I saw the video about the Dome House by Soleri.
That was very touching to see the inside of the structure. This was the first architecture I encountered as a young boy living halfway around the globe.
It was hard to imagine what kind of people lived there and what setting in the wide landscape it was in.
Today, I live nearby and it is sad to see all the bad architecture and land grab that has dwarfed the idea of living with nature. This is worth visiting again and again so as not to forget the lessons we could have learned from it. It may already be too late. I was there this week and could not beleive how close the new buildings have come to this Dome House.
Thanks for giving us a glimpse of the timeless building.
Thanks for leaving such a kind and thoughtful comment, Rafique.
I can’t imagine what it must have been like to see Dome House as a young boy. That must have been an amazing experience.
I had never seen it before I filmed it and was stunned at how innovative and beautiful it was. Needless to say, with Soleri there talking about it, the experience was that much more powerful.
Thanks again for taking the time to write. I hope you enjoy the other posts you find here.
So glad to discover this site, and catch up: David, your music is wonderful! Especially love the Chopin.
Memories conjured of my full year of seasons living in the Dome House 1986-87. My neighbor was Geoffrey Platts, Defender of the Desert!
Enjoyed the presentation in Indian Lake the other day. While reading Fine Homebuilding the Acosanti project was mentioned in an artical about Will Beemer a Timber Framer (Issue 214 Oct.-november 2010 pg.106). Seems he tought there in the 60S. Thought you might be interested.
Jack
Hello from sweden!I was watching the film about mike meyers aka disfarmer,and touch my soul in soo many ways,i have been a photographer in nearly 5 years now and i have to give cred to the team that was shooting till documentry….Thanks alot:) Tobias
Unfortunately, I’m not the filmmaker responsible for “Disfarmer.” I like his photos too and found a connection between them and my documentary, A Life’s Work.
Too bad your site for the vimeo video about Lincoln trying to get a job won’t open for me!! I have been looking for this for a few years – so close, yet so far. Good luck with your future endeavors.
Please tell Claire that the NJ Institute of Technology may still have some photographs of the 3D Jersey model. The contact person at the time that project was commissioned was Don Wall. I don’t know who might be there now who’d be able to access such information, but it may be worth a try.
Hi David,
In the 1990s, when I was dancing ballroom and tango in and around NYC, there was a delightful elderly couple from Russia, who were often in attendance—possibly at The Marc Ballroom on Union Square. They were featured in a documentary.
I wanted to show that film to some friends as I remembered how touching it was. I recognized them in the photo on your site. Is that film available online?
~Alice
South Pasadena, CA
Hi David,
I had my facts wrong. A tango friend, now living in Berlin, reminded me of Alex and Jean Turney’s story of escaping the Nazis in Berlin…and yours was the film I remembered so well.
All the dancers I know from that period remember Alex and Jean.
Due to this horrid pandemic, I‘ve had to give up dancing tango, which I have been doing privately twice a week in my California loft for the past eight years. I worry that I may never dance again and suppose that was why I thought of your film. It inspired me to believe that we will survive this.
It was fascinating to read that you met the Turney’s at Midsummers Night Swing. I created a one-of-a-kind Artist Book, by the same name. Lincoln Center Library purchased it for their Special Collections.
Thank you for the loving pleasure your film stirred in me, beginning from the Turney’s enter an email into the tango space—two people you might barely notice on the street—transformed by the music, the dance floor, and the dance.
Thank you very much for your kind note. I’m glad you liked it. And you understood my intentions completely! I had a script for the dialog, but when Alex and Jean auditioned, I pretty much threw it out the window. They were the couple in the film. People you would walk by without seeing them. And yet, what amazing lives they lived, what stories they had to tell, how much beauty and love they could still share with the world, even if people turned away because they are “elderly.”
Alex and Jean had an amazing story, full of struggle, pain, and love and music and dance. They both embraced life until the very end.
I hope you can start dancing again soon. Think of how wonderful it will be when you can finally embrace a partner and do all those wonderful tango moves together!
Can I put you on my mailing list? I probably send four newsletter update type emails a year, letting people know about where they can see and read my work. I don’t share my list with anyone and I will never spam you.
Oh, and also, your book sounds great. I live a block away from that library. Do you know if it’s something they allow people to see. I’m assuming they won’t let anyone check it out.
And your website is great too. I really lovely the books. Gorgeous!
Rafique Islam
I saw the video about the Dome House by Soleri.
That was very touching to see the inside of the structure. This was the first architecture I encountered as a young boy living halfway around the globe.
It was hard to imagine what kind of people lived there and what setting in the wide landscape it was in.
Today, I live nearby and it is sad to see all the bad architecture and land grab that has dwarfed the idea of living with nature. This is worth visiting again and again so as not to forget the lessons we could have learned from it. It may already be too late. I was there this week and could not beleive how close the new buildings have come to this Dome House.
Thanks for giving us a glimpse of the timeless building.
David Licata
Thanks for leaving such a kind and thoughtful comment, Rafique.
I can’t imagine what it must have been like to see Dome House as a young boy. That must have been an amazing experience.
