Blog #2

Blog #2 — 4 Comments
10
Sep 17

Guggenheim and its Masterpieces

My run from the train station, trying to make it in time for the tour, was all a blur, but the Guggenheim made me stop, at which time I knew I arrived at my destination without any signs or indications. The clear glass windows which faced the park showed its openness immediately as well as its uniqueness compared to the other building surrounding it. this showed a lot about the Guggenheim and the story it taught about itself. I make it seem like it’s alive because to me it is. It seems like it’s screaming to the other buildings that its one of a kind and that even though it’s “weird looking” it still is beautiful in its own way. 

My tour guide mentioned how even the structure and how the building is shaped had its technicalities. Most of the people who were involved in the construction wondered how such a structure could stand through a “spacious spiral helix” as its foundation. The fact that they went through with the design shows a lot about how American society has been shaped throughout time. In the past, they weren’t risky and didn’t want to take a step forward for the sake of art. Now that the Guggenheim has been completed it shows how society has done the unimaginable for the sake of art. They created a building which is looked as art rather than just a place which stores art. 

That first impression of the triangle lights, the magnificent ceiling, and the pleasant employees essentially set the scene for what I expected next. My tour guide was very informative and really showed his passion for art not by speaking about the art too much, but by allowing us to speak about it.  What caught my eye the most was a plain square painting by Picasso. I wondered, “Why is this even here”?. I figured that it was there to teach a lesson of simplicity and of how society has forgotten how simple could also translate to beauty.

As I went in circles, I encountered the water fountain which in it of itself was a beauty. It looked like it was made of pure gold and I felt like I was drinking from the fountain of youth. As I continued my way around the museum, the tour guide stopped us at a painting of a woman ironing with the intricate detail of the strands of hair that hung from her face. The different material, strokes, color, frame, and even lighting played a vital role in the presentation of the art. I learned that art isn’t only the piece that you look at but the small details which combine and make the artwork. Everything plays a role when it comes to art and it’s just a matter of noticing it. The Guggenheim did a great job accommodating all that was needed to make it a great and meaningful experience.

By: Alon Bezalel

 

 

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10
Sep 17

The Guggenheim Museum

Getting to the Guggenheim Museum was not confusing, however what I arrived to was far from what I expected. Just imagine. You’re walking down 86th street on the East side, headed to 5th Ave where you know to expect the park. East side has its charm, brown brick town houses and similar apartment buildings. Little cafes and restaurants are hidden in the first floors of the buildings and the feeling is very… New York. 86th Street ends in the massive wall that surrounds Central Park and you turn right up 5th Ave toward 88th Street. Just as you get there, a huge round building appears behind a typical apartment building, made up of huge spiral balconies on its gray façade. Every person who comes across this stops at the corner and immediately takes a picture like the one below, since explaining the architecture of the building could be an essay in itself. The impression it leaves is just as massive as the building itself. Born and raised in New York City, I can respectfully say that I haven’t come across a building even slightly similar to this one.

Entering the Guggenheim Museum is like walking in to a room full of sunshine, and by full, I mean like filled to the top in every corner, with beautiful sunlight. Naturally, you look up and see a geometric sunlight (built in the roof) that allows the sun to work its magic inside. The building has spiral hallways along the sides that you walk up and get to the top floor before you know it. The slope of the hallways is perfect enough so that you don’t feel like you’re walking up a mountain. Everything about the architecture is simply natural.

Our wonderful tour guide explained that architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, loved nature and everything about the building had some connection to it. Besides the sunlight, the spiral set up of the building connects to nature because it could represent growth and how it goes up essentially, but you don’t ever feel it happening.  Additionally, the location of the museum was purposely chosen to be right by Central Park. The balconies that are observed from outside served for sunlight to illustrate the paintings, however research showed this actually ruined them. The museum decided to keep the idea however use artificial light to preserve the art work. Personally, I am a huge nature lover and the architecture was very pleasant for me.

Our tour was lovely. The tour guide explained the stories of a couple paintings and it really allowed insight on what kind of person Guggenheim was and what his values were. It was a very visual way to understand some art history. There was a certain story line between the setup of each painting and its precise place. I really enjoyed seeing how art transformed through history in the spiral timeline. It was fantastic to see how two art forms, architecture and paintings, could work together to tell an amazing story.

Guggenheim and Frank Lloyd Wright had a very difficult task. Creating a museum that tells a narrative, and with that so successfully, is not an easy job. If I created a museum, I would want it to tell an inspiring narrative. It would certainly be connected to nature. I would want people to leave my museum feeling connected to the world around them and inspired to think! My museum narrative would be focused on people being human and kind to each other, our planet, and the animals on it. People shouldn’t forget that our earth is a gift.

