almost complete! That leaves the upstairs bathroom, stairs and kitchen/living area floors left to be determined. Josh finished the upstairs banister which one of the future renters says he will as an office/computer area. No space is wasted in a Dan home!

The artist studio has been on hold a bit as during cold weather as it wasn't comfortable working on the mirrored walls. Edie Wells, a teacher at The Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts brought some students by to volunteer their time; that coupled with warmer weather made for PROGRESS both inside and out! Two walls are covered in broken mirror shards while the third wall is slated to be covered in reclaimed CD's. The fourth wall is more or less used up by windows, doors and an interior staircase.

Dan is also slated to give more lectures, tours and workshops in the coming months. Please visit the website for information regarding dates/times and cost.

more Bone House doings

2010-01-17T17:10:00.004-06:00

Stopped by the bone house today to see the progress. Last time I was there I was working on the bottle cap floor that is a joint collaboration amongst all workers and volunteers. I did my part and the rest is getting filled in quite nicely. Also, last time I was there Josh and Bryan were on a tear with the ceilings and Linda had gotten the walls done. Its cozy and warm and very inviting in there right now.

Linda finished the walls, Josh finished the ceiling in the main kitchen/living area

Josh made these redwood window covers, each one can be removed to let in light or keep you cozy at night or put in 'upside down' to let light gently seep in. There are four separate pieces so theoretically you could remove just one or two if you wanted the full Texas sun blasting in.

The upper bedroom wine cork floor has been grouted/cleaned and finished. Dan, myself, Linda and Shannon all worked on what is to date the largest wine cork floor Dan has installed yet; the effect is very calming and swishy, almost like currents of water sloshing gently into each other. This bit of entry way floor for the bedroom are champagne corks cut in half. They too are a first and are quite wonderful!

It appears more bone has been acquired, it is being bleached and waiting patiently for what is sure to be an integral part of the interior design of this house.

sneak peak inside

2009-12-28T18:55:00.006-06:00

Things are taking shape on a daily basis. I spent a good bit of time there this weekend working on the cork floor in the upper bedroom while Linda was making huge progress on the walls and Dan concentrated on electrical work/counter top shelving in the kitchen.

The cabinet bone handles are too much fun as is the delicate deer antler window latches. Pink cotton candy insulation still hangs above ~ the ceiling has yet to be installed. I have no clue what they plan on using, I think I want to be surprised. As far as the flooring, Dan plans to have a t-shirt floor; a bottle cap floor; a mirror shard floor; some wood and as yet to be determined on any remaining space.

The Artist Studio behind the Bone House is also shaping up. The huge mirror-shard walls are almost done leaving just one more wall to be designed with discarded CD's. Every time I visit the Bone House the piles of wood outside get smaller and smaller. More ground space surfaces and there is a sense of excitement as this project heads closer to the finale.

progress!

2009-12-25T06:33:00.007-06:00

Redwood doors made by Josh, and glass mosaic created by Linda

close up mosaic

Bob's garden growing....

cork floor getting installed in upper bedroom

Tod working on floor

It's been a few weeks since I've been to the bone house as I've had life get in my way. Subtle and not so subtle changes going on. Inspections passed. Exteriors nearly finished. Interiors getting more attention. The Bone House is starting to feel like a personality.

I took the picture of the redwood doors a few weeks ago (see above) and they are firmly in place with the addition of bone handles and locks ~ they are beautiful works of art. The deck continues to change, and a quick scan reveals subtle changes that as a whole make you feel like you are ensconced in an alpine forest.

Inside, deer horns serve as window latches; delicate pig bones as kitchen cabinet drawer pulls. Walls are being nailed up over the installation, and of course the most notable change is the start of the upper bedroom cork floor which Dan has so wondrously invented. The floor is an artistic science in and of itself. I don't dare explain it, you should read the article Dan wrote for the full scoop and scope of this creation.

