Bucky-ites

by Janine Sobeck

This past week, we had the fun opportunity to meet up with Doug Jacobs, writer and director of ReStaged Part Two's final show R. Buckminster Fuller: the History (and Mystery) of the Universe.  For those of us sitting around the table who were under 35 (which were quite a few) it was a mind-blowing, universe expanding kind of experience. Buckminster Fuller, or "Bucky," is someone that most of us had never learned about in school, and yet our encounter with the play, and subsequently the man and his ideas, proved to many of us that this was someone who would be a hit with our generation. 

Bucky was a firm believer that each individual was responsible for looking at their own world, identifying the problems, and then working towards fixing them.  And he actually believed that you could fix the problems.  His science and technological ideas were way advanced for his day, but with their focus on energy and material efficiency, resonate soundly within the, as we were recently dubbed at the huge DC festival, "Green Generation."  He devoted his life to the question, "Does humanity have a chance to survive lastingly and successfully on planet Earth, and if so, how?

While all of us had read the script, the more that Doug talked about Bucky, the more we realized the huge impact that this man had on a very large group of people.  The stories of his lectures, presentations and encounters with others were numerous, often hilarious, and full of hope for the incredible potential of the future.

And they also made us very curious.  Bucky toured the planet presenting his ideas and talking to people, and the impact that he had on those who saw him has proven to be substantial.  In our efforts to understand him better, these are the stories that we seek and crave.  So our question is, did you see him?  Hear him?  Have any sort of "Bucky" encounter?  Know someone who did?  If so, please....tell us all about it.

 

Comments

[Stefan Johnson]

I remember working with Bucky at the University of Colorado World Affairs Conference. We had a podium in our 2000 seat hall with a mic stand. When he adjusted the stand it fell apart and I had to go out and hold the mic for him. It was my pleasure. We fixed all the mic stands after that.