museum spotlight: field connections

[Photo by Matt Millman/ SF Moma website.]

A few weeks ago, I visited the SF Moma with the goal of seeing the Cindy Sherman exhibit that has been getting press left and right. Deservedly so, but the exhibit that made me gasp upon entering was a different one, Field Connections. 

"Can there be architecture without buildings? What if a wall or a floor went on forever? What happens when people move through a room? From immersive installations to intricate drawings, The works in Field Conditions pose provocative questions about the construction, experience, and representation of space." 

Most dramatic was the dual installation above, but even smaller drawings done in graphite on beige paper were complex and visually perplexing. Anyone interested in modern art or architecture should put this on their SF to-do list before it closes on January 6. 

Quote and image from the SF Moma website. 

a long hiatus ends

After weeks of not posting due to work travel and moving to a new place, I am back! Work took me to an incredible city for an architecture/art junkie like me. An incredible city to stroll and due to the location of the training and where I stayed, I also got to visit some less tourist-traveled areas of the city.

[Chicago metro map]

[Closeup of the car park/ apartment tower]

[Frank Gehry's Jay Pritzker Pavilion bandshell in Millennium Park]

[Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, also known locally as 'The Bean"]

[Navy Pier]

I also got to spend a bit of time in the massive (and confusing maze of the) Chicago Art Institute.

[An early Jackson Pollack, The Key]

[Edward Hopper's Nighthawks is one of the popular pieces in the museum.]

[Toy by John Chamberlain]

[detail of Cireassian Calvary Awaiting their Commanding Officer by Alberto Pisini]

[detail of Albino by Marlene Dumas]

little charlotte's a big girl now

Charlotte, my hometown from middle school on and a city that wishes it was Atlanta, recently had a coup. The Bechtler family donated their extensive art collection to the city, creating the new Bechtler Museum. The family's collection of modern art is amazing, collected by the extended family. Currently around 10% of the collection is on display, the museum will rotate the collection every six months. I look forward to return visits to see the rest. Luckily, I won't miss the current collection when it's gone- for my birthday, my parents gave me the catalog of the collection!

In addition to the art, the architecture is also amazing. The slim four-story building, attached to others in the Wells-Fargo Cultural Center, was designed by Mario Botta. His use of terra cotta contrasts with the stark interior and some of my favorite pictures are how the outside/inside/art intertwine. In addition, the space is connected to the performance space next door and interacts with other parts of the cultural campus.

[Vive Moi (Long Live Me); Niki De Saint Phalle]

[Untitled (Water Buffalo); Jean Tinguely]

[Garden Sculpture (Model for Meridian); Barbara Hepworth]

[view from second story balcony, in]

I didn't get to take pictures of my favorite floor- the fourth floor is full of beautiful paintings, but a few of my very favorites are on the website. If you find yourself in Charlotte, this is the must see museum in town (other than the Nascar museum, of course!)

maya lin

http://www.mayalin.com/

brian jungen

Currently at the Museum of American Indian. From the promotional materials:

Brian Jungen turns objects inside out. By deconstructing them, he changes not only the things themselves, but the ways we think about what they used to be, and what they've become.

He begins with objects that are ordinary, useful, and comforting. When he's through, they are unique, expensive, and useless.

Jungen explores the intersection of art and Indian artifacts, by creating masks, totem poles, bones, and other 'Indian' items out of everyday materials. I took a few photos and wish I had taken more.

weekend review

[san fransisco]

[afternoon shopping]

[fresh fruit everywhere]

[lunch in napa]

[they grew their own veggies]

[ian's bloody mary came with a shot of beer]

[my prickly pear margarita, lots of salt...]


[from their own cactus]

[after our delicious meal we had to lie down in the car]

[then ian taught me to play chess]

[napa scenery]

[sunday brunch]

[afternoon at the moma]

[home decor idea? maybe not.]

[bubbles!]

[barry mcgee]

[pretty mondrian cake]

[delicious cake!]