Category Archives: Culture

The Artistry Inside Notre Dame

Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

 

Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

The artistry inside of Notre Dame was something that I’d pretty much taken for granted, until the recent fire on April 15, 2019. In fact, I’m sure  most of us took it for granted up until that day.  To quote my friend  Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow & Bone, Six of Crows, and King of Scars: You leave a place, certain you will return, certain it will outlive you, reassured by the permanence of stone. I didn’t realize this was a friend I would never meet again.

When my sister texted me about the fire on the morning of the 15th, I reassured her that  it probably wasn’t that big of deal, because the cathedral  was made of stone. I didn’t understand that the roof was made from 800 year old trees, and that the framing supporting the stone was also made from wood.

As I looked back over the photos that I’d taken on December 28th, 2018, I began to notice something telling… red fire extinguishers. They’re so easy to miss when you’re being wowed by stained glass windows and hand painted walls and ceilings. But there they were, hiding in plain sight. As it turns out, it was a well known fact that fire was a huge threat to the structure. No electrical apparatus were allowed near the roof, for fear that any spark could easily set the structure ablaze.

As I’m sure you know, money has poured in for the rebuilding of Notre Dame, totaling over $1 billion within the first week. Now the conversation has begun about how long it will take to rebuild, what the new spire should look like, and of course who should design it. I’ve seen articles online exploring high concept ideas such as repurposing the roof with a greenhouse for growing food and educating students. The previous spire was a 19th century add on, however to the untrained eye, it also appeared to be centuries old like the rest of the cathedral.

I know how progressive the French are when it comes to their architecture, particularly when viewed  through the lense of history.  The Eiffel Tower,  completed in 1889, was built for the 1889 Worlds Fair and was not meant to be a permanent structure. It was intended to be dismantled after  20 years in 1909, when its ownership reverted back to the City of Paris. If I also remember my history correctly, it was also the first ‘undraped metal building’.  Prior to this, metal only served as a support system for concrete or brick buildings. Therefore, it was quite controversial in its day, and was boycotted my many prior to its completion.

Another example of French craftsmanship is the Statue of Liberty,  designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi in 1886. The original stands on Liberty Island Manhattan, in New York, and its metal framework was also built by Gustave Eiffel. Three years later in 1889, a smaller replica was given to France, by American citizens living in France, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the French Revolution.

Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower, seen from the Seine River, Photo Romi Cortier
Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower, seen from the Seine River, Paris, France, Photo Romi Cortier

I go down this rabbit hole to make a point. These structures all look very old to our modern day eye, but during the time of their construction, they were forward thinking and quite avant garde. Every generation has its construction techniques and tools, as well as its favored building materials. Over the last 20 years or so, our generations biggest design tool is the computer. It will be very interesting to observe how the French choose to move forward with this process of redesign. The modernity of the I.M. Pei Pyramid certainly works in the midst of the Baroque buildings that it marries together. I can only say that I hope I live long enough to see how the story of Notre Dame turns out.

Romi Cortier, I.M. Pei Pyramid and Louvre Museum, Paris, France, Photo Recio Young
Romi Cortier, I.M. Pei Pyramid and Louvre Museum, Paris, France, Photo Recio Young

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection – Venice, Italy

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Romi Cortier, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Recio Young
Romi Cortier, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Recio Young

I recently visited the Peggy Guggenheim Collection while on holiday in Venice, Italy. I had no knowledge of the storied past of the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni,  who’s story began in about 1750, long before Ms. Guggenheim became its final occupant.

Peggy Guggenheim’s collection is a must see for fans of Modern Art, and is also one of Venice’s most visited attractions. Situated on the Grand Canal near the Lagoon, the  former residence features amazing views of the canal and other palazzos. And most important, is the collection itself. It’s noted as ‘one of the most important museums in Italy for European and American art of the first half of the 20th Century’. Pieces in her collection embrace Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism, and are born out of personal connections from the artists themselves.

