THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 17 2023 – JANUARY 20 2024
in the spring of 2022, i was visiting Newport Oregon on a drippy cold rainy day, i in my van negotiating parking on a hill. when i got a call from Matthew Wagstaffe from the museum of modern art in new york. he and Carson Chan wanting to put my work in a show.
instantly my professional life got a huge stamp of approval. i was the same, my work the same, my history the same, yet i now could be worshiped and revered as relevant.
the show has famous names as well as relative unknowns. FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, BUCKMINSTER FULLER, PAOLO SOLERI, fame allows for serious consideration by the masses. the show covering from 1940-1990 the ecological movement from a variety of concerns.
NEW YORK NEW YORK , the self absorbed capital of the world in love with itself. UN protestors creating grid lock that made for 1 1/2 hours of hailing a cab in drenching rain . a fascinating and delightful place for me to visit for a week immersed in the MoMA show. stark contrast to my remote isolated cabin life in joshua tree, california.
EMILIO AMBASZ
Fukuoka’s ACROS centre 1995.
EMILIO AMBASZ, artist, architect, industrial designer, created the The Emilio Ambasz Institute for the Joint Study of the Built and the Natural Environment at the MoMA. a platform for fostering dialogue and promoting conversation. Emilio an exhibitor in the show.
Emilio a fascinating whiz kid designer that figured out that the secret to building what you want is to become wealthy. he having over 200 hundred industrial design patents in his portfolio. Emilio is into ecology and has numerous built and eco green projects. “green over gray” “move the heart”
INVESTIGATOR REPORTED DAUGHTER JULIE SMALL AND ARTIST DAUGHTER YASMINA-DEDIJER SMALL WITH FATHER
they looking after me to ensure i did not get into trouble.
all of my five children were raised with models drawings, modern furniture, organic ceramic , press clippings, architectural magazines, drafting tables and father ranting about architecture.
my late film maker daughter Lucia Small making the award winning film “my father the genius” questioned my world for good reason.
so having two smart daughters with me and seeing how people revered me, was a plus point of making sense out of their sphere that had a father in love with architecture.
being a survey show of 45 contributors, each exhibitor had limited display. Carson and Matthew selected the biomorphic biosphere and green machine from my numerous eco green projects. they also selected the models and drawings to display, and how to display. using a phone for tv interviews in1980 on the green machine. i asked for more images and drawings, and also to assist exhibit arrangement, but was politely told they would handle. i asked for referral to blog: smallatlarge.com biomorphic biosphere 1-6 and green machine 1-3 to comprehend.
i was told not the MoMA policy.
READY TO POUNCE ON THE VISITORS
FLYING HOUSE 1972
flying houses are being built now , but they look like slick Ferraris. mine with inflatable wings, robotic arms, tracking movement, etc waiting for nerds to perfect.
FLYING HOUSE CROSS SECTION 1972
plugs into structure of biomorphic biosphere, vehicle lower level, pedestrians upper level. opens closes, changes color and transparencies
BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT CORE
soft round movement pods and plug in green space frame.
BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE ECO REGIONAL SITE MODEL MOUNTAIN REPLACING LOS ANGELES 1972
the biomorphic biosphere planning to transform los angeles is the most significant regional eco large scale architectural planning project ever proposed.
not science fiction, but buildable reality. i am grateful it is in the show. having 6,000 viewers passing through the popular MoMA a day.
BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE ECO REGIONAL SITE MODEL MOUNTAIN REPLACING LOS ANGELES 1972 WITH DAUGHTER JULIE SMALL.
TWISTED ELEVATION OF BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE ECO REGIONAL SITE MODEL MOUNTAIN REPLACING LOS ANGELES 1972
GREEN MACHINE MODEL 1980 THERE WAS A BUZZ OF INTEREST TO LEARN
SUHEIL SATARA ARCHITECT AND FORMER STUDENT, HARLAN EMIL GRUBER, DESIGNER, AUTHOR, ETC.
Suheil helped build the green machine model in 1980. harlan did an interview of me on the biomorphic biosphere and green machine. 2023
RANDY POLUMBO my client friend sculptor, artist, contractor.
a two town guy of Joshua Tree and New York, plus ORIENT POINT LIGHTHOUSE on long island.
RETIRED PUBLICIST PHYLLIS BRUCILOFT ON THE BENCH IN CENTRAL PARK FEEDING THE SPARROWS.
just the mention of being in a show at the museum of modern art created respect among all i met in new york. in central park a retired art professor from Sacramento overheard that i was in the show and jumped to introduce himself. he and wife off to Barcelona for a month. accidentally meeting up again at MoMA with their greeting ” the genius.”
PEGGY TIRSHWELL GETTING UP CLOSE TO UNDERSTAND. A COMMON DESIRE TO COMPREHEND. MY DAUGHTER YASMINA AND I GUESTS OF HERS FOR A WEEK. A DELIGHTFUL SMART LADY.
i sat on a folding stool for six days observing how visitors viewed my work, and when somebody was close to the drawings or against the glass of the green machine i approached them and asked if they wanted an explanation. everybody did except for one couple that did not speak english.
the viewers ranged from professors, students, planning experts, to classical pianist from Sweden, to newly wed town planners from brazil, architect couple from Italy with enthralled child for the green machine model that published books and magazines, bar tender, to planners from India and china. artists, architectural agents. a famous soccer player from Netherlands with city planner, security guard wanting to share, all inquisitive positive people.
A TOAST TO BEING IN MOMA AT THE SWANK MoMA BAR.
