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.

Architecture, Interior Design

Inside the How House, by Architect R.M. Schindler

July 21, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

How House, R.M. Schindler, Architect, Silver Lake, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier

I walked into R. M. Schindler’s How House cold, knowing absolutely nothing about it. An hour later I left feeling like a Buddhist monk… zen, grounded, tranquil and full of love. It’s rare to experience this sort of transformation while moving through a home.

A decade earlier at the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois I had a similar experience and it literally brought me to tears. It was designed by Mies van der Rohe in the late 40’s, and is an iconic masterpiece of the International Style of architecture, just as this home is. The International Style began in the late 1920’s and continued into the early 1980’s. Hallmarks of this design movement include: rectilinear forms, open interior spaces, a visually weightless quality engendered by the use of cantilever construction, and light, taut plane surfaces stripped of applied ornamentation and decoration. I know that’s a mouthful for non architectural enthusiasts, but it helps give words to the ‘visual rhythm’ that a trained eye can identify.

When I first stood outside this home, I thought of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water, one of his most famous homes with overlapping horizontal and vertical planes. As it turns out, Schindler worked with Wright for nearly a decade on several of his most significant residences. One of the aspects of this home that really moved me, was the use of poured concrete walls with horizontal bands. As you can clearly see, that ‘banding’ theme was also applied to the exterior and interior woodwork of the home, as well as the windows and fireplace.

While conversing with Brian Linder, AIA, in the living room of the home, I learned that the home had been meticulously restored by Michael LaFetra in 2007. The original redwood wall panels were replaced by retrieving logs from the bottom of the riverbed where the original trees for the wood had been milled. How’s that for going the extra distance to keep the home as original as possible. You can read more about LaFetra’s restoration by following this link: Michael LaFetra.

Lastly, when I toured this home on Sunday July 10th, I had no idea that it was the first ever open house to the public. I’m so glad I opened my email from The Value of Architecture… it was gift from the heavens for those of us obsessed with important architectural gems like this.

See more photos, as well as the MLS listing, HERE

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

Architecture

Revisiting the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

July 8, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com 2 Comments

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Oak Park, Illinois, Photo Romi Cortier

I first visited the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in 2004 on an architectural tour hosted by my art history teacher from UCLA. It so impressed me that I couldn’t wait to revisit it on my recent trip to Chicago. The entire neighborhood surrounding the studio was absolutely pristine. Clearly there must be an HPOZ or some governing body in place to ensure that the neighborhood remains in tip top shape for visiting tourists such as myself, who are devotees of Frank Lloyd Wrights Prairie Style architecture.

Mr. Wright built his original home on this site in 1889, seen below from the side. In 1897 he added on the architectural work studio seen above. Even though he had an office in Chicago’s downtown Loop neighborhood, he preferred to be in an environment that ‘conspired to develop the best there is in him.‘ An environment free of the distractions of the busy city.

By viewing the homes located directly across the street (seen below), it helps you see just how revolutionary Wright’s designs were. Typical buildings of this era were mired in the past, with styles derived from the architecture of old Europe. Organic Architecture, as he referred to it, meant that architecture should be suited to its environment and be a product of its place, purpose and time. The Prairie Style was inspired by the broad flat landscapes of the American Midwest and it was the first uniquely American architectural style of what has been called ‘The American Century’.

In 1888 Frank Lloyd Wright studied under the prestigious firm of Adler & Sullivan. Louis Sullivan soon recognized Wright’s talent and spent countless hours mentoring him and shaping his philosophies. It’s my opinion that the four decorative pillar supports seen above are an homage to Sullivan, who was famous for his vegetal ornamentation, also a signature of the Art Nouveau period. Wright’s later vegetal work becomes much more streamlined and graphic, like the detail seen below in Los Angeles’s Hollyhock House.

Hollyhock Panel, Hollyhock House, Barnsdall Park, Photo Romi Cortier

Next time you’re visiting Chicago, be sure and find time to tour this remarkable and important home that was the foundation for Wright’s illustrious career as one of Americas foremost architects.

flwright.org

… and lastly, check out my recent video about the painting I created from the garden statue above known as ‘Sprite in the Garden‘.

Culture, Fun, Travel

A Day at Fiji’s Beqa Island

July 1, 2016 romicortier@yahoo.com 1 Comment

There’s nothing more relaxing than a day at Beqa Island. Located across the bay from Fiji’s main island Viti Levu, this tranquil oasis has about 3,000 inhabitants spread across nine villages… yes, nine. The native people here are known for their fire-walking skills, however, that wasn’t on our list of things to do on this day. If you’ve seen my earlier post, than you’ll know we arrived to Beqa Island by way of a European Hydrofoil called the Sea Venture owned by Sea Fiji Reefs. Since there was no dock on this part of the island, we dropped anchor off shore and were ferried to the shoreline via a much smaller boat called the Lawaki Delight.

Lawaki Delight, Beqa Island, Fiji, Photo Romi Cortier

We walked the beaches, lunched and snorkeled ourselves silly for the better part of the day. I only wish I’d had an underwater camera for the blue starfish and the other colorful fish I saw below the surface. There were little or no waves which made the snorkeling very easy. And the waters were very shallow for at least 100 feet from the shoreline, therefore, a newbie snorkeler like myself found it very easy to enjoy the water.

Beqa Island, Fiji, Photo Natalie Marletta (Romi, Recio, Natalie, Marie & Krystal)

Our hostess Natalie Marletta, seen above, arranged this unforgettable day. Apparently it’s quite rare to be able to access this private island, but as Recio likes to say, Natalie is the First Lady of Fiji and can make things happen! And boy did she. She gave us a day that we’ll remember for a lifetime. I so look forward to her next visit to LA so that Recio and I can return the favor. We don’t have a private island for her, but we’ve got the Polo Lounge and the Bel-Air Hotel, so we’ll see what she fancies when she arrives.

When it came time to leave the island, the Lawaki Delight had beached itself due to low tide, so an even smaller boat back took us back to our hydrofoil. I absolutely love the shot I got of this little metal rowboat coming ashore to fetch us. It captures the serene beauty of this truly magical place. Thank you again Natalie.

Where Art Inspires Beauty

Seven Magic Mountains near Las Vegas

Inside the How House, by Architect R.M. Schindler

Salvador Dali on view in Beverly Hills

Revisiting the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

A Day at Fiji’s Beqa Island

A Design Diary by Romi Cortier