Yesterday, with a touch of reverence, I began working on the cork floor. Dan isn't one to hover and point out what you are doing right or wrong. He shows you and lets you be, a bit later he pops in and checks in. It's a little unnerving but it is also freeing. That is the beauty of these homes, they are free. Expansive. Nothing is on some company time line and nothing, it would seem is terminal. I cannot forget that this is the second time they have built the bone house. I cannot forget how patient and available Dan is, or the crew for that matter. People don't seem to carry expectations about what you should or shouldn't be doing. There is an invisible thread that leads us all. The bone house is orchestrating it's resurrection from the ashes. The Phoenix is rising.....

the stuff is out there!

2009-12-17T08:40:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I was asked to come see the new 'finds'. I went to the job site and saw the truck and trailer filled with shower doors and molding. All new. All brand spanking new from a hardware store that for whatever reason didn't want this product anymore. It was bound for the dump. How insane is that? Thousands of dollars of 'trash'.

In case you are wondering how it is possible to make homes out of materials that are in good condition, this is how. It happens daily. I have yet to even delve into how much material is available for free, but the more I hear and see what is being dumped/offered/donated to organizations such as the Phoenix Commotion, the more I realize you could probably make a home out of just about anything your little heart desires. And who says you have to use the shower doors as shower doors? One of the crew members yesterday was salivating over the possibility of making a green house out of them. I was salivating thinking about using them as sky lights. Moldings? Dan already had visions of making ceilings out of it. I saw myself chopping them up and making mixed media art with it. Climb out of the box and play. Be self taught. Be self challenged. Make it up as you go and enjoy finding unwanted STUFF and use it in unconventional ways to make something useful, beautiful and fun.

Local Volunteers December 2009

2009-12-14T13:55:00.002-06:00

We are looking for volunteers again this Sat. (also 3-4 days a week after Christmas for a couple of weeks) to help clean up and organize the future Phoenix Commotion shop here in Huntsville. Please email us and let us know if you would like to help out. We start at 9am and go until 4pm or so. You can help for a few hours if you don't want to come for the day. There is also the possibility of doing some work on Fri. afternoon if that works better for some people. We promise to be nice. Really.

failures

2009-12-08T04:24:00.004-06:00

On the Phoenix Commotion 'How We Build' page, you will see at the bottom page a list of some of his monographs. There is a lot of great information on this page, both inspirational as well as instructional. I asked Dan if I could reprint a blurb of his 'failures' pdf. essay and I got the thumbs up:

'But I’m still trying. If failure destroys you, you simply can’t do this. I think of failures as opportunities to try a new direction. Who knows how many objects hit Sir Isaac Newton on the head before the famous apple? It might have been a series of walnuts, or stones thrown by bullies picking on nerds, or sticks, and then, finally, an apple. And Benjamin Franklin almost failed when he ran a close brush with being electrocuted by flying a kite in a lightning storm. Christopher Columbus wanted to discover India, but didn’t. He discovered something yet a bit more interesting. If giants have failed, then it clears the way for us small guys to fail. Thanks, giants. I feel better.

But America is the place to try out anything you choose. And, indeed, anyone in America can do this. We don’t have to cave in to only what’s made available by the marketeers. We can strike out on our own, perhaps failing occasionally, but living the adventure. The giants did, and that’s what I want to do, too.'

I can appreciate this on so many more levels after having now moved here and seeing in person the work and hearing this visionary artist, Dan, explain more about his process. It has been a boon to me these last few weeks to have more freedom to try. As an artist I am always working with new materials in new ways. Desiring to make something out of reclaimed materials doesn't always turn out the way you hope or expect. Dan's homes, to me at least, are in and of themselves large art installations. They are an example of what anyone can do if they just decide to TRY! Not everyone has to build their own home out of reclaimed materials and not all reclaimed materials are what you might think they are. I've always thought of reclaimed as the lone found object or 'trash' that was already in the dump. Dan has woken me up to the fact that there is a plethora of materials out there that are destined for the landfill and we can all step in and nab them before all that time and energy is used for their final dumpage.

