A world away but seriously fascinating is the Africa Modernism show at theCenter for Architecture (AIANY), originally curated by Vitra. In snapshot sized photos, framed and hung like wall art, each building project from the 1960's and 1970's shows how modernist architecture spanned all continents, its fenestrated concrete facades now again in fashion. Also photographed by the now legendary Iwan Baan and Alexia Webster, the exhibition has a francophone feel in that so many of the projects occurred in French Africa. Still, taken as a whole, a wonderful documentation of buildings that often look as if they could be constructed today.
Julliard's Spring Dance Recital
If you want the biggest bang for your buck in NYC performance check out anything at Julliard. Pro level at 1/4 the price.
I always try to catch the spring dance recital. Last night a romantic yet contemporary piece particularly caught my fancy, one that takes its forwards-backwards costuming notion from my favorite ballet The Goldberg Variations by Jerome Robbins.
According to the program notes, "Nacho Duato’s haunting Por Vos Muero (1996) uses contemporary ballet to evoke 16th-century Spain’s artistic revival poetry by Garcilaso de la Vega set to 15th- and 16th-century-style taped music created by early music specialist Jordi Savall."
But this piece is more than that. The choreography is dynamic, the music verging on flamenco or hip hop at times and the dancing is clean and sprightly.
Catch it if you can.
Two Legends of Journalism at Hunter College
Two legends of New Journalism Tom Wolfe (Official) and Gay Talese still going strong at the Hunter College Creative Writing Center dinner honoring Wolfe. A spectacular cake made for the occasion mistakenly gave Thomas Wolfe's middle name and credits to Tom but the intent was still clear: our lit heritage thrives.
RIP Hugh Hardy
Hugh Hardy died today. He loved the theater and created many spaces for all of us so we could love it too. Here he is with Norman Pfeiffer and Malcolm Holzman in 1965 at the beginning of HHPA. RIP Hugh.
New Huffington Post EIC Interviews Ken Roth and George Soros
Lydia Polgreen new The Huffington Post editor-in-chief interviews philanthropist George Soros and Human Rights Watch Ken Roth on the state of the world. Verdict: troubled but not impossible with three advocates like these.
Carlo Mollino House in Torino
The Carlo Mollino house in Torino was never inhabited by him, apparently a neo Egyptian kind of tomb prep. Much of the house is re-fabricated to look as if it was Mollinos, as there is but one manifest to go by. Still the cocoon is quite cozy and evocative of this engineer cum pilot cum skier cum race car driver cum genteel pornographer and on and on. He touched his magic hand to many realms
HQ of Vitra
The HQ of Vitra is well known for its architectural campus. Gehry, Herzog DeMeuron Hadid Grimshaw et al. make for eye popping viewing. But inside, the deep and appealing curation of objects large and small are testament to a vision of owner Rolf Fehlbaum that continues apace. He makes other collectors pale by comparison.
Basel Architecture
Basel has old and new and is worthy away from art fair madness. Here, a topper by Herzog DeMeuron accents the timbered buildings from the Middle Ages.
The Goetheanum
The Goetheanum just outside Basel, designed by Rudolf Steiner in massive brutality, still has a certain charm. A spiritual center, it evokes mystery.
Corbusier's Most Balletic Work
Staying with the nuns at Renzo Piano's controversial addition to Le Corbusier's chapel in Ronchamp felt peaceful, not bumpy. Still, it is entirely outranked by the blessed structure up on the hill, a pilgrimage site for architects who must, upon seeing it, understand there is little hope to meet its brilliance. Corbusier's most balletic work.
The Royal Salines: Arc-en-Senans, France
Coming upon LeDoux's futuristic version of Neo Classicism at the Royal Salines in Arc-en-Senans France (salt factory) and the exhibit about his work was a wondrous thing. In all his architecture, elements like columns, boulders, wooden roofs took on a surreal life of their own.
Balenciaga at the Musée Bourdelle
The new retrospective of Balenciaga fashion at the incantatory Musée Bourdelle focuses on the Noir - and that gave the curators a lot to consider. The show is not as well installed as the previous retro of Madame Gres but the enchanting sculpture and bric a brac of the sculptor whose studio this was make a perfect backdrop for the draping and bias cut of the very contemporary looking dresses and suits.
Paris
I love Paris. Each shop so highly curated. Some things don't change even if the world going to hell in handbasket.
Politics in Paris
Landed in a giant rally for François Fillon who is on the verge of being pushed out of the race for president due to corruption scandal. Massive turnout to save his candidacy. Thousands fear it could instead now be Marine Le Pen, their version of Donald Trump.
Separated at Birth?
Separated at Birth? Rick Owens, Fall 2017, and Pablo Picasso's Parade, 1917.
Mary Quant and Pierre Cardin at Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
Mary Quant and Pierre Cardin at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
Fashion week apace and everyone in white sneakers in the rain.
Wish instead for more sixties as in Sheila Weller's great fashion piece in Vanity Fair.
Louise Bourgeois at the Peter Blum Gallery
The saddest story in the world written and illustrated by Louise Bourgeois at the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) show (67 st) at Peter Blum Gallery. Since seeing this at Guggenheim retro I have cherished it as the last word on love affairs gone awry.
Cthchoukine at LVMH Paris
Here at the last days of the Cthchoukine exhibit at LVMH Paris. Worth hauling 6000 miles. The Picassos and Matisses all together in the galleries. A once in lifetime thrill. So many paintings previously known to me only in books.
Jeanne Gang's TED Talk
Jeanne Gang: Buildings that blend nature and city
A skyscraper that channels the breeze ... a building that creates community around a hearth ... Jeanne Gang uses architecture to build relationships. In this engaging tour of her work, Gang invites us into buildings large and small, from a surprising local community center to a landmark Chicago skyscraper.
Jeanne Gang finds ways to connect things that aren't naturally cohesive at first glance. At the Architecture Biennale in Chicago, her hometown, she paired cops and kids in a space playing basketball. Her new Ted talk expands on that theme.
Artists Take on Trump
Like many other arts institutions, the Petzel Galleryin New York has had to figure out what to do about Trump. Some institutions are closing. Instead, Petzel has been pro-active: they have mounted a selection of artists work in response to our President-elect or past work that is responsive. It is by turns cheeky, dramatic, and frightening. In addition, they have invited all-comers to submit their own video responses. One of my favorite artists, Dana Schutz, has captured Trump's descent in her usual spot-on visceral manner in a work she must have just recently completed. Perhaps it also warns us not to descend along with him. Painting by Dana Schutz, Trump Descending an Escalator, 2017. Courtesy of the artist and Petzel Gallery, New York.