Ellen Stoyanov

Keywords: nature, inspiration, think, appreciate, explore, preserve, humane

Blog #2 — 2 Comments
10
Sep 17

My Guggenheim Experience

As a New Yorker, you hear places such as the ‘infamous’ Central Park, Broadway, Times Square, the MET, and of course the Guggenheim. I’ve never visited the Guggenheim museum before, but only saw it in movies and pictures. I was always mesmerized by the structure of the museum, it was art itself. So having this museum as one of our first field trips was truly exciting.

Before arriving to the museum, I strolled pass Central Park and tourists being captivated by the city that I call home. The Guggenheim, located right by the park, is the ideal spot for tourists or even locals to appreciate the art that was created by renowned artists such as Henri Rousseau and Pablo Picasso. When I arrived at 5th Avenue, I was taken away by the building itself. I was having my college class at a place where people come around the world to visit. The intricate architecture of the dome-shaped museum was outstanding in person. The moment we entered, I looked up at the amount of floors this place consisted of. Each floor, carrying art that tells the story and history of society. People walking the ramp up to the sunlight roof brought fluidity to the museum as the visitors were piling in. The roof brought sunlight throughout the entire museum. Our tour guide was extremely informative, which helped bring the art to life and give it meaning. His passion led our group to be engaged with the pieces of art. He answered all our questions with such detail, it was almost as if he was alive during that time period.

I had two pieces of art that stood out to me during my visit. The first one was by the renowned artist, Pablo Picasso. I was in awe on the fact that I was standing in front of a painting that I learned about throughout my entire time in school. The detail that Picasso put on the piece with the color he uses and the way the waves were moving exhibited his feelings he was going through. Another piece that caught my eye was of a woman ironing. It revealed about the struggles and the work-life in America, an everyday chore was a way of making a living. The way the woman’s posture is stiff, her empty facial expression, and her shoulders arched in a tense position depicts the endeavors Americans went through. Art is able to tell a story about the past as well as the future of society, and how far a generation has grown.

If I were to create my own museum, I would like it to have a simplistic scheme like this museum conveyed with the white walls. The architecture of the museum plays a huge role on how you want your visitors to flow through the artwork. I learned how the museum itself can be art as well. I personally would want my museum to be in a maze-structure, so visitors can actually get lost in art. I would also like it to be informative, so they can get meaning out of the work they’re looking at. In that case, I would include descriptions by the pieces and have tour-guides that are well-educated on the art as well. This experience was different than any other museums or exhibits that I visited in the past, and it opened my eyes to art in New York.

Blog #2 — 1 Comment
10
Sep 17

Visit to the Guggenheim

The most notable thing about the Guggenheim Museum is the shape of the museum itself. It is a very popular and well known museum, so I knew how it looked before I arrived on the day of class. As I approached the museum that afternoon however, its striking difference to the rest of the New York City skyline became very apparent. Everything else around the museum and blocks away was shaped as most things are in New York, as tall and sharp rectangular buildings. The Guggenheim however stands out on its own as an oddly shaped circular building standing high on a New York City corner. Then, as you enter the museum, you can truly take in the magnificence of the buying itself. The levels wrap themselves around the walls of the circular building giving a spiraling look as you look up. Also, with the absence of stairs in the museum, you truly just ascend into the next levels of the museum, slowly taking up all of its beauty.

I am not a very artsy person myself and was not expecting to enjoy the museum as much as I did once I arrived. I was expecting to be bored with pieces of art that all had the same look or story being told all thrown up on to a wall. The Guggenheim Museum however gave a totally different feel and told a different story than the one I was expecting to get. The gradual ascent and change in artist as you make your way around the spirals truly gave off an artistic and cultured feel.

I was especially in awe and fascinated by the work of Pablo Picasso on his painting of the woman ironing in France. That painting really stood out to me because it so clearly told a story without the use of any words. The woman was in pain and was holding so much weight on her shoulders. She was clearly not happy with her life and was not enjoying the ironing and labor that she was doing in the painting. This painting showed the true side of France. Not everyone was fulfilling their dreams and living a wonderful life. People were in fact suffering and going through very rough times despite what was being broadcasted to the rest of the world. This painting was so amazing to me in that it lent itself to such a deep but simple interpretation.

If I were to create a museum, I would want it to convey the message of equality and innovation. I would not want a museum that showcases the same themes that all other museums carry or portray all the stereotypical stories of that time. I would want to create a museum that invites controversy and change through art. My museum would be one that would be home to innovative, different art that might be frowned upon by other institutions but would be celebrated and recognized in my own. I welcome difference and change, which is exactly what I want my museum to encompass.

