The Cultural Landscape Foundation recently held a Preview of SITTING STILL followed by an interview with the films’ subject – Laurie Olin. SITTING STILL is an original documentary focusing on one of the world’s most preeminent urban designers and his profound social vision. Hailed as a modern-day Olmsted, Laurie Olin has helped transform the design of public space, revitalize the American city, and pave the way for future design leaders. This portrait of an artist is told through a prism of issues that have defined Olin’s life and work for the past fifty years: urbanization and our lost connection to nature, economic marginalization, and the grave importance of humanity in design.
SITTING STILL gets inside the mind of a prophetic and visionary urban designer to see what he sees. In a time when global values increasingly reflect “profit over people,” Olin’s vision has always been to create a more democratic and egalitarian society through healthy, shared public space.
SITTING STILL invites the voices of other design luminaries into the conversation, including preeminent architects Frank Gehry and Billie Tsien, and esteemed landscape designer and artist, Walter Hood, among others. According to these global thinkers and designers, environmental and human stakes have never been higher, and the most pressing challenges of the natural environment and social disunity can be addressed in how we think about the marks we make upon the land.
Olin’s original paintings and drawings are a visual thread throughout the film. These works of art establish a rhythm, creating moments of stillness within the movement of the piece. Just as parks in the city becomes tranquil spaces in all the flurry, Olin’s artwork establishes critical pauses in the film, reminding us that one of the best methods to learn from the world is to observe it by sitting still.
The film will be shown at Architecture Film Festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Chicago in the coming months.
For more information about the film and the filmmakers, please go to: www.sittingstillmovie.com
Images Courtesy of SA KWA Pictures
