WaterShapes World Blog

On the March
'It's been a long time coming,' wrote Jim McCloskey in his WaterShapes World blog in December 2013:  'Just ten days ago, after nearly six months of grinding care and effort, the entirety of the WaterShapes magazine archive is now available online as it originally appeared
Farewell, 2018!
As the year has rambled toward its conclusion, I've been reminded over and over that it's been an amazing 2018 for watershapers, watershaping and WaterShapes. q  For watershapers, my sense is that 2018 has been a breakout year
Engaging Ideas
This edition of the WaterShapes newsletter carries two unusual articles. One is Victoria Lautman's piece on the stepwells of India; the other is Lauren Stack's look at water-related trends and the importance of helping more people learn to
Viva Las Vegas!
I've just returned from the latest International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo, a bit weary of foot but heartened by the many conversations I had with old friends as well as brand-new acquaintances. The show itself ran true to form, with
An Event to Remember
I returned from the "Designing Water" symposium at Longwood Gardens the other day filled with a complex set of impressions - three of which I'll share with you here. q  First, a visit to Kennett Square, Pa., to see
Travelin’ Man
I haven't quite started packing my bags for the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo, which begins soon in Las Vegas, Nev. Truth is, I'll actually need to unpack them first, because right now I'm in Kennett Square, Pa., awaiting the start later today of
Look Back, Move Forward
At this point 20 years ago, WaterShapes was running at full throttle as we prepared to publish our first-ever printed edition in February 1999. In that era, this meant we had to have the final version of our premiere issue in the printer's hands very early in January. From the hatching of the initial concept in
Unruly Times
All summer long, I've been distracted by news stories that have just bugged the heck out of me. First, there have been the multiple items about foolish behavior at Rome's Trevi Fountain - among the most
Valued and Valuable
I'm developing a new appreciation for wise watershapers who brief their clients about a swimming pool's longer-term lifecycle. Whether it comes as part of their presentations or gets included in final orientation meetings, I see this practice as being important to
Hurtful Impulses
The stories I've seen hurt my heart. There was the one about the woman who accosted a teenage boy who'd been invited to swim in a neighborhood pool, telling him to get out or she'd call