Posts Tagged ‘art’

Postcards from Prague

October 22nd, 2010

During my travels, I’ve been surprised at how much I loved places I knew nearly nothing about prior to arrival. A great example of that is Prague. The Czech Republic has been independent since 1993, but it wasn’t a country we learned much about in school and it rarely made appearances in films or television programs until after they shook off the Communist regime in the 1980s.

There are many European cities I’m in love with and could easily live an expat life in, but for sheer architectural beauty, nothing tops Prague for me. The styles are wonderful and more importantly, the color is unlike what you see in most of the other classic European cities. My pictures don’t do it justice, but the buildings blend greens, reds, oranges and yellows beautifully.

A view of Prague Castle dominating the northwest bank of the river.IMGP2206

The Astronomical Clock, which hosts a glockenspiel and hourly ceremony complete with trumpeter at the top.P1020551

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The entrance to the Charles Bridge, a popular pedestrian walkway and tourist destination. Christian religious scenes are re-enacted in statues as you cross. IMGP2095

The art nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha (a favorite of mine) was a Prague resident for most of his life. After Czech won its independence at the end of World War I, he influenced and worked on some of the more modern architecture, including this theater.P1020607

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Prague’s own version of the Eiffel Tower, Petrin Tower. It was built in 1891, and while shorter and not an identical copy, it’s actually higher than its Parisian cousin since it sits atop a large hill.IMGP2211

One of Prague’s quirkiest architectural creations. TV Tower. Not that quirky, you say? See those little black lumps sporadically placed around the main beam and center areas? What are those?

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Giant crawling black babies. WTF? I have no idea.

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Postcards From Valencia: Something New

September 2nd, 2010

The historic center of Valencia was certainly my favorite part, but I have to showcase some of the amazing architecture that’s a bit newer. As you travel further along the Jardines de Turia, the tone moves from sports and gardens to art & culture, which are housed in buildings that are stunning in their own right. Art, science, music, oceanography and history all have homes in the complex.

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An overview of the City of Arts & Sciences (aka Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias).

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The finest in Cylon architecture –

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The Hemispheric.

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A side view of El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

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L’Oceanogràfic in the back (largest aquarium/Oceanography park in Europe) and El Puente de l’Assut de l’Or – a bridge with only a single pillar, using enormous cables for support.

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El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe – built to resemble the skeleton of a whale.

Brain Drops V: Pageant of the Masters Edition

August 8th, 2010

I wasn’t going to let a sneezing fit spoil my stay in Paris. As a result, my DNA is now a part of the permanent collection at the Orsay. Sorry Vincent!

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Sometimes I think some of the greatest painters had the maturity of Beavis & Butthead. “hehehe… That flower looks like a vagina… hehehe. I’m gonna paint it.”

Double stick tape evidently dates back to the dawn of creation. SOMETHING was holding those leaves on.

Sure, paint a bunch of schoolchildren playing in a park and you’re an impressionist genius, but snap a few photos and you wind up on some watch list.

I think this sign at the Louvre means “Don’t Walk on Water. That’s Jesus’s job.”

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With the right positioning and a marketing campaign about it being an expression of woman’s struggle to take control of her sexuality, Two Girls One Cup would probably be right at home alongside some of the art at the Pompidou.

Restroom signs in the modern art gallery should be themed to the section they’re in. I’d love to watch people trying to figure out which is the Ladies Room in the Kandinsky section.

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I like modern art and abstract art, but I have never understood the popularity of Picasso – it looks like the fingerpaintings of a 7 year old to me. Seriously, doesn’t this look like your nephew was trying to draw a muppet?

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It sucks that many museums won’t let you take photos – not even of the sculpture. I would wager it’s more because they want to sell the prints in their gift shops than any fear of damage.

The Pompidou had a temporary exhibit of theme parks, world fairs and their impacts on architecture, city planning and art. I think it’s cool that Salvador Dali had a job kind of like mine once, creating a maze attraction. Of course, the attractions I’ve worked on didn’t have naked women in them. Unless you count the women flashing their breasts to the cameras on Jurassic Park.