Think about it. Look around. What do you see? What are stores storing in the back room or near their dumpster? What items and materials do you think you want to work with for your own projects? Ask around! You have no idea what businesses have to pay to get RID of things that you could very well be getting for free. You could start small, make something functional or redo the kids room with materials that are truly unique! It's not about perfection, it's about the process of creating and allowing for failure and growth. I think they go hand in hand and if you are working with reclaimed 'trash' how can you lose?

more about the design store

2009-12-02T09:15:00.010-06:00

'Bathroom Ensemble' by Dan Phillips
Staying close to primal sensibilities is important even in the bathroom.

Hand Mirror

Toothbrush Holder

Soap Dish

The Design Store is a new addition to the updated Phoenix Commotion website. Unlike a non-profit group The Phoenix Commotion is a self funding organization. As we continue to grow we are looking for more ways to make use of the reclaimed materials that are donated, purchased, or salvaged by the paid crew and volunteers. A significant portion of the materials that we acquire cannot be used to build homes. One of the ways in which we are putting extra materials to use is through the online Design Store.

These items are made in the same spirit as the homes that we build. They are raw and unfettered. We are passionate about creating original organic designs over perfect joints and smooth finishes. We hope you are inspired to surround yourself with handmade, useful items whether you support our mission to build houses or want to create something yourself from materials that you find.

Need local volunteers for Sat. Dec. 5

2009-12-01T13:17:00.006-06:00

As stated in the previous post below, one of the new goals/projects is to get a headquarters up and running. This project will have multiple uses, the goal being a future storage area, an office, design store and place for people to meet and get set up for volunteer work. During Decembers' school break one of the volunteers for Phoenix Commotion is undertaking this heroic challenge, that being the de-cluttering,cleaning, and renovating of a plot of land that is already home to a few buildings and a plethora of future supplies.

This Saturday, Dec. 5 we hope to get a jump start on this and need 5 volunteers who are willing to help organize and or move DIRTY HEAVY things like scrap metal and piles of tile etc. For those of you wanting to volunteer, it is a MUST that you wear appropriate clothing. Jeans (not shorts), work boots are mandatory, gloves, possible tools to help cut/tear things apart. If you show up in tennis shoes know you will not be allowed on the site. Bring food or money to go get lunch and enough drinking water so you don't get dehydrated. While we haven't seen poison ivy there, you need to be aware that it is a possibility, as are spiders, snakes and sharp metal objects. We will have a release form for you to sign prior to volunteering. Plan on starting around 9am.

Contact us if you are interested, go to facebook and leave a message. Thank you!

more good things coming

2009-11-29T18:00:00.004-06:00

It's about time the Phoenix Commotion had a real workshop, place that people can come to, drop things off, stop by for information etc. Keep in mind, I'm a volunteer here myself, so this is from my perspective. I can't be everywhere at once, can't know everything, but I do know that there is an area of land that has been a 'storage unit' of sorts that is soon going to be cleared out. Organized. Put to use that can hopefully function as a place for better utility and function. Went there today with Tod and Jared to begin clearing a few things out, Jared had worked on the first bone house got busy with school and is now offering his time during Christmas break to make a huge push for getting this site cleared and organized. It will be a boon to the Phoenix Commotion to have a headquarters! Thanks too to all of YOU who have emailed, expressing your desire to volunteer, to donate items, to let us know that you believe in what Dan is doing. It is incredible the number of emails the Phoenix Commotion has been receiving! It is astonishing to see how many people are tuned in and wanting to help in so many ways! If you have recently emailed to ask how you can help, be patient and know your emails are being answered!

dan doings

2009-11-25T12:32:00.001-06:00

Dan caught doing things to a chandelier in the artist studio behind the bone house. Dropped by the other night to take some pictures of his cow bone bathroom ensemble as well as the start items for the design store: cedar siding christmas post cards.