PAINTER GRAPHIC ARTIST DAUGHTER YASMINA DEDIJER-SMALL AND HER COUSIN JEWELRY ARTIST KAJA DEDIJER
HARLAN EMIL GRUBER DESIGNER, AUTHOR, ETC , DAUGHTER SUSAN WINES ARCHITECT , JAMES WINES ARCHITECT , WIFE KRIZ WINES ECO WEAR James an eco supporter professional friend.
VIP PARTY WITH FASHION MODELS that conversed. like something out of the movies. a first class celebration in a high society flat.
CHINESE DINNER FOR EXHIBITORS AND CURATORS, MATTHEW WAGSTAFFE ASSISTANT CURATOR. FOUND ME IN THE DESERT AND DID EXTENSIVE INTERVIEW AND DESCRIPTIONS OF MY CONTRIBUTION. a savvy architecturally educated historical buff eager to learn and question. we share a future of common understanding.
the exhibitors diverse kind people that enjoyed each others company.
CARSON CHAN, DIRECTOR HEAD CURATOR, MY HERO FOR MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN. HE FOUND ME IN THE DESERT. and wrote an insightful introduction in the catalogue book that connects the dots of history of the show and wide range of exhibitors. it took courage and guts to exhibit this group; exhibitors 1940-1990 aware of ecological challenges of the future .
EUGENE TSUI ARCHITECT AND I HAD A LOT IN COMMON ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACING THE GLOBAL CRISIS. he a lively 69 years old multitalented that designs his clothes, martial arts expert, musician etc.
THE GREEN MACHINE MODEL, AN ECOLOGICAL VERTICAL LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. 1980
HAND OUT 8 1/2” x 11” SIDE 1, BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE top, GREEN MACHINE bottom
HAND OUT SIDE 2 PROPOSED PROJECTS top AND BUILT PROJECTS bottom
i was there for 5 days for vip opening 9/13/23 and to public opening 9/17/23 and 9/18/23
i explained the exhibit to interested viewers.
SEE smallatlarge.com BIOMORPHIC BIOSPHERE 1-6 and GREEN MACHINE 1-3 to have comprehensive images, and text.
PHOTOS OF MoMA EXHIBIT WERE BY: YASMINA DEDIJER SMALL, JULIE SMALL. HARLAN EMIL GRUBER, JANA LEO
SUMMATION:
what was intriguing for me was to see how the public related to the biomorphic biosphere drawings. they standing a foot away, intense upon seeing every detail.
the regional model of biomorphic biosphere was hard to understand and people stood in front and took pictures of it like it was a medallion. although there was a brief explanation to read.
MoMA wanting to buy my drawings and green machine model for permanent collection.
i recommend getting this hard cover catalogue. you can buy it here. it is a summation of the spirit of the times that the show encompasses, i an important part with images and statements throughout.
this magazine is a must to have. you can buy it here. a clarity and breath of my work in the show with an extensive interview with images.
the MoMA stamp of approval has happened, how to propel that to influence the society to think big and save the planet is in motion.
agent or publisher needed to connect the dots .
drawings , prints, models, publications
solo exhibit
lectures
books
workshops
talk shows, panels, pods, etc.
consulting
GET ME WHILE YOU CAN
Glen…LONG OVERDUE!!!
Very professional presentation of your unique vision of the future….ideas which only in the last few years other have become able to appreciate. A fantasy world of hand-drawn organic imagery…supplemented with a convincing “straight-from-the-heart-narrative” by family and colleagues made for a super-enjoyable read!
Net effect…lots of love surrounding you despite a lifetime of very trying circumstances. Congratulations, Glen. You deserve every bit of this MOMA recognition!
Congratulations Glen,
I ditched high school in 1971 to watch you pack your high school auditorium at University High to espouse the dreams of “Alternative Energy” options. I read the LA Times articles reporting your appeal to companies like Union Carbide in our youth culture when the available “tech” was inspired and listed in the Whole Earth Catalog. If the bits and alphabetized pieces could have been available from an “Amazon” like source or printed from a 3-D printer those 5 decades ago, perhaps we would not be suffocating in the filth of Main Street U.S.A. squalor where those wandering without roofs or employment carry out a daily battle simply to survive.
But the primordial available tech that is evolving and I believe WILL emerge within the next two generations remains a wishful dream of HOPE to realize a solution with a Biomorphic Biosphere (Small), a Broadacre City (Wright), a Satellite City (Neutra) or an Arcology (Soleri). Fifty years later, I witness today in professional conferences the brave souls battling the fickle construction industry with modular mechanization. Where is the open evidence of governmental assistance? Progress in a market stymied by greed and propelled by the defense contractors is just so: a labyrinth of economic performance charts. It is challenging (actually impossible) to fix a society obsessed by the bottom line. The solutions lie in the dreams and the drawings that speak to a reality that IS achievable (with properly organized government assistance)
Progress can only occur with tech evolution, yes! But tech evolution will occur if a need is apparent and the creative architects get called to action with inspiration at all levels in the food chain.
I applaud your MOMA approval stamp, and cheer you on as a student of Architecture. I challenge our profession to obtain financial resources to solve habitat and medical issues equally. Sadly we lack the sociological infrastructure to currently govern ourselves as human beings! Should we task the profession of Architects to solve what the Doctors and Attorneys are incapable of managing to balance civil society?
Respectfully,
Martin Roy Mervel
Architect/ Planner
hi gang,
This is a big deal for me, so I would expect to hear more from you.
i having a week of appreciation for my work.
thanks,
glen
.
Just thinking about you and wanting to say “HI”.
Portia