As a champion of artists, she created an American outpost for the European avant-gard, with a  gallery in New York  called Art of This Century, in 1942. Prior to that she had a short lived gallery in London  during the lates 1930’s, Guggenheim Jeune. Her initial collection, acquired at a rate of one painting per day on frenzied trips to Paris during World War II, cost her only $40,000 for a group of works by Brancusi, Geroges Braque, Salvador Dali, Ernst, Fernand Leger and Pable Picasso, among others. That collection ultimately settled in Venice in 1948, with its initial exhibition at the biennale.

With the acquisition of Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Ms. Guggenheim set up shop as one of the city’s most celebrated patrons and eccentrics. That said, she was actually the third woman to own the Palazzo, preceded by the Marchesa Luisa Casati and Doris Castlerosse. Christies has a fantastic article titled: Ghosts of the unfinished palazzo, which you can read HERE. A little FYI, the palazzo might be named for the yawning lion heads seen below…  at least that’s one of the theories.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier

A Gondola Ride in Venice

Gondola view Santa Maria della Salute, Grand Canal, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola View of Santa Maria della Salute, Grand Canal, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola View  San Marco, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola View of  Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola View San Marco, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola View San Marco, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola View San Marco, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondola View  San Marco, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondolas on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondolas on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondolas on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Gondolas on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier

You can’t think of Venice Italy without thinking of a Gondola, they go hand in hand. On my recent visit to Venice, I got to experience their magic first hand. The peacefulness of gliding on the narrow canals between the stones buildings is everything you’d imagine it to be. Smooth. Quiet. Reflective. Tranquil. It’s such a personal experience, especially when traveling with a loved one.

The history of the Gondola is a long and storied one, possibly dating back as early as  700 AD, or at the very least 1094 AD when mentioned in a letter from a Venetian Republic official. As a design geek I was fascinated to learn that the Venetian Blind was derived from blinds that were used on earlier Gondola’s dating back to about 1500 when Gondola’s had cabins. The blinds allowed for privacy during the Age of Decadence, when would be Casanovas enjoyed trysts out on the canals.

During the 14th century, horses were outlawed from the streets of Venice, and the noble class embraced the gondola as a respectable form of transportation.  During the 16th century, laws were enacted by the doge to eliminate competition between the nobles, who were competing for the fanciest rig. Some went so far as to include semiprecious stones on brightly colored boats.  Now each vessel is covered in 6 coats of black paint and lasts about 15 years, after which, it can be refinished (once) to last another 10 years.

About 200 years ago there were over 10,000 Gondolas in Venice, now there are only about 400 licensed gondoliers. When one dies, the license is passed to his widow. If you’re going to take in the full Gondola experience,  it’s about 80 euro during the day, and 100 euro during the evening. If you choose to tip your gondolier, the rate is 5 – 10 percent. FYI, don’t expect all of them to serenade you… as they say, some are lovers, and some are singers.

Hotel Monaco in Venice Italy

Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Monaco Hotel & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
 Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Monaco Hotel & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Monaco Hotel & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Hotel Monaco  & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier

I recently spent Christmas at the Hotel Monaco in Venice Italy. If you’re a regular follower of my design diary, then you’re going to be reading a lot more about my travels to Europe over the holidays, as well as my plans to return this fall.

I’ve been engaged for two years, and the plan has always been to have our marriage celebration in Italy. That said, I wasn’t convinced that Venice was going to be the ultimate destination, even though it has always been my fiancé’s first choice.

In September I began researching locations, making phone calls, sending emails, and using google images to look at endless possibilities up and down the Italian coast. And then, I found the Hotel Monaco, which sits at the mouth of the Grand Canal. Their grand ballroom is out of this world, and I knew if my pocketbook could make it work, then it would be our wedding venue.