You can look forward to some creative and definitely unique, one of kind functional works for sale soon. More information about the Design Store coming soon!

Today Show

2009-11-24T13:38:00.002-06:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

In case you missed it, Kristie posted the Today Show clip about Dan on Facebook. Here it is! 3:51 long, you got time right?

Design Store's first items!

2009-11-24T06:41:00.009-06:00

Here is a sneak preview at what will soon be available for purchase in the Phoenix Commotion Design Store. Dan has a limited quantity of excess cut offs from the cedar which is used as siding on both the bone house and artist studio at the latest job site. The color is subtle yet striking in both its simplicity and texture. Send one of these puppies as a Christmas Card and you will make an impression on the recipient instead of the environment. Should you receive such a card you can keep it as a memento, doubled as a trivet, coaster or as a simple interior 'tile' decor. Not speaking to you? Re gift it to little Jacob or Sophia with their Christmas art kit and let them have at it! Paint it, stencil it, distress it, heck you could even shove it in a drawer and keep the bugs away or if you aren't a hoarder, toss it in the fire pit and use it as kindling.

*postage not included, pricing and info coming soon. Look out for a bone bath ensemble created by Dan, to be listed in the immediate future!

Bone Furniture, Part III

2009-11-23T22:34:00.015-06:00

Candle stand

“It’s Not About the Table,” by Paula McCullough

Cow bone, Redwood, and Western Red Cedar

End table

“It’s All About the Table,” by Paula McCullough

Cow bone and Western Red Cedar

The last artist to be included in this bone furniture exhibition is myself, Paula McCullough. I am honored and thrilled to be a part of the Phoenix Commotion let alone have an opportunity to exhibit in Texas alongside Dan and Bob.

I'm fairly new to making furniture, let alone working with bone. To date I have made a few found object pieces when I lived in Vermont, and now that I'm newly transplanted to Huntsville, Texas I look forward to creating more functional works with and for the Phoenix Commotion.

My first wood and bone piece was the candle stand. I call it 'It's not about the table' as it was very challenging for me to get the hang of physics/gravity and general furniture making skills seemingly over night. I was pushed almost to my limit working with a time crunch and new materials. I am happy to say the table, albeit ever so slightly a-tilt, works fine, is sturdy and if you were to shave the lower sides off two candles, you're good to go for a little romantic evening. Dry flowers or twigs could also be inserted to suit your visual needs. The bones are permanently affixed to the top of the stand. Table stand approx. 29", 9.5" wide.

The second table is more of an end or side table. Four cow jaw bones are screwed to the top with sliced bones dotting the center line. The underbelly of the table has several 45 degree angle scrap pieces of redwood for support and decor, while 4 cow vertebra's dangle securely onto each leg below. This table is called, 'It's all about the table' as this time I felt more comfortable with the materials and was less conscientious. Measurements: approx 22" tall, 27" long and 16" wide.

The bone furniture in all three posts (see first and second below) are exhibiting and available for sale. Contact Doss Heritage & Culture Center in Weatherford, Texas for more information.

Bone Furniture, Part II

2009-11-23T15:35:00.017-06:00

“Arrested Development,” by Bob Maninger

Cow bone, Sycamore, and Western Red Cedar

Robert Maninger, EdD is an Assistant Professor at Sam Houston University. Robert, aka Bob, is also involved with the Phoenix Commotion in that he has helped build the Bone House, volunteers his time and will be one of the artists in residence at the Bone House/Arist Studio when it is completed sometime next year. Along with myself and Dan, he too has made bone furniture for the upcoming exhibit at the Doss Heritage & Culture Center in Weatherford, Texas.

When asked about how he became interested in art, Bob said, "My artistic bent began with my association with my girlfriend Edie Wells who grew my desire to take stimulating pictures and begin to construct altered books and paint. My desire to work on artistic furniture started with a visit to South Congress in Austin and inspiration followed. I usually dumpster dive for pieces and then alter them in some fashion with bottle cap tops or sign tops. I then evolved into the idea of rustic style furniture through my association with Dan Phillips."