I had never seen it before I filmed it and was stunned at how innovative and beautiful it was. Needless to say, with Soleri there talking about it, the experience was that much more powerful.
Thanks again for taking the time to write. I hope you enjoy the other posts you find here.
Best,
David
Debra Giannini
So glad to discover this site, and catch up: David, your music is wonderful! Especially love the Chopin.
Memories conjured of my full year of seasons living in the Dome House 1986-87. My neighbor was Geoffrey Platts, Defender of the Desert!
David Licata
Thank you so much for you kind comment.
I didn’t know you lived in the Dome House. What was that like, if you don’t mind me asking!
Jack
David,
Enjoyed the presentation in Indian Lake the other day. While reading Fine Homebuilding the Acosanti project was mentioned in an artical about Will Beemer a Timber Framer (Issue 214 Oct.-november 2010 pg.106). Seems he tought there in the 60S. Thought you might be interested.
Jack
David Licata
Hi Jack,
Thanks for coming to the screening, it was good to have you there.
And thanks, too, for leaving the comment. I’ll make sure to check out that issue.
I hope to show the film at your fine theater when the film is completed. And I hope you find your way back to these pages once in a while before then.
All the best,
David
Tobias Dahl
Hello from sweden!I was watching the film about mike meyers aka disfarmer,and touch my soul in soo many ways,i have been a photographer in nearly 5 years now and i have to give cred to the team that was shooting till documentry….Thanks alot:) Tobias
David Licata
Unfortunately, I’m not the filmmaker responsible for “Disfarmer.” I like his photos too and found a connection between them and my documentary, A Life’s Work.
Thanks for leaving the comment though.
David Moeller
Too bad your site for the vimeo video about Lincoln trying to get a job won’t open for me!! I have been looking for this for a few years – so close, yet so far. Good luck with your future endeavors.
David Licata
Hi David,
Sorry about that. I changed servers last week and not everything is functioning.
However, I fixed the page, so you can watch the video now.
All the best,
David
RuthClaire Weintraub
Please tell Claire that the NJ Institute of Technology may still have some photographs of the 3D Jersey model. The contact person at the time that project was commissioned was Don Wall. I don’t know who might be there now who’d be able to access such information, but it may be worth a try.
David Licata
Will do!
Alice Simpson
Hi David,
In the 1990s, when I was dancing ballroom and tango in and around NYC, there was a delightful elderly couple from Russia, who were often in attendance—possibly at The Marc Ballroom on Union Square. They were featured in a documentary.
I wanted to show that film to some friends as I remembered how touching it was. I recognized them in the photo on your site. Is that film available online?
~Alice
South Pasadena, CA
David Licata
Hi Alice,
Thanks for the note.
I made a short fiction film, Tango Octogenario, with the tango dancers you mention, Alex and Jean Turney. You are welcome to watch that film online.
https://vimeo.com/97987864
I don’t recall them being in a documentary, but it’s very possible they were. They were NYC tango legends.
Have a great weekend, And if you do decide to watch my film, let me know what you think.
Regards,
David
Alice Simpson
Hi David,
I had my facts wrong. A tango friend, now living in Berlin, reminded me of Alex and Jean Turney’s story of escaping the Nazis in Berlin…and yours was the film I remembered so well.
All the dancers I know from that period remember Alex and Jean.
Due to this horrid pandemic, I‘ve had to give up dancing tango, which I have been doing privately twice a week in my California loft for the past eight years. I worry that I may never dance again and suppose that was why I thought of your film. It inspired me to believe that we will survive this.
It was fascinating to read that you met the Turney’s at Midsummers Night Swing. I created a one-of-a-kind Artist Book, by the same name. Lincoln Center Library purchased it for their Special Collections.
Thank you for the loving pleasure your film stirred in me, beginning from the Turney’s enter an email into the tango space—two people you might barely notice on the street—transformed by the music, the dance floor, and the dance.
Alice Simpson
There is a typo. In the last sentence…
“ from the Turney’s entrance into the tango space…”
David Licata
Hi Alice,
Thank you very much for your kind note. I’m glad you liked it. And you understood my intentions completely! I had a script for the dialog, but when Alex and Jean auditioned, I pretty much threw it out the window. They were the couple in the film. People you would walk by without seeing them. And yet, what amazing lives they lived, what stories they had to tell, how much beauty and love they could still share with the world, even if people turned away because they are “elderly.”
Alex and Jean had an amazing story, full of struggle, pain, and love and music and dance. They both embraced life until the very end.
I hope you can start dancing again soon. Think of how wonderful it will be when you can finally embrace a partner and do all those wonderful tango moves together!
Can I put you on my mailing list? I probably send four newsletter update type emails a year, letting people know about where they can see and read my work. I don’t share my list with anyone and I will never spam you.
Thanks again.
Wish you and your good health.
Best,
David
David Licata
Oh, and also, your book sounds great. I live a block away from that library. Do you know if it’s something they allow people to see. I’m assuming they won’t let anyone check it out.
And your website is great too. I really lovely the books. Gorgeous!