Moment of Zen

September 28, 2016 in Architecture, Photography, Art

If you are a looking for a quiet hiding spot on D.C.'s National Mall, you will find it in one of the two garden courts at the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art West Building. As a D.C. resident, this is a free and accessible retreat that I do not take advantage of enough.

The Hirshhorn has a panoramic room on their top floor, the National Portrait Gallery has a glass ceiling courtyard created by Foster+Partners, and the National Gallery of Art has this neo-classical garden. This photo was taken on a Sunday afternoon and while the gallery was bustling, the garden was perfectly still.

So, "Here it is, your moment of zen."*

*Thank you Jon Stewart

Eye See You

September 19, 2016 in Travel, Photography, Art

Cappadocia is a magical place known for it's fairy chimneys, caves, and hot air ballon rides, it is a beautiful, natural wonder. My friend and I traveled to Cappadocia by way of Santorini after the 2012 election cycle. We needed a break from the chaos of the presidential campaign and decided to go into the caves (and skies) of Cappadocia, Göreme specifically, to get away. My friend and I stopped at a popular overlook for the fairy chimneys and saw this very well protected tree. It was 'looking' at us in all directions. I love the concept of the "evil eye," you can give it, and like this tree, be protected from it as well. Fate cuts both ways so beware of giving the "evil eye" because you run the risk of getting it right back.

Sugar Rush

September 05, 2016 in Art, Architecture, Travel

I saw Sugarhouse Studios featured on a few Instagram feeds I follow and was taken by the hand painted tiles on the exterior. I took mental note and when I visited London in March, I was excited to have the chance to see this in person. Sugarhouse is an artist's space tucked in East London near Stratford and the Olympic Stadium, a long trek by tube and double decker from city center, but worth every step. The working space was closed the day I visited so I did not get a chance to see Sugarhouse in action, however I did get an up close view of this beautiful pastel patchwork. It's impressive both in scale and craftsmanship; springtime on a façade.

Supercool Superkilen

September 03, 2016 in Travel, Architecture, Art

Copenhagen is uncomfortably cold in February and when you travel with me, I will likely drag you out into that freezing weather in search of an urban art space, naturally. This was one of those winter days when you could not feel your hands or your toes after being outside for ten minutes no matter how many layers or hand warmers you used. And of course, this was the perfect day to drag my friend away from indoor comforts for Superkilen.

I had my heart set on visiting Superkilen and so we braved the weather to walk there. Located outside of city center, it is a very unique outdoor park that is also home to various "pavilions" a.k.a. installations from around the globe, a mini version of the a World Expo. A BIG reason I wanted to visit this park was to see a Bjarke Ingels collaboration; a visit to Copenhagen would not be complete without visiting something BIG.

Wave After Wave

August 31, 2016 in Architecture, Art, Travel, Photography

This is the controversial, yet beautifully designed MUDEC (Museo Della Culture). I visited the museum for an exhibition in February and the space is constructed unlike any art space I have seen before. These wavey walls are just one distinct characteristic that makes the MUDEC a worthwhile building to pay the admission price for. The museum complex was a former factory and is located in Via Tortona, the arts district of Milan.

That Was a Doozy

February 02, 2016 in Architecture, Photography, Art

When friends visit Milan and ask for restaurant recommendations, Carlo e Camilla in Segheria is at the top of my list. Located in an up-and-coming neighborhood in the city, Carlo e Camilla is a standout in atmosphere, design, architecture, and menu. The building is an old saw mill repurposed into a bar and open space restaurant with communal seating. High ceilings give the place a lofty and spacious feel, and from the wooden beams hang marvelous crystal chandeliers that contrast nicely against the bare cement walls. It is elegant and edgy while adhering to some classic Italian elements i.e. dishes are served on all different types of patterned Richard Ginori china (see my previous post on Richard Ginori).

On this particular evening, friends from Washington, D.C., were visiting and so naturally I made a reservation at Carlo e Camilla. While we were dining we observed a large group having a rowdy celebration on a "school night." As the party was leaving, service quickly cleared all the wine bottles so I was unable to snap this image with all the bottles strewn along the table. I did manage to capture just a small portion of the party's table with other evidence from their eventful evening. So many glasses, so few hours in the night.

