Buffalo booster Mike Weekes has come out with a new book, inspired by his own journey building a geodesic shanty boat this past summer (see here). Called ‘Building A New & Useful Buffalo’, Mike is hoping to share his experiences in order to pass on the torch of inspiration to others. When asked about the book, this is what Mike had to say in a Q&A:
The book is called ‘Building A New & Useful Buffalo’. I take it that your writings reflect your experience building the geodesic shanty boat?
“Now that is definitely something!” That’s what people said when they saw our geodesic houseboat this summer. After they got over the shock, amusement and delight of something so unusual, they were tickled to be invited aboard for a chat. We reflected on Buffalo. You know how it goes: the challenges, the past, new life, evidence of change and real outcomes. The doubts, the affliction, all of it.
What is the direction that the book takes… moving forward I presume?
There was the inevitable temptation to drift into politics and past track record, but we kept it looking forward somehow, in light of fresh hope. We were surrounded by happy people, some of whom had not been to the waterfront in fifty years! How could this NOT be part of something good?
What inspired the book?
After our guests would leave the shanty boat, my friend Tetiana and I would sit and admire the sunset, greet happy passersby, rediscovering the joy of movement on the water and all the interesting nooks and crannies of our western terminus.
What’s the book really about?
Could this framework of wooden struts and hubs surrounding us be a metaphor for a larger structure? Could our silos of success be connected in a new way, to strategy, fresh leaders among us, our cultural capital and our passion to effect a new and useful Buffalo? That’s what this book, ‘Building a new and useful Buffalo’, is all about.
What do you want people to take away, after reading the book?
It’s about having the courage and the moxie to lay claim to a piece of waterfront and create art you can live on. it’s about taking a bottom-up approach, like nature in a rain forest, transforming an environment one weed, one thing, one initiative at a time and connecting them in a simple, clear network, so they can feed off of one another to lead to change and transformation.
Is there something beyond that… a lesson perhaps?
It’s about inviting our youth to participate and equipping them not just with tools, but encouraging their creative spirit before they “learn” what they should not dream of. It’s about how change is not taking action until you have listened to a variety of minds, clarifying ideas and challenges and acceptance before you move out and implement and how that leads to real, sustainable change.
How do we get started down the road that the book is leading us?
Every visitor to out little shanty boat confirmed the range and depth or resources we have here in Buffalo. We all agreed we are ripe for a new and useful Buffalo and we sat right underneath the solution: interconnection. Let’s try all kinds of things. Let’s fail, but quickly and painlessly, so we can quickly learn and adapt and move forward. Let’s accept the weird, unexpected little weeds of ideas that pop up and nurture and cultivate them. They may provide what the large, silver bullets could not. Make room for more than the conventional, neat and tidy endeavors that require explanation. Act on that voice inside you, even if it makes you uncomfortable!
Was this an exercise for you as well?
I began as an instigator and became a listener. I started out in control and then asked, ”What have I got myself into?” This book sets the stage for a process to convert ideas into results. It begs you to examine why we’re here and invites you to help take us to the Buffalo we want.
Ultimately we’re talking about engagement and participation, right?
The weird things that we come up with create an awareness that can lead to engagement and participation. This can lead to collaboration and design and eventually transformation. All from a non-conforming thing the size of a weed. This book is about everything Buffalo Rising is about: a positive challenge to engage by making folks look at the same old things in a new way. What will you do to make your fellow Buffalonians say, ”Now that is DEFINITELY SOMETHING!”
A New & Useful Buffalo | $17.95 | 144 pages | Available on eBay