- Wright "preferred to express the essence of the machine in plain flat surfaces"
- So was Wright concerned about the conservation of wood? I'm assuming sustainability wasn't a huge issue of concern back then
- Wright managed to arrange shingles in a manner that they wouldn't appear as their rectangular shape but instead made them seem linear
- "structural wood's 3D and periodic placement would tend to interrupt the visual flow that was so important to plasticity."
- Wright believed that carving and extensive woodwork was "buthery and botchwork."
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
"Frank Lloyd Wright and the Meaning of Materials"
Key Points and Notes from the reading:
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Plastics
Plastic is an interesting material to me because it has so many uses, looks, and styles. It can elevate or (in some instances in my opinion) lower a space. Used correctly plastic can mimic another medium and look less like itself. I feel the shiny plastic has a tendency to look less polished and elegant. I found some interesting uses of plastic this week...
plastic desk
Recycles eating utensils
This is called Xile, a flexible tunnel designed by Swedish designer Mats Karlsson which won a Forum AID Award in 2008
Color
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| http://criminalrecordsindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/TOI-Chennai-Smuggling1.jpg |
I LOVE LOVE LOVE COLOR!!!!
Color makes the world go round for me. Color mixed with texture is heaven to me! Every Season I pick a color and usually buy clothes, shoes, and accessories in that color family. Last winter it was plum, this winter I am feeling a chartreuse/pea green or grey. I have a intense love affair with grey interiors right now. I love how it can evoke a moodiness or can be very warm when most would think its very cold as a color choice. Color is so powerful because it can shape and effect the mood of a space
  http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/how-to/secure-your-wireless-networkwith-paint-074846 |
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Dumbarton Oaks Trip
On a near perfect afternoon I took a trip with some classmates to see the Patrick Doughtery exhibit at Dumbarton Oaks Garden. It was a GORGEOUS place! Its unreal to think it is nestled in the heart of the city. When you're inside you can't hear cars- all you hear are birds and insects chirping. It would be a great wedding/date spot as well for anyone. I was inspired by the outdoor spaces they have created- I would want this type of landscape architecture in my own home one day. I was happy Prof. Lechinsky suggested we stop by there. Here are some of my favorite shots...
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| Atrium |
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| interesting wood table |
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| 1st view of Doughtery exhibit. The trees remind me of the haunted forest in the Wizard of Oz. They are all interconnected and look like they have been blown through a wind tunnel. Its pretty amazing to be inside of it and try to figure out how he accomplished connecting all of the structures. I didn't see any twine holding things together but I really would like to know how he does it. I'm also pumped about Doughtery because he's from my home state (North Carolina) and the town I spent the best four years of my life in, Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!!!!). I also took video of when you first walk into the exhibit but it refused to load on my blog :/ |
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| See how it looks wind blown |
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| close up of the branches and how they are intertwined |
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| I tried to show with this one how each structure was connected from above. It was one big circle |
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| This tree was was an anomally to me. It seemed almost human with its scales and the wrinkles and ridges in it reminded me of tendons in muscles. |
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| This looked like an elbow or knee to me |
The Kreeger Museum
As part of my drafting class we visited the Kreeger Museum that is down the street from the MV campus. It was the home of David and Carmen Kreeger and is now a museum housing his art collection which includes numerous paintings by Monet, Picasso, and Renoir to name a few. The house was designed by Philip Johnson and was modeled after classical Greek and Roman architecture. Travertine was used throughout the entire house, keeping inline with the classical theme, and I had to capture its beautiful striations and smooth texture.
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| Detail of outdoor travertine |
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| Corner detail |
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Freer Gallery of Art
I visited the Freer Gallery of Art for an art history course I'm taking and I saw some really great things while exploring it and the National Mall. I saw some really great uses of brick, stone, brass, steel, and wood...
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| The Smithsonian Castle facade |
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| National Museum of African Art - didn't get a chance to go in but I'm planning on going back |
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| castle elevation |
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| Interesting flowers I saw hanging in the Haupt Garden |
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| gravel close up |
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| Brass clad drinking fountain |
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| Museum lobby, coffered ceiling |
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| Detail of ceiling |
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| Courtyard of museum- peacocks used to roam here when the museum first opened |
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| Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room designed by James McNeill Whistler |
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| detail of one of the shelves in the Peacock Room |
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| Desk |
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| Foot of wooden warrior |
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| Warrior statue |
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| Sculpture garden |
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| Steel tree in sculpture garden |
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