McLeod Residence Blog

Anne Gould Hauberg

Today I purchased a book about my hero, Anne Gould Hauberg, who is one of the most important art patrons in the Pacific Northwest.  My favorite simple quote of hers: "If you don't support the artists, you won't have them."  And also: "What would life be without the things that give beauty -- art, dance, theater, music -- the things that make life bearable?"

It is amazing how much Anne changed Seattle.  The book tells how, in the 1960s, Anne and her husband John purchased 3,000 acres of land in Stanwood, with plans to start a tree farm / ranch / community for developmentally disabled youth / vacation resort / Mark Tobey Museum / cultural center / Glass School.  People must've thought they were crazy, right?  Scattered?  As crazy and scattered as the McLeods, perhaps?  But look what grew out of it: the renowned Pilchuck School of Glass, which is what has made the Northwest world famous for art made from glass.  If Mark Tobey had taken her up on the Tobey Museum, the whole world of Northwest Art would have been different. 

I like this part:

Anne seemingly never tired of imagining the possibilities, as she broadly sowed ideas that were exploratory, connective, and fertile.  "This was one of her most persistent dreams," as Jack Lenor Larsen recognized.  "She was always talking with others about what the tree farm could be.  She was a visionary and utopian."

I was so excited to find this today, as I have been getting tired and stressed and worried about things like track lights and paint colors and bathroom tiles and curtains, as well as things like liquor licenses and cafe pastries and wifi.  If I keep my eyes on the prize, I remember that PERPETUATING BEAUTY (supporting artists, educating the public on the importance of art, and promoting / radiating beauty in LIFE) is my ultimate goal, just like it has been Anne's.

McLeod Residence is found

On October 16th 2006, 6 days after Lele's return to Seattle, Lele and I signed the lease for McLeod Residence.  It's an old converted apartment building at 2209 2nd Ave, across the street from the Crocodile, Tula's, Shorty's, and the Lava Lounge.  There's a red door on the street level, and once you've entered, you walk up a broad staircase and into a foyer with six doors.   

We always knew that the space we found would have a huge impact on the business we built.  As soon as we found our new residence, everything else started coming together.  With six rooms, nine doors, two tiny triangular closets, twenty-two steps, fourteen windows, two bathrooms, a back deck, and over two-thousand square feet packed into the best location in Seattle, this place is a perfect home for our vision.

I want to use this blog to talk about the vision, both as an idea and as it becomes a reality.  I want to talk about Seattle, and friends, and art, and technology, and about how this project embodies the lifestyle that I want to live.  The last two years at my other project, The Robot Co-op, has taught me that the quickest way to a great life is through a great lifestyle.  That the great things in life can be had right now.