Grady Clay
Encyclopedia
Grady Clay is an American journalist
specializing in landscape architecture
and urban planning
.
Clay is an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects
(ASLA) and was editor of Landscape Architecture Magazine from 1960 to 1985. He also was on the jury that judged the design competition for the United States' Vietnam Veterans Memorial
, was the Urban Affairs editor for the Louisville Courier-Journal
, and provided a commentary segment, "Crossing the American Grain" for National Public Radio's Morning Edition
. In 1999, he was awarded the Olmsted Medal by ASLA. Clay also is a former president of the American Planning Association
(formerly the American Society of Planning Officials).
In an article from the July 2006 Landscape Architecture Magazine, editor J. William "Bill" Thompson noted that Clay "once forecast that the design profession with the best information was going to dominate the others—and he wasn't at all sure that landscape architecture had the capacity to generate the best information".
While Grady Clay was editor of LAM, most articles were written by professional landscape architects; after his departure, many contributions were by professional writers without architecture credentials. He published Ian McHarg
's ecological planning research, covering areas that included use of native species for plantings and adventure playgrounds.
Clay grew up in Atlanta, Georgia
, the son of an eye surgeon.
As of 2006, Clay lived in Louisville, Kentucky
, and was still actively writing and gardening. He was a founder of the Crescent Hill Community Association, a neighborhood association in Louisville. He has donated his papers to the University of Louisville
; they house 1.75 foot (0.5334 m) of material from 1946 to 1987.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
specializing in landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
and urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
.
Clay is an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects
American Society of Landscape Architects
The American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing landscape architects, with more than 17,000 members in 48 chapters, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 42 countries around the world, plus 68 student chapters...
(ASLA) and was editor of Landscape Architecture Magazine from 1960 to 1985. He also was on the jury that judged the design competition for the United States' Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for during the War.Its...
, was the Urban Affairs editor for the Louisville Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...
, and provided a commentary segment, "Crossing the American Grain" for National Public Radio's Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
. In 1999, he was awarded the Olmsted Medal by ASLA. Clay also is a former president of the American Planning Association
American Planning Association
The American Planning Association is a professional organization representing the field of city and regional planning in the United States. The APA was formed in 1978 when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Planners and the American Society of Planning...
(formerly the American Society of Planning Officials).
In an article from the July 2006 Landscape Architecture Magazine, editor J. William "Bill" Thompson noted that Clay "once forecast that the design profession with the best information was going to dominate the others—and he wasn't at all sure that landscape architecture had the capacity to generate the best information".
While Grady Clay was editor of LAM, most articles were written by professional landscape architects; after his departure, many contributions were by professional writers without architecture credentials. He published Ian McHarg
Ian McHarg
Ian L. McHarg was born in Clydebank, Scotland and became a landscape architect and a renowned writer on regional planning using natural systems. He was the founder of the department of landscape architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. His 1969 book Design with Nature...
's ecological planning research, covering areas that included use of native species for plantings and adventure playgrounds.
Clay grew up in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, the son of an eye surgeon.
As of 2006, Clay lived in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, and was still actively writing and gardening. He was a founder of the Crescent Hill Community Association, a neighborhood association in Louisville. He has donated his papers to the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
; they house 1.75 foot (0.5334 m) of material from 1946 to 1987.
Publications
Clay's books include:- Close-Up: How to Read the American City 1974
- Being a disquisition upon the origins, natural disposition and occurrences in the American scene of alleys ... a hidden resource 59 pages, 1978, ASIN B0006CY1F2
- Water and the Landscape (as editor), 193 pages, McGraw-Hill Education (February 1, 1979), ISBN 978-0070361904
- Right Before Your Eyes: Penetrating the Urban Environment, 241 pages, American Planning Association (October 1987), ISBN 978-0918286475
- Real Places: An Unconventional Guide to America's Generic Landscape. 322 p., 100 halftones, 16 line drawings. 8½ × 9¼ 1994, ISBN 978-0-226-10946-6
- Crossing the American Grain 2003, ISBN 978-1884532511