Digesting Materiality was a disorderly colloquium culminating the Spring 2018 Lecture Series on materiality at Princeton University’s School of Architecture. Coordinated and moderated by Deborah Garcia and José Ibarra, this event was open to the public and encouraged audience participation.
Swapping the sobriety of academic conversations for the buzz of a surrealist party, the colloquium reconciled fast-paced thoughts around color, texture, authenticity, environment, and more. In the style of musical chairs, guests were invited to sit at the table amongst bricks and cinder blocks to discuss the topic of materiality and its meaning in architectural discourse today.
RULE 01 In the style of musical chairs, seating is limited. As the music plays you may enjoy food and drinks while lounging casually and speaking to friends but, of course, your eye is always locked upon the open chair because you have burning thoughts to share. You may not by any means engage in any kind of pushing, shoving, sabotage, or dissent.
RULE 02 Discussion topics may be changed by picking a new object from the assortment of props laid out upon the table. You may not take the brick with you, no matter how much you want to—even if that brick is speaking to you and asking you desperately for freedom.
RULE 03 The moderator, like a referee or a rampant dictator, may interject and shift conversation at any time.
RULE 04 Share your thoughts, even if they might be strange, wondrous, or, even—provocative.
RULE 05 All rules are meant to be broken... except for Rule 04.
