green trees...

pretty much green all around here in Reston, VA- been here for three weeks now, other than a quick trip home over the 3 day weekend last week.  its a different setting here though there are similarities to my az pattern (starbucks, safeway, banana republic, target)- howfunny...yet that is what keeps it simple...i am on a temporary detail here for work...one of the highlights is staying next to the W&OD trail for my running.  i am in my 11th week...my 1/2 race is next week on Oct. 27!! i am so  excited to run...i miss myfamily ..to be away this long is difficult...emotionally connection to carm and our babies; even though they are adults yet for my baby katie, i still miss em much...good thing i will be home next week...got to stay strong...and be ready for the next evolution..

celebrating with friends and family..

so fun last night..we all gathered at casablanca..southbridge waterfront scottsdale..it was so neat..carm and i enjoy the company with family and friends...it was great to see my dlr group teammates! richard is arizona registered architect!

r

Richard K. Begay, Jr. (Diné, Scottsdale and Tselani-Cottonwood-Chinle Agency,Navajo Nation, Enrolled Tribal Member)

Begay received his Professional Bachelor of Architecture Degree (cum laude) from the University of Arizona’s School of Architecture in 2001. Richard was previously employed with DLR Group Architects and JCJ Architects – both national architecture and engineering firm.  Begay oversaw multiple projects from early discovery/programming to design phases and eventually into construction documents and post-construction.  Richard’s passion is centered on maintaining relationships; providing lasting commitments and invaluable service to clients, partners, contractors, and education professionals. 

Some of his Native American professional portfolio includes Twin Arrows Casino-Hotel Interiors, Salt River High School, Indian Oasis Baboquivari Auditorium, and Senator John Pinto Library at Diné College Shiprock Campus.  In addition Richard has established strong lasting relationships with Phoenix area school districts such as the Saddle Mountain Unified School District, Phoenix Union High School District, and Paradise Valley Unified School District with their facility upgrades along with new construction. 

Begay’s extensive community service includes speaking particularly to  Native American high students about culture, the spirit of place, and education; His outreach services includes collaboration with university students, professional and non-profit organizations and also volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and Chances for Children - Arizona. Begay also has been featured in a film documentary on Native American architecture. 'Aboriginal Architecture - Living Architecture' (2005 Mushkeg Media, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is feature length documentary that explores how living cultures influence many forms of art including architecture.

In his own words: When I think about creativity, I have a tendency draw from my childhood experiences. Memory submerges me to my late-grandmother's place playing in earth, on earth, with the earth; 'constructing' tree houses and defensive forts; in addition, we fabricate rather archaic weapons made out of juniper branches. In some notion creativity or design was occurring yet to my cousins and I we were consumed with our randomness of simply playing. Who knew tactile exploration became our paradigm for learning. An example of our juvenile creativity: We gather tree sap from ponderosa, pinyon, and juniper, mix it into the size of a baseball, put it on the end of stick - LIGHT it up to SEE and HEAR all those small fire drops. A magnificent display of colors - reds, greens, blues, oranges, yellows, limes, and whites!

Why architecture? I have a great appreciation to many forms of expressions. There are plenty of mediums or vehicles to convey our emotions - whether it's art, music, sculpting, or weaving. Much of what I do goes back to listening, observing, and interaction. My dad is quite the inspiration - a genuine nataani. My dad, trained in civil engineering, installed many water and wastewater systems on the Navajo Reservation. When I was 7 years old, we worked in the central part of the Nation laying or staking out lines and recording the terrain. Other times, I watched him put pipes together with other pipes, pipes to couplings, valves, etc. it was quite the composition - 'parts' to a 'whole'. Much of these experiences, including my juvenile explorations, contribute to ethics and perception or intuition. Intuition becomes a special value or a way of falling back on our foundation of whom we are. These values along with our creative spirit allow us to become the artist we endeavor to be.

Enjoy!

Richard – Architect, Designer & ‘Storytelling with Storykeepers’

richard k. begay jr, llc – architects  

3308 design.work.shop studio

friday night..rock and roll!!

motley & kiss friday night..front row, what a way to start the weekend...

august 5

much to say...memories are running too! 

life on the rez

its going to be a lengthy description to capture as much as i can to clearly illustrate home...

old town - albuquerque

Old town…hint of green chilis enchilada (had one) …colorful shades…bright colors radiance…hidden spaces revealing timeless oasis…historical significance….character!

So busy...nice to find solace under this portico…june has been busy…much happening: recently offered potential opportunity in shanghai, china & abq, nm…finishing up book ten of the ‘diary sessions’, developing a theme for photography exhibit 2013,  planning daughter’s kinalda’, studying building systems, training for y-race half marathon & RnR changs jan. 2013, hiking superstitions and camelback mountain every weekend, checking gears and rigs for camping/fishing trip (sleeping bags are mosquito proof, waterproof, love proof, and thermonuclear heat proof hehe), designing a high-performing sustainable learning community with cool design intent and criteria