My Architect

 

This weekend I watched a wonderful documentary about Louis Khan. It was from the perspective of his estranged son Nathan. Khan had three different wives and three different families. His mother told him that Khan's wive would not give him a divorce so that is why Khan could never live with them. 

Through this incredible journey Nathan found out that Khan's first relatives had no idea of his success. They understood that Khan was an architect and had a lot of clients but they never saw any of his completed projects. 

Nathan visited the Salk institute in California and met with Mr. Salk. Mr. Salk stated that Khan was an artist in every aspect. He saw the world differently and would never ever comply with his clients requests. Khan would rather find a new client than change his vision.

Nathan was 11 when Khan died of a heart attack at Penn Central Station in New York. Khan's body was not identified at first because his only form of identification was a passport with important information crossed out.

This movie was fairly short and worth every minute. I highly suggest everyone watch it. Art fans will love it and the estranged son story line is a real crowd pleaser.

New World Symphony Complex

This first blog post is about a concert hall, not an actual home. This building definitely deserves being in my very first post!

The New World Symphony Complex (NWSC), designed by architectural legend Frank Gehry, opened its doors for the first time last month. Gehry is such a talented artist and his buildings never fail to impress.  Gehry out did himself on this Miami-Beach facility. The NWSC is very soft and angelic inside; it makes me think that the main concert hall is meant to be filled with only the finest, most beautiful music. No sharps or flats permitted! Gehry teamed up with acoustician Yasuhisa to bridge the gaps between acoustics and architecture. This building is also the first multimedia concert hall in America. My favorite feature is the 7,000 foot projection wall. Multimedia features allow more interactive performances as well as enhancing traditional performances. Multimedia concerts are more appealing to children thus encouraging musical interests from an early age. Until recently I loathed going to the symphony with my family. These lucky children in Miami now have the opportunity to go to an interactive symphony and listen to Igor Stravinsky as they watch videos and illustrations related to the music! Next time you’re in Miami, be sure to check out this architectural gem out!!!!

These exquisite photos are from WODU media

Hans Hofmann

I'm not a huge fan of modern art, but there is something about Hans Hofmann that I can't get enough of! I think of modern artwork as stressful and confusing, whereas Hofmann's work is energizing and exciting.

He is remembered for his use of spatial relationships and color. I remember walking through the Dallas Museum of art and stopping dead in my tracks when I first saw  "Yellow Table on Green."

Hofmann is a post war artist and is praised for his alternating brush strokes. In the above painting, he uses loose brush strokes while painting an almost perfectly circular yellow table.

Giorgio Armani's Ski Resort

Architectural Digest is my absolute favorite magazine so it is expected that AD is featured in my blog from time to time. Giorgio Armani, the highly revered fashion designed recently remodeled his Swiss ski resort.

I am always intrigued by fashion designers choice of decor. Is it bold and inspirational or calm and soothing? Most people don't realize what a crucial role architecture plays in defining character. I know that personally, when my apartment is clean I don't have that constant nagging voice in my head. Sound familiar? This also makes me think of my babysitting days. I was always "busy" when the family with the big scary house needed a sitter. Haha.

Here are some stunning photographs:

His home is so simply yet incredibly asthetically pleasing. Beauty in simplicity.

***This relates to PR/Advertising***

Notice the presence of the orange tangerine color. Pantone creates color of the year. This year it is tangerine tango. Coincidence? Probably not!

Source: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2012/03/giorgio-armani-home-switzerland-slideshow#slide=12

Degas

This is specifically for PR352!!!!

Before I die I will see the Degas paintings in real life. Degas is one of the most famous impressionists. Personally, I consider the ballerinas inspiring time and time again. Unlike Van Gogh, Degas was famous during his life time. Degas was also born into an aristocratic family and encouraged to paint throughout his lifetime.

Degas was primarily a portrait painter capturing movement through the people he painted. Below you can see my favorite ballerina painting "Dancers". Differs from last week's impressionist's church right?

Degas' ballerina's brought him fame initially. His aristocratic roots are shown by his subjects. Going to the theater and horse races is something that a poor struggling artist like Van Gogh could not experience.

Unfortunately the story of Degas has a sad ending. He went blind at the age of 77 and thus ended his painting days.

Something Moving

I came across a very inspirational website the other day and thought I would share it with everyone.

Project Unbreakable was created in October 2011 by Grace Brown. This incredible photographer photographs sexually abused victims holding up quotes from their attacks. The main goal of this project is to give the power back to the victims as they are in control of what they write about.

Feel free to submit your pictures and stories. It is completely anonymous and promotes healing among victims.

Here is a link to the website http://projectunbreakable.tumblr.com/

Vincent Van Gogh

Switching gears to ART instead of architecture. I still love architecture, but I need a fun change.

Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists of all time. It's inconceivable that he was not recognized as a distinguished artist during his lifetime.

My two favorite aspects about this artist: his use of complementary colors and how he captures his emotions in each piece of artwork. Let's look at Church at Auvers. As you can see in the images below, Van Gogh makes a stone church look like a haunted mansion.

Was this Van Gogh's way of shunning the religion? Unbeknownst to most people, Vincent Van Gogh was extremely religious. His father was a religious figures. Van Gogh himself tried unsuccessfully to become a missionary but later gave up and returned to drawing and painting. He was influenced by both his father- a minister, and his uncle- an art broker.

In conclusion, Van Gogh's Church at Auvers is really showing that what Van Gogh lacked in preaching, he made up for in painting.