Category Archives: Art

Art

Seven Magic Mountains near Las Vegas

August 4, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Seven Magic Mountains, Nevada, Photo Romi Cortier

Seven Magic Mountains, Nevada, Photo Rom Cortier

Sven Magic Mountains, Nevada, Photo Romi Cortier

Seven Magic Mountains, Photo Romi Cortier

Romi Cortier at Seven Magic Mountains, Nevada, Photo by Tami

Seven Magic Mountains makes me think of Stonehenge on acid, or psychedelic rocks as interpreted by Pop Artist Peter Max. Alas, it’s internationally renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone.

This two year installation which opened in May of this year, can easily be seen from your car while whizzing by on Interstate 15, about 10 miles south of Las Vegas. Initially you might think you’re seeing neon colored balloons, however, as you near the parking lot and exit your car, something exciting starts to happen. The striking colors juxtaposed against the beige of the desert begin to feel cool, as in cold, despite the 100 plus degree temperature. Maybe it’s because they remind us of tubs of ice cream seen behind class at the local CVS or Baskin Robbins… there’s certainly something pavlovian happening here.

In total there are seven towers made up of 33 limestone boulders. The public art installation cost 3.5 million dollars to bring to life, including fees for permits, fabrication costs, road improvements, staff and studio travel over the 5 year timeline it took to bring this project to life, as well as for land restoration once the exhibit closes in May of 2018.

I’ve never been to burning man, however, for the short time I spent moving around this installation, I felt as if I might be getting a sense of what burning man is like: hip, cool, alternative, unexpected. Experiencing temporary art thrust into a dry desert environment is quite exciting and invigorating. I actually visited this site twice in one day, as I wanted to see it while the sun was setting. Both times there were tons of people milling about, and the kids seemed the most excited by the bold colors. That said, it is the desert, so watch where you walk if you choose to visit this site. Rattlesnakes are a real possibility since this is their native habitat. They won’t care if you you’re busy taking your best art selfie to date. (yes, that’s a thing now) My sis yelled at me to stay on ‘the path’, but I had to get that long shot of all seven stones lined up side by side. I’d love to revisit this installation in a year to see what the scorching desert sun has done to these saturated colors, or how they might look against a backdrop of white winter snow. If you’re on instagram, search #7magicmountains to see the latest and greatest of the seasonal shots taken around the spectacularly fun exhibit.

Art Selfie, Seven Magic Mountains, Nevada, Photo Romi Cortier

You can learn more about artist Ugo Rondinone HERE

The video below will show you how they stacked these 40,000 pound boulders… the first earth work installation created in over 40 years.

Art

Salvador Dali on view in Beverly Hills

July 15, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com 1 Comment

Dali's Persistence of Memory, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Persistence of Memory, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Triumphant Elephant, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Triumphant Elephant, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Dance of Time II, Beverly Hills, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Dance of Time II, Beverly Hills, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Surrealist Piano, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Surrealist Piano, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Dance of Time I, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Dance of Time I, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Unicorn, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Unicorn, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Dali's Saint George and the Dragon, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier — Dali’s Saint George and the Dragon, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Salvador Dali, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

The sculptures of Salvador Dali are on view in Beverly Hills at Two Rodeo Drive. Yes they’re for sale, but that certainly won’t stop you from walking around them, taking selfies with them, photographing them, and simply enjoying them as public art.

In total there are 12 iconic Salvador Dali Sculptures on display, which have been presented by Two Rodeo Drive and Galerie Michael located at 224 N. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. There are additional smaller sculptures for sale inside Galerie Michael, as well as Dali paintings, lithographs and etchings. One of the things I really like about the presentation of this art, are the placards attached to each piece giving you an overview of what you’re looking at. There are no prices attached to the outdoor pieces, however the smaller works inside the gallery are priced in the tens of thousands, such as $25,000 and up. Therefore, I’m guessing the large exterior works have to be priced in the hundreds of thousands. Whatever the case, with any art that is sold, a percentage of that sale will benefit Operation Smile, an international non-profit. If you’re interested in making a donation to them directly, follow this link: Donate

Dali’s full name is quite a mouthful: Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech, Marques do Dali de Pubol. Whew! Born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain, on May 11, 1904, he lived to be 84, passing on January 23, 1989. The Surrealist artist had an expansive repertoire including film, sculpture, and photography, as well as works in the mediums mentioned above.

Whether you’re a huge fan, or just looking for something fun to do with friends on a leisurely weekend, check out these large scale works which are on view until September 23, 2016.

Galerie Michael

Art, Interior Design

Up Up and away, @ The London West Hollywood

June 1, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

The London West Hollywood, Photo Romi Cortier

Friends of mine recently stayed at The London West Hollywood, and I was invited to spend an afternoon in one of the rooftop cabanas. What a blast!