Teach Us How to Kiss Like This

January 20, 2016 in Art, Photography, Travel

Yesterday I went to the Gallerie d'Italia in Piazza della Scala to see a beautiful collection of Italian painter Francesco Hayez's most famous works. This exhibition is particularly special because on display are the three versions of "Il Bacio" aka "The Kiss" side by side by side. The version in the middle was the first to be completed in 1859 and is a permanent piece housed just up the street at the Pinacoteca di Brera. The version on the left was completed in 1861 and the one on the right in 1867. Each have their subtle differences and symbolic interpretations, however what remains consistent in each version is the passion conveyed in the lover's kiss and Hayez's impeccable technique.

I loved the way that these guests were admiring the paintings. Looking at this picture, I cannot help but believe that they are all sharing the same thought—I want to be kissed just like this.

'A Mad Tea Party'

January 17, 2016 in Travel, Art, Photography

If you are like me, you may not be familiar with the name Richard Ginori, however you have likely seen their work. Richard Ginori 1735 is the most famous Italian porcelain dinnerware producer and by the look of their designs and feel of the porcelain, one can understand why.

The presentation in their Florentine storefront is meticulous with designs ranging from classic to playful, natural to whimsical. All the collections are beautifully staged with the dinnerware on tables, shelves, and mounted on the walls—colorful pieces of eye candy everywhere. This room appealed to me because of the pastels—it reminded me of the type of porcelain that would be used in 'A Mad Tea-Party'. I think Lewis Carroll would be pleased.

Looking 'Straight' On

January 07, 2016 in Art, Travel, Photography, Architecture

I took this photo a few weeks ago during the final hours of Ai Wei Wei's retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. This is the second time I have seen this particular installation aptly named "Straight."

"Straight" is a very large and powerful two part installation created as a response to the 2008 Sichuan province earthquake which killed over 5,000 elementary school children. The artist and his studio created this piece as a criticism to China's weak construction regulations. The most visual part of "Straight" uses salvaged steel rods from elementary schools that collapsed and were subsequently destroyed by the earthquake. From the debris, Ai's studio collected 96 tons of steel rods and one by one hand pounded and straightened them from their twisted form.

The second part of the piece is on the wall surrounding the steel rods in the center. From a distance, the walls appear plain and white, however if you look closer you will see that it is actually a roster of all the names and ages of school children that were victims of the earthquake. Since the Chinese government would not release the names of the young school children killed in the schools, Ai took it upon himself to create the list of victims, publish them via his own social media, and include them in this installation.

The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

August 10, 2015 in Travel, Art, Photography

The photo caption says it all. He is simply a beautiful, breathtaking piece of work.

On a Ques...

May 25, 2015 in Photography, Art

Today I went on a quest to go find Millo's newest mural in Milan. It is a recent work that was just completed a couple months ago. After a bit of searching, I found it online and headed out to see it in person. The mural is located in "Il Giardino Delle Culture" at the corner of Via Emilio Morisini and Via Bezzecca near Piazza Risorgimento. This shot above shows only a fragment of the large scale mural that is on two buildings and entitled "Everyone Is Searching For It". Once you see the full scale mural, the meaning behind the name becomes quite clear.

This guy was doing circles around me on his bike while I was taking pictures.. He wanted my attention and he got it.

Sleep with the Fishes

May 17, 2015 in Travel, Fashion, Art, Architecture

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the newly opened Fondazione Prada in the Lodi neighborhood of Milan. So much hype and publicity surrounded this new space before the May 9th opening that I had to make it my first gallery stop in Milan. The foundation site is comprised of several large industrial buildings repurposed to house a collection of classical and contemporary art and film. My expectations were quite high and although I did not love all the contemporary art inside, it was an afternoon well spent. The gallery is a beautifully curated space and a very unique experience. Every space looked photo ready and the long cavernous halls of the buildings facilitated an easy flow through the exhibits. One of my favorite installations is this aquarium housed in the cistern of an old distillery along with two other pieces. To me, it is both disturbing and soothing at the same time. It is called "Love Lost" by Damien Hirst (2000), but I'll informally refer to it as "Sleep with the Fishes".

For more on the Prada Foundation: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/arts/design/the-prada-foundations-new-arts-complex-in-milan.html