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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

 

 

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.