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09
Sep 17

A Modern Guggenheim

Visiting the Guggenheim had been something on my bucket list for quite some time actually; when I heard we would be going I was genuinely excited to go! The building is easy to find, especially because I’ve past it so many times before and literally just sat in amazement because it’s so beautiful.

Inside of the museum, it definitely exceeded my expectations. I loved the high ceilings, open floor space, and spiral walkway the extended through all of the levels. As you ascended higher, every floor was set up in the same fashion, down to the bathrooms being stacked on top of each other. The artwork was forced into the spotlight due to the fact that no matter where you went you were able to view a piece of art, even from across the gap. Our tour guide at one point even had us compare our thoughts on a piece when we were up close to it, and when we were viewing it from afar. I have never been to a museum that allowed that type of viewing experience.

“Woman Ironing”, Picasso

The collection told a story of American artists, transitioning between portrait work and more modern style, like cubism or minimalism. A lot of the pieces had dark undertones that at least alluded to a more depressing America, and one that didn’t treat artists well at all (many of the artists featured in the Guggenheim lived poor lives and only became relevant after they died).However, the pieces itself were nothing extraordinary. I have visited plenty of art museums in the past, and so I guess nothing at the Guggenheim really made me take a second look, or think particularly much. A lot of the pieces we lingered on were modern pieces, and in my own opinion modern art doesn’t make me feel…anything. A collection of lines or dots (or even both), are simply lines and dots. There had been one painting that left an impression, “Woman Ironing” by Picasso, because it captured a human emotion, an experience, and had the ability to make me feel something. Not many of the other pieces I observed were able to do that, the rest were merely lines or dots on a canvas (which I could’ve done in kindergarten). 

I think if I were to open a museum, I would want it to reflect New York City. I know that seems trivial or stereotypical in an Arts in NYC class, but it’s true. I find NYC fascinating, and the relevance it has had in shaping our world leaders and our world in general is something I would want to focus on. Not only that, but I want to tell a story of inspiration, and creativity. I would hope that people could visit my museum and leave feeling a new sense of hope for not only our city, but the fact that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Giving students the impression that they can accomplish something huge, and implement their own ideas on the world through learning about the history of the city. Therefore, my museum would have to be educational. Like the Guggenheim, I would want the building to tell a story on it’s own. My museum’s building would have to be sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing (at least to me). My museum would tell a story that left people with the passion to continue creating their own dreams.

 

 

 

Blog #2 — Comments Off on The Guggenheim Experience-Marie Traore
09
Sep 17

The Guggenheim Experience-Marie Traore

The most notable aspect of the Guggenheim is the shape of the institution. I have been to the museum before, and I was always intrigued by the shape and design. I always wondered what the shape signified especially since I did not know much about its history before. Finding the museum was not difficult for me, because I have passed it while I ride the bus along Museum Mile. However, I noticed that it is easy to spot this crisp “circular” building. The Guggenheim is notable for its shape just as The Metropolitan can be found because of its iconic steps. When I entered I felt captivated when I looked up to see the museum’s form. When I see the museum, I think of modernism. It is such a different and unconventional approach to museum architecture. I have been to plenty of museums and I know that shape is a big part to me. The Musee D’Orsay in Paris is an old train station, and it is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable museums to me. When I see the Guggenheim, I think of change. It makes me feel like there was a major change in the world and that is why the architects insisted on making the building look so different. In hindsight, I know that there was a change. The museums curators and founders were major art collectors in a time where art was being overlooked and labelled. The Guggenheim almost seems to be a breath of fresh air in the horrible time period that it was created in. The tour guide also reiterated the feelings that I thought of upon entrance. He was able to effectively convey the emotions that Solomon R. Guggenheim and Hilla Rebay must have wanted to be passed down.  The tour guide was very helpful, because he did not only give the back story to certain pieces, but he also made us delve into the art works ourselves. An example is the final Picasso piece that we saw. It is still very fresh in my mind, because the tour guide gave a lasting impression. I would have never realized the things that I did, such as the woman’s posture signifying her burden, without his insight. It was very helpful to also see the backstory of certain pieces of art. An example is the piece by Van Gogh. I had no idea that Van Gogh had been put into an asylum. It makes me wonder can there really be beauty behind the madness? Also, what gives us the right to judge someone else as being “mad”? The art that Van Gogh created was also interpreted in such a variety of ways that I wondered if that was his intent. I enjoyed the tour guide’s ability to push us out of our comfort zones as he kept questioning us in a way that the Guggenheim’s original collectors probably would have wanted us to think.

