With help from an NEA grant, Pomegranate Center is working with the nonprofit developers, residents and local school children to create artistic enhancements that add beauty and local identity to this transitional housing neighborhood. The completed tiles will be incorporated into eight mobile light posts with passive solar lights. (more…)

Early on in my work, I read and was greatly influenced by the little-known work of Fred Polak, a Dutch sociologist. My library included a well-read copy of The Image of the Future (which is now out of print and difficult to find). Polak does an impressive job of looking at the relationship between images of the future and cycles of culture:

“The rise and fall of images of the future precedes or accompanies the rise and fall of cultures. As long as the society’s image is positive and flourishing, the flower of culture is in full bloom. Once the image begins to decay and lose its vitality, however, the culture does not long survive.”

Pomegranate Center’s work in facilitation, public process and community-based design is built on a basic philosophy that imagining, clarifying and owning a shared picture of what our communities can be is a powerful, and vital, step in moving us toward that desirable end. (more…)

At Issaquah Highlands we designed and built a one-acre park and several artistic features around the development. We are currently in participating in the planning and design of a local retail core for the neighborhood.

» Pictures of Pomegranate Center’s work at Issaquah Highlands
» More about Issaquah Highlands

In the High Point neighborhood Pomegranate Center partnered with the Seattle Housing Authority and neighborhood residents to design and build pocket parks and amenities at the local Market Garden. Development on a community amphitheater begins in 2008!

» Pictures of Pomegranate Center’s work at High Point
» More about High Point

Read the article in Natural Home magazine…

Congratulations to both neighborhoods!

Thanks to an exciting grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Pomegranate Center will be working with John and the Next Step Housing team to build artistic elements, including streetlights and signage, for the new Pear Tree development in Yakima, WA.  (more…)

On Thursday, November 1, we are hosting a second guided tour of Medina Elementary School, where curriculum, community and design were linked together with magic results. Snacks and juice boxes provided.

WHERE:
Medina Elementary School (directions)

WHEN:
Thursday, November 1, 2007
4:00 - 4:30 pm, refreshments; 4:30 - 5:30 pm, guided tour

RSVP to info@pomegranate.org or (425) 557-6412. This event is free, but an RSVP is requested.

WHEN:

• Friday, November 2, 9am - 5pm
• Saturday, November 3, 10am - 3pm

Join us for one or both days! Drop ins and children over 15 are welcome. Lunch provided.

WHERE:
Pomegranate Center, 1400 NW Maple Street, Issaquah, WA
Directions

RSVP to Bree Delgadillo, Project Coordinator at 425-557-6412 or bree@pomegranate.org.

After many hours of carving, sanding and staining 12 cedar logs, volunteers from the Arboretum Shelter Carving Workshops can be sure they left a wonderful mark on this Seattle park. And their work got some great praise last week, too!

First, the Arboretum’s new interpretive shelter, designed by Pomegranate Center and The Portico Group, and the carved cedar columns that will support it were featured in an article in last week’s Seattle Times, “Sprucing up a place for plants.” Describing the development of the Pacific Connections Garden, the article featured a large photo of the carving workshop site.

And then, the very next day, our volunteers’ handiwork made its first public appearance at the Arboretum’s Pacific Connections Garden groundbreaking ceremony! (more…)

The world is a less eloquent place this week with the passing of Madeleine L’Engle, a great American writer best known for her Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time.

Madeleine and I met in 1984 as co-presenters at a conference, and I was struck by her expressiveness and ability to weave together science and spirituality. When compiling my first book, Lightworks: Explorations in Art, Culture and Creativity, I was honored to have an excerpt of Madeleine’s book Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art included. I reread her words this week and, again, was inspired by her insights (more…)