THE FADE
Robin Donaldson, 2022
"In surfing there is a move called “the fade”. It is considered by most surfers to be the iconic power move that demonstrates significant skill and experience to artfully execute. It requires the confidence of a Kahuna, the timing of a Ninja, and the deep Waterman instincts honed by years and years of lung bursting wipeouts on waves of significance. Watching a surfer “fade” after takeoff, essentially means you are watching a surfer go in what you think is the wrong direction. Where the average surfer would’ve taken off and predictably, safely gone right the fading Kahuna instead does the opposite. He (or she) goes left towards the pit of the breaking wave, the churning white water no man’s land that the average surfer is doing his best to avoid. The Kahuna tempts fate…intentionally. The fading surfer has now put themselves in a dangerous position, and calmly, almost nonchalantly they wait to the point of apparent procrastination. They’re drifting left. When are they going to turn you ask yourself? Why are they fading so far back in the wrong direction and seemingly so committed to possible annihilation? Why wait to the last millionth of a second to make the most critical carving bottom turn known in surfing? That turn and its apparent perfect timing is the best indication you’ll ever have that you are watching someone who knows what they’re doing. They’ve waited to make that turn and when they do it’s a revelation. Behold the neck snapping swift sudden change in direction and a sling shot burst of speed across the face of the wave…in the right direction."
- Robin Donaldson. "Re: Midwestern Bloc." Received by Thomas Prinz, 8 May 2022.
Take the fish bones.
Make me a fisherman.
May I sail the blue sea.
Make me brave.
- Caroline Curtis, Keola, A Boy of Old Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii: Tongg Publishing, 1941) 158.
Show Sponsor:
Lucky Bucket Brewing Co.
Robin Donaldson, 2022
"In surfing there is a move called “the fade”. It is considered by most surfers to be the iconic power move that demonstrates significant skill and experience to artfully execute. It requires the confidence of a Kahuna, the timing of a Ninja, and the deep Waterman instincts honed by years and years of lung bursting wipeouts on waves of significance. Watching a surfer “fade” after takeoff, essentially means you are watching a surfer go in what you think is the wrong direction. Where the average surfer would’ve taken off and predictably, safely gone right the fading Kahuna instead does the opposite. He (or she) goes left towards the pit of the breaking wave, the churning white water no man’s land that the average surfer is doing his best to avoid. The Kahuna tempts fate…intentionally. The fading surfer has now put themselves in a dangerous position, and calmly, almost nonchalantly they wait to the point of apparent procrastination. They’re drifting left. When are they going to turn you ask yourself? Why are they fading so far back in the wrong direction and seemingly so committed to possible annihilation? Why wait to the last millionth of a second to make the most critical carving bottom turn known in surfing? That turn and its apparent perfect timing is the best indication you’ll ever have that you are watching someone who knows what they’re doing. They’ve waited to make that turn and when they do it’s a revelation. Behold the neck snapping swift sudden change in direction and a sling shot burst of speed across the face of the wave…in the right direction."
- Robin Donaldson. "Re: Midwestern Bloc." Received by Thomas Prinz, 8 May 2022.
Take the fish bones.
Make me a fisherman.
May I sail the blue sea.
Make me brave.
- Caroline Curtis, Keola, A Boy of Old Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii: Tongg Publishing, 1941) 158.
Show Sponsor:
Lucky Bucket Brewing Co.
Photos Courtesy of Dan Schwalm
Video of Robin Donaldson's Sketchbook for this Exhibition:
Video Courtesy of Robin Donaldson
Drawings by Robin Donaldson:
Images Courtesy of Robin Donaldson
Robin Donaldson's Road Trip from Santa Barbara, CA to Omaha, NE:
Photos Courtesy of Robin Donaldson
Compiled Video of Robin Donaldson Studio Visit in Santa Barbara, CA:
Video Courtesy of Mike Nesbit
Robin Donaldson Studio Visit in Santa Barbara, CA:
Photos Courtesy of Mike Nesbit
Email conversations with Robin Donaldson regarding this exhibition:
About the Artist:
A fourth-generation Southern Californian, Robin Donaldson was born and raised within the SoCal surf and skate culture. Before founding ShubinDonaldson, he received a Bachelor’s in Studio Art at UCSB, focusing on painting and printmaking. He then attended the Southern California Institute of Architecture, receiving his Master of Architecture and winning the Henry Adams Medal. During his SCI_Arc studies, Robin began working with Morphosis Architects and served as the Project Architect on the Crawford Residence. In 1990, Donaldson founded ShubinDonaldson Architects. Today he lectures at AIA events, academic institutions, devotes time to AIA advisory boards, and serves on community planning advisory boards across Southern California.
Donaldson’s creative force is at the heart of advancing SD’s design ethos. He leads the firms’ investigations between buildings and topography/landscape integration, representation and drawing sensibilities, and unique fabrication methodologies. His interest in exploring new possibilities for conventional building typologies also includes leading ShubinDonaldson’s research and development efforts.
www.shubindonaldson.com
A fourth-generation Southern Californian, Robin Donaldson was born and raised within the SoCal surf and skate culture. Before founding ShubinDonaldson, he received a Bachelor’s in Studio Art at UCSB, focusing on painting and printmaking. He then attended the Southern California Institute of Architecture, receiving his Master of Architecture and winning the Henry Adams Medal. During his SCI_Arc studies, Robin began working with Morphosis Architects and served as the Project Architect on the Crawford Residence. In 1990, Donaldson founded ShubinDonaldson Architects. Today he lectures at AIA events, academic institutions, devotes time to AIA advisory boards, and serves on community planning advisory boards across Southern California.
Donaldson’s creative force is at the heart of advancing SD’s design ethos. He leads the firms’ investigations between buildings and topography/landscape integration, representation and drawing sensibilities, and unique fabrication methodologies. His interest in exploring new possibilities for conventional building typologies also includes leading ShubinDonaldson’s research and development efforts.
www.shubindonaldson.com