I nabbed my guest card at the front desk to access the elevators, and went straight to the top. I had no idea the hotel had such extraordinary views… it was nearly a 360 degree view. From the Hollywood Hills, to downtown LA, to Century City, the city sparkled in the afternoon sun. The overall vibe was hip, yet relaxing. To be honest, we were probably the rowdiest of the guests with 8 of us sharing two cabanas. That said, the staff was kind and helpful, and kept the beverages and food rolling in for over 5 hours.

Even though I’ve lived in LA for over 20 years, this was a completely new way to experience the city. It’s rare to find a pool with this kind of view. The designer in me has so many engineering questions, such as how much does all of this weigh? A simple gallon of water weighs 8 lbs, multiply that by a full pool, the concrete that supports it, and all of the potted palm trees and you’ve got a whole lot going on. I can’t begin to imagine what it takes to support all of that. Questions aside, I loved swimming laps in the pool. It made me feel like I was back in my massive mid-century pool in the back yard of my Palm Springs home.

I took a stroll around the hotel and found myself completely fascinated by the artwork adorning the elevator doors. My favorite was the woman in the red dress, submerged in water on the rooftop elevator door. I can’t seem to find any information about the artist who created the images, but I think the overall effect is quite fantastic.

If you’re a local Angelino, you should consider making your next vacation a ‘stay-cation’ at the London West Hollywood.

For more hotel info click HERE.

Art, Culture

Reigning Men @ LACMA

May 23, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

It’s Reigning Men at LACMA! And no I’m not talking about the Weathers Girls song from 1983, but reigning… as in occupying the throne like a King.

With over 300 years of regal wear, it would be hard not to find something to love at this exhibition. I’ve chosen my faves which represent the more genteel of garments from France, England and Italy. However, this show also features everything from a 1952 ‘Aloha Shirt’ to a 2014 Tom Ford Silk Dinner Jacket, to a 1970 Unisex Caftan.

One of the stunning things I truly loved about the exhibit were the meticulously crafted wigs by milliner Deborah Ambrosino. It took her two years to create them, with the help of assistant curator Clarissa Esguerra who did the research. The white wigs are correct for each specific period, without being a distraction to the final presentation of the garment.

When it came to the 131 mannequins required for these three centuries of mens garments, costume and textile specialist Melinda Webber Kerstein took 28 months to laboriously create the proper mens silhouettes from 5 basic mannequins. Over 40 mannequins were cut down and re-sculpted to fit the extant garments. Over 275 yards of batting and 400 yards of tulle were used to pad out the mannequins and mounts in the show, as well as 300 pairs of queen size control-top panty hose.

This exhibit runs until August 21, 2016 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Click HERE for more info on the show, and click HERE to read more about what it took to bring these Reigning Men to life.

Oh, and in case you have no clue about the Weathers Girls, you can watch their iconic 80’s video below.

Cheers!

Art

Los Angeles Modern Auctions is happening May 22nd, 2016

May 12, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Lot 116, Untitled, James Strombotne, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500 — Lot 116, Untitled, James Strombotne, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $2,500 – $3,500

Lot 9, Untitled from Silver Series, June Harwood, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000

Lot 148, Diamond Reflection, Raimonds Staprans, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $6,000 - $9,000 — Lot 148, Diamond Reflection, Raimonds Staprans, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $6,000 – $9,000

Lot 219, Untitled, Ross Bleckner, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $12,000 - $15,000 — Lot 219, Untitled, Ross Bleckner, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $12,000 – $15,000

Lot 226, Untitled, Stan Kaplan, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000 — Lot 226, Untitled, Stan Kaplan, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000

Lot 275, Cook and Fish, Emerson Woelffer, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000 — Lot 275, Cook and Fish, Emerson Woelffer, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000

Lot 154, In Vironment, Gordon Onslow Ford, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000 — Lot 154, In Vironment, Gordon Onslow Ford, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000

Lot 227, Byzantine Windows, Norman Bluhm, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000 — Lot 227, Byzantine Windows, Norman Bluhm, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 22, 2016, Estimate: $30,000 – $50,000

The preview is on at Los Angeles Modern Auctions! I’ve chosen to showcase a few of my favorite abstract pieces from their online catalogue, but there’s so much more to see.

Imagine an Isamu Noguchi Chess Table with an estimate of $100,000 – $150,000, or a Charles & Ray Eames Shell Armchair with an estimate of $600 – $900. There’s also several pieces of furniture by Frank Lloyd Wright ranging from $6,00 – $20,000, and Post Modern furniture by Ettore Sottsass and Robert Venturi ($4,000 – $6,000 and $3,000 – $5,000 respectively). Photographs by Julius Shulman, pottery, patio furniture, woven wool tapestries… you name it, there’s a little something for everyone at a wide range of price points. It feels like an episode of Ab Fab with Patsy and Edina screaming names, names, names sweetie darling. It’s a veritable who’s who of 20th century modernism. With nearly 25 years in the business, LAMA is the premier auction house on the West Coast to buy and sell Modern Art and Design.

Preview: May 9 – 21, (10am – 6pm PT)

Auction: Sunday, May 22, 2016 (12pm PT)

View the entire catalogue here

And by the way… They’re back!!

Where Art Inspires Beauty