Montopolis is a multiethnic neighborhood located approximately four miles southeast of downtown Austin. The area was long visited and occasionally occupied by various Texas Indian nations; the first documented European or American to settle here was Jessie C. Tannehill; who in 1830 built a cabin and townsite and gave the new community its pretentious name. Instead of establishing a permanent presence in Montopolis; however; subsequent European colonizers looked a few miles upriver to the new settlement of Waterloo; later to be called Austin. Rural and sparsely populated; the remainder of the 19th century saw the Montopolis area used primarily for plantation agriculture. In the 1920s; succeeding waves of Mexican migrants helped establish the modern neighborhood that exists today. Between the 1950s and 1970s; the City of Austin annexed Montopolis; although the area retains much of its rural character.
#3735598 in eBooks 2014-07-09 2014-09-04File Name: B00NAWRLWK
Review
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful. The creative process for landscape designBy Mr. A. MellorThis is not a how-to garden design book. Rather; it is much more exciting - the process behind "a voyage of discovery" in which you "turn your dreams loose". To this end after an introduction in which the author spells out his raison detre; he considers in separate chapters space and form - in which he introduces the concepts of positive and negative space such that all material is removed so that it reduces to "that form designed in the artists mind" - light and shadow; making the scene; rhythm and movement; texture; and layering for mystery and enticement.The creative process is not viewed in terms of the garden alone. Rather; parallels are drawn with painting; sculpture; photography; literature and music. Not; I would add to show how clever the author is. Instead he uses examples to illustrate and clarify the point he is making. To this end he has interviewed and includes excerpts from the interviews of sculptor Robert Adzema; painter Roberty Dash; landsape architects Lawrence and Anna Halprin; the musician Yo Yo Ma and landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy who emphasises the importance of feeling to those of form and function; plantsman and landscape architect Piet Oudolf; fabric artist and designer Jack Lenor Larsen and landscape architect Martha Schwartz. Partially to reveal the result of the creative process he makes reference to a number of gardens; especially his own garden at Ferry Cove on Marylands eastern shore and another home in upstate New York.This is a book that will cause you to reflect on the process of creation long after you have put the book back on to the shelf.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I have always admired the creative talents of James van ...By tom grimmI have always admired the creative talents of James van Sweden. This book is a light read and there is no question that JVS was born with a talent and eye for color and plant design. He shares some personal observations about landscaping and there are many outstanding photos included in the book. These photos are a true testament to the vision and beauty he executed throughout his life. His landscape firm in Washington DC is a reflection of his tremendous abilities that live on in the design world!5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Gorgeous Book wonderfully writen and illustrated.By Russell E JohnsonIn this beautiful book James van Sweden considers garden design as a four dimensional art form. He starts by considering three dimensional space and form giving special attention to the importance of negative space. He then incorporates the forth dimension of time as he considers light and shadow and the constantly changing garden experience from moment to moment and season to season. He incorporates a painters eye as he discusses concepts of color; pattern; unity and beauty in creating a painterly garden composition using paintings of highly differing styles to illustrate the concepts dicussed. He continues by considering rhythm and movement into garden design gaining inspiration from music and dance. He continues with a discussion of the use texture in the garden to create the illusion of depth incorporating textiles; fabric sculpture and other art forms in the discussion. He concludes with the use of layering to create an element mystery and suspense into the garden.The challenge for any gardener is to organize the myriad of elements that one must consider in garden design into a coherent whole. In this book James van Sweden challenges the reader to go beyond basic garden design and to consider garden creation as an art form voyage of discovery. He has written a wonderful book that will excite and inspire you to begin or continue your journey. Bon voyage!