We tailored our holiday vacation  in a way  that would allow for several days in Venice to tour the Hotel, and its surrounding area. We also scheduled a meeting with Simona Miranda, the hotels event manager, on the morning of December 24th. She was kind and generous  with her time and spent a full two hours with us, giving us a tour of the three buildings that make up the hotel.  I was concerned that our inability to speak  Italian would make our meeting difficult. On the contrary, her English was great and she was so much fun to talk with.

Recio Young, Simona Miranda, Romi Cortier, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
Recio Young, Simona Miranda, Romi Cortier, Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

As for the hotel itself, its origins date back to 1638 when it was a public Ridotto, a place where the Venetians “retreated” for  gambling parties and other pastimes that personified the spirit of Venice’s merchant mentality. In 1768 the Ridotto was restored by Bernardino Maccaruzzi who also modified the internal structure, making it more functional. A later restoration took place in 1936, and again in 1947 before it ultimately became the Hotel Monaco.

Hotel Moncao & Grand Canal, Venice Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal, Venice Italy, Photo Romi Cortier

The hotel is  literally a 5 minute walk from St. Marks Square, which is quite a treat late at night when no one’s around. It also helps that it was about 40 degrees this particular night, and no one in their right mind was out walking around.

St. Marks Square, Venice Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
St. Marks Square, Venice Italy, Photo Romi Cortier

Another wonderful feature about the hotels location, is the water taxi dock that’s located in front of the hotel. For less than $20 you can buy a 24 hour ticket that will let you hop on and off  Water Taxi #1, which will take you to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, under the Rialto Bridge, and all the way down the Grand Canal to the Train Station. There’s also a gondola station on this same dock, which we’ll talk about more on my next post. Ciao!

Water Taxi Station, San Marco, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier
Water Taxi Station, San Marco, Venice, Italy, Photo Romi Cortier

HOTEL MONACO

The Art of Go Woon Choi

Romi Cortier, Go Woon Choi, The Art of Go Wood Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018
Romi Cortier, Go Woon Choi, The Art of Go Wood Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018
Art of Go Woon Choi, Oil on Canvas, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Art of Go Woon Choi, Oil on Canvas, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, 30 x 40, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, 30 x 40, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, 30 x 40, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, 30 x 40, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, Photo Romi Cortier
The Art of Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
The Art of Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled 02, Acrylic on Canvas, 30 x 40, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled 02, Acrylic on Canvas, 30 x 40, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20, Go Woon Choi, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Go Woon Choi, Opening Night, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier
Go Woon Choi, Opening Night, TAG Art Gallery, November 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

I first discovered the Art of Korean born artist Go Woon Choi, at the LA Art Show in January of 2018. I loved her work so much, that I snapped a few photos of it and  sort of tucked it away in the back of my mind. Then, this fall I got an email from Visual Art Source and low and behold, there was one of her paintings front and center. I made sure to go to her opening night at TAG Gallery in LA’s miracle mile, so that I could see more of her work in person, which is where I had the pleasure of meeting her.

Hyperrealism is one of my favorite painting techniques, and Miss Choi has it in spades. Take a look at a these  paintings from her web site. They’re beyond extraordinary, in fact, they look like photographs. I’m also fascinated by the fact that a woman is painting tools and toys, a subject traditionally associated with young men or boys.

Yellow Prop Composition, Oil on Canvas, Go Woon Choi
Yellow Prop Composition, Oil on Canvas, Go Woon Choi
Glass Bead Composition, Oil on Canvas,  Go Woon Choi
Glass Bead Composition, Oil on Canvas, Go Woon Choi

She spent over a decade working as a digital artist in the film industry, including Fast & Furious, The Mummy, Aliens vs. Predator, and the video game God of War II.  She also has a background in sculpture and welding. Her interest in common objects is rooted in her idea that “even common objects can appear strong and fantastic under different light conditions and environments”. Whatever it is that motivates and inspires her, I’m just so thrilled that she’s making art. I believe in her work so much that I even purchase a piece from her last show.

If you’d like to see more of her work, check her out at this years LA Art Show January 23 – 27, 2019, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

TICKETS

www.gowoonchoi.com