"The table I think should be titled "Arrested Development" as I tried to make something that would look like it was rising up out of the bone and forming a top that was framed in bone. The tie to the other bone furniture undeniable with a touch of practicality. I love the look of sliced clavicle bone with forms the frame for the top... the single leg is a remnant of the sycamore tree that stands through the fire damage of the original Bone House structure. I seemed like a fitting tie into the home I will soon occupy."

I saw Bob's table next to Dan's chairs and was intrigued by the beauty of the sliced bone delicately laying atop the table (the bone is firmly affixed). The table top is a good height and spacious enough for a plate + beverage as it stands approx. 24" tall and is 12 x 11" wide. A slightly burnt sycamore piece makes for quite a unique 'leg' that is then securely bolted with more wood and a strong gob of bones. It is perfect as a stand alone table but of course it also blends quite wonderfully with Dan's ensemble should you want the entire set.

Bob's table will also be exhibiting/for sale. Details soon on the Design Store Page.

The Bone Furniture, Part I

2009-11-21T09:44:00.018-06:00

“A Short History of Rib Roast,” by Dan Phillips

Cow bone and Western Red Cedar

Outdoor patio furniture made by Dan Phillips. This furniture, along with three more tables made by two other artists, will be exhibiting at the Doss Heritage & Culture Center in Weatherford, Texas. I will post about the rest of the furniture in part 2 and 3.

Dan made four chairs and one alarmingly creative table using the scapula's of the cow as resting points for drinks or platters. When I first saw this table I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Very unexpected, as Dan had been talking about his ideas for a table and as is the case, this table is completely different than what he was planning. It's a wow table. And the chairs, with their tight lines of ribs serving as the seating and backing along with various other bones bluntly screwed atop and behind the chair, make for an exceptional visual orchestra. Yes you CAN sit in these for long periods of time. Yes they ARE functional. Yes you might need to own them and yes Dan is going to offer this furniture up for auction, details to come! Table is approx 35" tall (at highest point), 29" W and 46" long.

Per Dan's comments:

The Phoenix Commotion is currently building a residence/studio combination for legitimate artists, using bone as one of the design elements. The only difference between ivory and bone is that ivory is illegal, and bone is free. In these parts, every rancher has a bone yard. And so, bone will be integrated into all aspects of the building--from balustrades, counter tops and mosaics, to door- and cabinet-handles and patio furniture. An ensemble of chairs and tables like those shown will provide appointments for outdoor gatherings.

Click here to read more about the Bone House. The history of the original Bone House pre-fire is talked about and you can always find more pictures and info on the Phoenix Commotion Facebook Fan Page.

storybook

2009-11-20T08:36:00.004-06:00

In an attempt to give some history, facts and information about some of the homes already built, I think it's easiest to link to articles that have already been written. Yesterday I went to the Storybook house to see if I could get some pictures of Kirk and Claude as they were filming their documentary. The house is currently rented and the tenants graciously let Tod and I into their home to look around. It felt awkward and not right to start taking pictures inside so we took a peek around, thrust some home made cookies at them and darted off. It was a bleak day of sorts so the few outdoor shots I got aren't nearly as marvelous as what you could see here on the Architectural Antique Review blog.

I had a chance to talk a bit more with Kirk and Claude, still hoping they will send me a blurb about themselves/their project. What I gleaned in talked with Claude was that he also saw the article on Dan in the NY Times and that is what intrigued him to come here and want to make a documentary. He is still unsure exactly where this is going, I imagine it is much like writing a book, there has to be a general gist and point one wants to relay while keeping the story going. I was very impressed as Claude took me outside in front of the house and started relaying all sorts of facts about the beams and angles; things Dan had told him about the who's and how's of making this house. It's all such a new language my head hasn't caught on to the lingo very well. I stood there, looking up at this strange, gentle beast of a house trying to imagine what it must be like to see your vision turn into reality. To play and create and make homes that are truly unique while benefiting others in the process. I like that these home's aren't crying out 'look at me' in a gaudy bright crazy sort of way. These homes, to me at least, have a very balanced yin and yang energy. They are big but small. Strong yet delicate. Crazy yet sane. Speaking from an artists' point of view, I like the gentle but strong pull I feel when I look at relatively common materials that are being used in some pretty unusual and creative ways. Functional works of art. You can't deny the power in that.

