Growing up in a blue-collar construction family, I connected with tools and materials at an early age. Exposure to the jobsite as a youth helped shape my interest in architecture and the ever-changing organism of the built environment. These early experiences continue to inform my work and contribute to my own sense of place and identity. The way I first connect with a place tends to be through its structures. The built environment serves as a multi-layered record of our activity, mirroring the effects of society’s needs and desires over time. The concept of architecture as living entity is a natural starting point for my experiments, often stemming from themes of origin and decay within the urban landscape. The speed at which this life-cycle revolves in our own area is influential on my work. My process results in quirky assemblages often reminiscent of childhood forts or tree house constructions in miniature. My most current work presents as a collection of eccentric architectural models, wryly alluding to the seriousness of many ominous societal issues on our collective horizon. My materials are typically found, bartered or bargained for in keeping with my inclination to reuse when possible. Jamie Banes holds a studio out of Alameda, CA. He received his BFA from University of New Mexico and his MFA from UC Davis. His work has been displayed at Pro Art in Oakland and the Exploratorium in San Francisco, among others. He also works as an exhibition technician for the de Young Museum.