Blog #2 — 2 Comments
09
Sep 17

Truly Seeing the Guggenheim

Approaching the Guggenheim, I was awed by the building itself, for it, standing alone, is a piece of art. My awe only flourished as I raised my eyes in wonder at the soaring atrium that flooded the building with sunlight. As the tour guide described the intentions of architect Frank Lloyd Wright in using open spiral rotundas to display the museum’s collections, he said something that resonated quite deeply with me; the construction allows the viewer to see art from numerous perspectives.

On the tour, we came across a painting that illustrated, literally, the effect of looking at art from a different physical perspective. To see Édouard Manet’s “Before the Mirror” from across the rotunda, it seems just a painting of a woman looking in a mirror. However, as I looked at the piece from up close, the clarity of the painting had become blurred. From far away, the individual brush strokes are lost. From far away, the greens that made up her blonde hair seemed only a shadow. From far away, we see the importance of looking up close. His rushed, defined strokes create the two-dimensionality of the painting, while still defining space, truly earning him a place in the era of Modern Impression.

Aside, from physical perspectives, the rotundas of the Guggenheim represented something more to me. Each art piece in the museum conveys something about the time during which it was created. If one chooses to see the painting at face value, he becomes ignorant of a sliver of history. To look at Picasso’s “Woman Ironing,” is a simple feat, but, to see beyond the woman slaving away, to look at history from a new perspective, is a more complex undertaking. Picasso created this when he was still an impoverished, like the many disenfranchised, artist in Paris during the early 20th century. The tension in the woman’s body, the bleak look on her face, they tell a story, a story that can only be seen from a different perspective. Many pieces were created during movements that Hitler sought to destroy; the Guggenheim provided refuge for them. American culture and society accepted the art barred from Europe, and truly celebrated, and continues to celebrate it.

I believe that Guggenheim was designed to make spectators think about and appreciate each art piece beyond a glance. Throughout the tour I found myself wondering, Why was this placed here? Why during this part of history? What is part of its own history? The paintings seemed to whisper, “look at me from the past, from the present, and from the future.” Like a textbook, a museum often tells a narrative of history; however, the Guggenheim goes beyond this and illustrates a multi-faceted story layered with the evolution of human emotion and expression. A story comes to life in each and every piece. So perhaps I was only able to look at several paintings, but the tour taught me how to truly see them.

 

Blog #2 — 4 Comments
09
Sep 17

Visit to The Guggenheim

The thought of visiting a Museum is daunting. Concerns of personal creativity and proper perspective begin to play in one’s mind. However, once stepping into the lobby of the Guggenheim Museum, all those concerns were subsided for views of awe and wonder. Thoughts of confusion began to turn to thoughts of how important art is to shape the time period of an entire generation.

Upon arrival to the steps of the Guggenheim, the architecture of the Museum immediately blew me away. Located on 5th Avenue, rows of similar high rises began to become stale and repetitive. Then I saw the Guggenheim. I had seen pictures on Google Maps to familiarize myself for the walk from the 6 train to the Museum, but nothing really compared to the actual structure. In a place where repetition and commonality was a default, the Guggenheim was able to set itself apart from all its surroundings.

The warm reception from the Museum staff immediately put any thoughts of confusion to rest. With the guided tours, we were able to receive vital information and background stories that gave the art work life and meaning. Throughout the visit, the Museum staff was able to dictate which art pieces we would see, how long we would spend at each piece, and most importantly give us their certain perspective on how the art should be viewed. This was not only an example of how the tour guide directed us, but it was rather an extension of the vision of the Guggenheim Museum through their employees.

The unique architecture of the building was art in and of itself. The circular scheme and ramp completely dictates the flow of visitors. The ability to use geometric shapes in the art they collected as well as the building which they saw come to life speaks to the mindsets of Solomon R. Guggenheim and Hillel Rebay themselves. Mindsets of innovation, experimental, and creative expressions of art work that would challenge the art world and its norms. The tile throughout the floor was composed of a circular pattern, which carried on through its ramps and all the way to the sunlight roof. Literally, from top to bottom, the Guggenheim was able to continue the circular theme all while challenging the confines of the art world through its simple, yet abstract artwork of non-objective, cubism, and impressionist paintings.

Through the works collected by Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, and many other famous artists of their time, Guggenheim was able to complete his masterful artwork of a building, with physical showcases of art for the visitors to see. This combination of art really gave visitors an overall enriching experience. My personal over-complicated views of art were challenged by the simplicity of this Museum and made me realize that though artwork may be subjective, architects work on their craft just like an artist would.

