Absof'inglutely

Absof'inglutely. London, England. March 2016. 

Because "earth without art is just 'eh.'"

Rose Tinted Marble

Rose Tinted Marble. Modena, Italy. March 2016. 

Modena, the home of Pavarotti, Bottura, Ferrari, Maserati, and this pink façade, is a small city that packs a big punch. I ate my way through the city, feasting on tortellini in brodo and endless gnocco fritto, famous specialities of Modena. I left feeling like a fried ball of dough.

In between meals and snacks, I was able to visit non-food related places including the duomo. This romanesque cathedral dates back to 1099 and took almost 200 years to complete. It is located in the Piazza Grande and pictured above is actually the side door, the "Porta Regia" aka the Royal Gate. This is the only side of the cathedral constructed in rose colored marble so it stands apart from the other exteriors. Similar to the pink façade, Modena itself is a standout amongst the others in northern Italy and not just for the balsamic vinegar.

Freshly Minted

Freshly Minted. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. July 2016.

I used to race through the Main Hall of Union Station to catch the Amtrak, however since the recently completed renovation I have taken a bit more time walking through to enjoy the transit hub. For the first time in 50 years, the Main Hall is clear of any obstructions. The renovations were prompted four years ago when an earthquake shook D.C. and damaged parts of the Station. Stakeholders used the opportunity to rethink the atrium of the hall e.g. remove the monstrosity of a cafe that used to sit in the middle of this beautiful space. Now visitors can appreciate the beautiful Beaux Arts hall the way that brilliant architect/urban planner Daniel Burnham created and designed it.  

The Red Sea

Red Sea. Venice, Italy. September 2015. 

This was an installation created by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota titled "The Key in Hand" for the Venice Art Biennale in 2015. Housed inside the Japanese Pavilion in the Giardini, it was beautiful, immersive, glowing. When you entered the exhibit, you were surrounded by a web of red yarn with individual keys hanging on each string. You felt as though you were "swimming" in a red sea and every surface inside reflected an electric crimson glow. This boat was a central focal point, however just one piece in the multi-roomed pavilion all interconnected by the yarn and key adorned cielings. I would do a poor job in summarizing Shiota's description of what the boat, red string, keys, and other items signify in the exhibit so I leave her description here for you to explore.

Eye See You

Eye See You. Cappadocia, Turkey. November 2012.

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.

Un Piccolo Sogno

Un Piccolo Sogno. Venice, Italy. August 2015. 

Elements of a Venetian dream, gondolas, gondoliers, and canals. 

Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light. Copenhagen, Denmark. February 2016.  

This was my first step into a Lutheran Church and man was it a memorable one. When my friend and I visited Grundtvig's Kirke in Copenhagen, I expected significant foot traffic because it is one of the most recognizable churches in the city, however we walked into complete silence and this stunning, light-filled nave. Grundtvig's Kirke is known for it's Expressionist exterior and Gothic-inspired interior. While the exterior reminds me of a crazy space ship straight out of Krypton the interior is beautiful in its silence and simplicity. 

Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business. Batalha, Portugal. August 2016.

One of my favorite stops in Portugal was the small town of Batalha, home of the Batalha Monastery aka Monastery of the Battle. The Batalha Monastery was constructed as a tribute to the Portugese and English victory over the Crown of Castile (Spain) in a battle that prevented the Castilians from claiming the Portugese throne in 1385. This photo captures my favorite part of the monastery - the Unfinished Chapels. These incomplete open air chapels are a beautiful reminder that the monastery has remained unfinished for over 500 years. Construction began on the building in 1386 and took over 100 years to "complete." Plans to finish the chapels were abandoned when resources were reallocated to build the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.

I did not fully grasp Manueline-style architecture until I saw Royal Cloisters, Unfinished Chapels, and other spaces within the monastery. The beautiful lacework carved into the exterior and pillars of the chapel with ornamental angels, ropes, branches, and leaves are all signatures of the Manueline style. Today, the octogonal rotunda and seven chapels serve as reminders of the late-Gothic Portugese style.....as well as a homey refuge for birds. 

Sugar Rush

Sugar Rush. London, England. March 2016. 

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. 

Downward Spiral

Downward Spiral. Copenhagen, Denmark. February 2016. 

Copenhagen is an architecturally rich city; knowing this I took the time to research and compile a shortlist of buildings to visit. On the top of my list was this iconic building on the waterfront. Aptly named Gemini, this modern building was converted from neighboring seed silos in the early 2000s. From an aerial view, the two silos look like a figure eight and the interior is this incredibly strange looking space ship. Designed by Dutch based architectural firm MVRDV, the most surprising part of the plan is that the living spaces are actually clipped on to the outside of the silos. 

In minimalist fashion, their is no obvious entrance into the building. I waited until a resident walked out of a silo and convinced  her to let me in to take videos and photos. I could not get enough of the black and white interior. I must have become hypnotized by the spirals because I took photos from every possible curve and lost track of time; it was hard for me to leave. I was just waiting for someone to report me and chase me out, however I think folks are used to having hypnotized strangers wander aimlessly in their atrium. 

Supercool Superkilen

Supercool Superkilen. Copenhagen, Denmark. February 2016. 

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. 

Take a Ride With Me

Take a Ride With Me. Milan, Italy. January 2016. 

I spotted this nice ride parked along Corso Magenta in Milano and I had to stop and shoot it. In a city full of Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Peugeots, Opels, Renaults, and motor bikes, it is a rarity to see beauty like this; a classic car not constructed for narrow roads and tiny parking spots. It was refreshing to see this slick guy situated stoically by itself, unobstructed by any small cars nearby. King of the road. Now if I had only learned something from watching "Gone in 60 Seconds"...