1. Monty Cawker
Architectural Designer/Artist
A brief history
Trained as an Architect, I seem to be in the midst of a second career in the
Design profession. My first career was as a Project Architect, working in Seattle for
about fifteen years with a few different firms on various small and large, new and
remodeled, residential and commercial projects. During that period I was fortunate
to work for and with numerous Artists, most notably Dale Chihuly, glass artist and
presenter extraordinaire. A couple of mentors stand out; Mark Millett and Pete
Stoner, both very kind and talented Architects with completely different skill sets
that were invaluable to me in my professional growth. Many thanks.
Since moving to Missoula, Montana in 2000 I have been involved in three
different but connected tangents to the Design profession. The first, and ongoing
passion is as a painter. Though subject matter varies, I seem to gravitate towards
the three themes of built environment, places (often European and medieval) and
depicting the iconography of the changing visual landscape of the cowboy west;
specifically the powerful imagery of natural degradation, the integration of
windmills and evolving solar landscapes.
The second pathway seems to be leading towards new found Design territory
I have found using glass Solar panels. Using this wonderful new material in
schematic design all the way through fabrication and installation through the Design
of numerous prototypes has created what I call “Solarizing”. This process is driven
by a conscious effort to be more intuitive and Artful. I do a lot of hand drawing and
physical model making. Also, through the use of some CAD and Sketchup, I have
been collaborating with others more tech savvy to blend site photography with
digital images through google earth, photoshop and other programs to help make
professional presentations to various clients. Just recently, after learning about a
great new glass Solar roofing tile developed by Tesla, I embarked on a project to
Solarize large portions of an entire Italian hilltown, in an attempt to invisibly
upgrade irreplaceable and unique global Architecture. Because of the scalability and
flexibility, the applications for Solarizing seem almost boundless; it’s exciting. The
most important thing I have learned over the last few years is that Solar is no longer
an engineering problem; its an esthetic one. Certain manufacturers, Architects and
innovators like Elon Musk understand this and are literally invested in it. I know I
am. To quote Mr. Musk, “why wouldn’t you do it?” ; exactly right.
My third involvement seems to be as a growing activist. I’m going to blame
this on graduate school in Architecture at the University of Oregon, where the spark
began. I have many ongoing digital and real conversations with various writers and
innovators around the world.
Certainly over the last ten years or so, the Design profession has been
seriously altered by economics, globalism, public perception, digital culture,
automation and forces of mediocrity and apathy. Myself and many others feel
strongly that more focus has to be made with QUALITY ; esthetically and in the
realm of ideas, specifically with regard to REALLY integrating and not just adding on
renewable energy components during the beginning of the Design process and re-
invigorate client participation. We need a lot more INSPIRation in Architecture and
less AUTOmation. In some regions of the country the Design process has all but
disappeared. The practitioners have allowed CAD to take over every aspect of
making Architecture. This is what one might call “the dark side”. It is unnecessary
and isolationist.

2. I’m committed to an integrated, creative, esthetic and collaborative Design
process and will happily work egolessly and tirelessly with anyone anywhere
toward that goal.