Abishek (AJ) Johnson

Blog #2 — 1 Comment
09
Sep 17

Experience of a Lifetime

First off, I would like to applaud the Guggenheim for not only being extraordinary but for also diminishing any fear of claustrophobia I thought I would have in the museum. You see, as sad as it sounds, that is what comes to mind when I hear of “museums.” Personally, I’ve never been to a museum, so I went in blindfolded thinking it would be just how the stereotypes portray it. Small white rooms with bland pieces of art priced at extreme prices with a security guard yelling at you not to touch it. That wasn’t my experience however and if anything, it wasn’t even close to that. The Guggenheim had this wonderful way of expressing itself to the viewer and it was through nature. I cannot stress enough how much of an impact the location, Central Park, had on the overall experience of the museum. The museum showcased this sense of nature and openness to the world by being covered in small portions of grass, a fountain and an amazing open sky window. Small details such as triangle shaped headlights, golden water fountains, white wall separating the art, and the positioning of the artwork gave it that “wow”. These details showed how modernized the Guggenheim was as a whole and it told the story of American society in the past and even the present. In the past, I would expect a museum to be just as I thought they would, but the Guggenheim took a more modern and urban approach due to its location and its sole purpose, which is to portray beautiful works of art in the appropriate surroundings. This makes it almost “belong” in today’s present society by giving us that futuristic feeling just by the shape and structure alone. All of these aspects played a huge role on being an amazing trip but the one question I had every time we looked at a painting was, “why does it just stand there?” Why does this piece of history, that tells thousands of different stories to anyone visiting, just stand there? That question spiked me to think that this is what the influence of the museum truly does have. People, just regular generic people like myself who don’t go from museum to museum, look at paintings and think “Well I can draw two lines and a box”, but after walking just once around the loop that thought changed. It went from, “It’s a box” to “The message Piet Mondrian is trying to display in his painting ‘Lozenge with Four Lines’ is remarkable!” That’s what separated the Guggenheim from all these stereotypes that go around about museums being “boring.” It wasn’t only open to the public to observe, but the art was given to you in the raw form without any adjustments. The REAL Pablo Picasso’s painting was just hanging right in front of my eyes. The tour guide, the vibe, bright colors, tourists, amazing artwork, and even the gold water fountains, made the museum an experience to remember.

  

Blog #2 / Uncategorized — 1 Comment
08
Sep 17

The Narrative of New York City

Art museums have traditionally been a way of preserving and displaying art and culture. Many of them exhibit what one might consider a “traditional” layout- a several story building with walls lined with visual art. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is unique not only due to the type and variety of art on display, but because of its very nature and infrastructure. It can be argued that the building itself is a work of art.

Since its opening in 1959, The Guggenheim was known for its wide array of modern, abstract, and avant garde art. By nature, these forms of art have always been controversial and compelling- perhaps due to people’s inability to pin down or understand the artists’ intent. Upon entering the museum, a feeling of wonder comes over the viewer. Its spiraling stairs and walls naturally lead the eye to the paneled skylight at the top of the building, illuminating the entire structure. This choice of architecture mimics the style of art on display, pushing against the tide of the expected, the known, and the mundane. It tells the story of the founders and their passion for breaking the confines of the existing standards for art. In fact, I would argue that the creation of this building and curation of the art that it holds is one of the reasons modern art is as widely accepted today as it is. The unique structure and collection of this building speaks of the changes in the art culture of American society- a step away from the rigid standards art was once held to to the largely inclusive, progressive, and constantly evolving culture that it is today.
Our guide gave us a very heartfelt and compelling tour of the first two floors of the museum. He was knowledgeable, but more importantly, immersed in the works of art he was presenting. While I didn’t agree with all of his interpretations or thoughts on the art, it made me appreciate the inherent subjectivity of said interpretations. Two people looking at the same work of art can hardly ever have the same thoughts on it. Listening to others’ perspectives allows us to open our minds and hearts to ways of thinking we never could have imagined on our own. It is said that one cannot imagine a color that they have never seen before. Much in the same way, we cannot synthesize the same thoughts that others can when we have never seen with their mind’s eye.

Profound

Abstract

Van Gogh

If I were to create a museum, I would ensure that the building itself would command the attention and interest of those that visit (not unlike the Guggenheim). It would reflect the ever changing and growing nature of art. To do this, I would attempt to exhibit pieces that represented the most cutting edge and progressive forms and examples of art of every time period. This would allow the viewer to appreciate not only the art itself, but the culture and understanding surrounding it. In this way, the museum would display changes in society’s ways of thinking. Perhaps, in turn, this would lead to an even wider range of what can be considered and appreciated as art.

Veronica Funk

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