documenting the documentarists

2009-11-19T11:27:00.008-06:00

Today Claude Mathews and Kirk Hunter are going inside of the storybook house to get footage of the inside. Claude is a producer/director and Kirk is a film maker & is associated with the Austin Film School. They are longtime friends who have decided make a documentary about Dan Phillips and the Phoenix Commotion.

I was out running errands, saw them at the side of the storybook home and stopped to ask if I could take a picture of them. Thought it would be fitting to document their documenting. Nice guys. Humorous, playful, gregarious and truly interested in the Phoenix Commotion. I cannot wait to see their documentary. I think they said last week they got over 30 hours of footage!

Will post more about Claude and Kirk later as I've invited them to write blurbs about themselves and their documentary. Can't wait to go back today and see the inside of this house! (top photo is Kirk having a playful moment pretending to be the keebler man. the roof of this house inspired that)

brief intro

2009-11-18T17:21:00.011-06:00

How does one just jump into a blog about a project that has been around for years and that has gotten so much media exposure recently that there is probably no stone left unturned? Head first I suppose. It's daunting, as I'm an outsider who has recently been given a chance to be an insider. My boyfriend Tod and I moved here a month ago from Vermont as we were intrigued by the New York Times article on Dan Phillips. Intrigued enough to want to come to a place we'd never even heard of and get involved in whatever way we can. It started with a simple email and a few weeks later we were packing a truck and heading for Huntsville, Texas.

This blog isn't 'our' blog. We created it but anyone involved with the Phoenix Commotion may share pictures, information, links and their stories here. It is our hope that the blog will give you a more intimate look at the projects and people who make up the Phoenix Commotion. It feels like a very exciting time for everyone right now. There has been a documentary crew filming, various media doing interviews with Dan as well as new projects in the horizon that are bound to draw more interest and attention.

I look forward to being a reporter of sorts, filling you in on these happenings or just sharing details about whatever it is that catches my eye on any given day. Today for example I went to the bone house to see what Linda was working on. Linda is a glass artist and has been making mosaics for some beautiful doors that Josh is working on. I want to wait and take a picture of the doors when they are actually put up, but in the meantime here is a snippet of her work in progress. The picture on the left is a finished panel, and on the right a panel in progress.

There, I jumped in. I will introduce you to Josh, Linda, Brian, Tom, Bob and whoever else I run into that has worked or volunteered for Dan. There is Kristie, who is the PR superstar and coordinator extraordinaire who works with Dan. And of course it goes without saying: Dan and his wife Marsha, the founders of the Phoenix Commotion. Bear with me as I myself am still learning the ropes, the people and the place. For more details about the Phoenix Commotion go to their website (which is in the process of getting a whole new look). There you will find articles, videos, PDF forms such as this one, as well as detailed information about the mission of the Phoenix Commotion and what you can do to get more involved. Time to edit more pictures and prepare for the next post!

Welcome to the Phoenix Commotion Blog!

2009-11-14T18:06:00.001-06:00

Hi and welcome to the Phoenix Commotion blog!

The Phoenix Commotion is a project committed to people and their communities. Specifically, we are committed to reducing the landfill waste-stream by diverting usable building materials into the construction of low-income housing, with an unskilled, minimum-wage labor force.

This blog is a joint effort by the people involved with the Phoenix Commotion. We hope that this blog will give you more insight and information about the people working with Dan Phillips, as well as the general day to day experiences as they are happening on the job sites. We look forward sharing this journey and invite your questions and comments.