Architecture

New York’s Renovated St. Patrick’s Cathedral

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

St. Patrick's Cathedral, NYC, Photo Romi Cortier — St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NYC, Photo Romi Cortier

When I walked into the renovated St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York this last October, I felt like I was walking into Notre Dame in Paris. It’s not surprising that I felt that way, because St. Patrick’s is 24 feet taller. Her glorious vaulted ceilings, made from lumber and plaster, have been painted to look like stone blocks with sepia-toned mortar between them. Combine that with soaring stained glass windows, which were recently cleaned and repaired by Botti Studio, and you have a breathtaking experience. To protect the windows for future generations, a protective glazing was added to the exterior of the windows. To prevent condensation build-up which might cause damage to the windows over time, pieces of stained glass in each window were opened inward ever so slightly to increase air circulation.

The structure itself is 19th Century Gothic Revival Architecture, dating to 1879, whereas Notre Dame is French Gothic Architecture, and dates to 1163. The Gothic Period traditionally dates from the 12th century to the 16th century, whereas the Gothic Revival Period is a mid 19th century period from about 1830 – 1860.

The $177 million renovations were complete several months ahead of time to prepare for Pope Francis’s visit in September of 2015. It was pure luck that I planned my visit to New York in early October as part of a siblings get-away weekend to celebrate my sister’s 50th birthday. We left no stone unturned during our 4 day extravaganza, including a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, an afternoon at Coney Island, lunch at the Boat House on Central Park, seeing Wicked at the Gershwin Theater, a visit to Tiffany’s, and lots and lots of window shopping for fun photos, which I’ll be sharing on my blog over the coming weeks.

While I’m not a religious guy, I still marvel at the ingenuity of Cathedrals and their ability to make us feel closer to god, or at least closer to our creative source. Creativity and breathing go hand in hand for myself and many of my friends. Our creative inspiration made into reality is the completion of a dream. My chosen mantra for 2016: Make more of your dreams come true.

Learn more about the Cathedral HERE

Window Display

Rodeo Drive Holiday Window Display

December 26, 2015 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Dior, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Coach, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Versace, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Ralph Lauren, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Bijon, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier — Bijan, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Dolce Gabbana, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

Hermes, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Holiday 2015, Photo Romi Cortier

I Love strolling down Rodeo Drive to enjoy the Holiday Window Displays. No matter what my mood, I’m always happier for having made the trip. If you’ve read my previous posts, then you know what a fan I am of this art form.

Every retailer has a different point of view when it comes to luxury branding, which is what makes the experience so enriching. I’m not normally a Ralph Lauren kinda guy, but when I saw their window displays, one of which included a black jacquard tuxedo jacket, it made me swoon for a chic 2016 New Years eve party to attend. And when it comes to feeling like a king, who wouldn’t want the gilded throne in the windows of Dolce Gabbana. Where on earth do they find such spectacular items? They must have a wear house stacked with European treasures solely for this purpose. I didn’t think I was a fan of Bijan, but the black and white striped ties for their formal attire were simply stunning. I also loved the peacock inspired windows at Coach. Do they dismantle and reuse those materials, or are they stored away for a hopeful museum show? As I’ve said before, I would so love to have something like that hanging in my home. I find it much more interesting then some of the modern or contemporary art I see hanging in museums. And when it comes to ingenuity, Marc-Philippe Guerig takes the cake for his floating octopus in the windows of Hermes.

There’s still another week left in the 2015 holiday season, so if you’re anywhere near Rodeo Drive and Wilshire boulevard, take a walk or a late night drive and soak up some of this amazingness.

Art

Picasso Sculpture at MoMa

December 5, 2015 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Sheet Metal Sculpture, Pablo Picasso, MOMA, NYC, Photo Romi Cortier

Pablo Picasso Sculpture, MOMA, NYC, Photo Romi Cortier

Pablo Picasso, Sheet Metal Sculpture, MOMA, NYC, Photo Romi Cortier

Pablo Picasso Sculpture, MOMA, NYC, Photo Romi Cortier

I’m not usually into sculpture, but I knew that I didn’t dare miss the Picasso Sculpture exhibit at MoMa while visiting New York this last October. My instincts were right, the show was beyond extraordinary. Over 150 pieces filled room after room after room at MoMa. This is only the second time that this large of an exhibition has ever been assembled to celebrate this lesser known side of Picasso’s unending talent. Hommage a Picasso was a large Paris retrospective in 1966 that introduced the sculptures to the public. Until then, his experimental pieces had been kept in his private collection throughout his lifetime. In 1967 The Museum of Modern Art organized The Sculptures of Picasso, which until now was the first and only exhibition on this continent to display a large number of the artist’s sculptures.

As I walked from room to room it was easy to associate specific works with his paintings. The Guitar sheet metal sculpture nearly stopped me in my tracks. I could have spent an hour studying it. The shadows created by the lighting were sublime. I felt like I was participating in a cubist painting in the making, seeing the object from multiple points of view. The experience was luxurious. I have to give huge props to the curatorial staff and the lighting designers. The shadows cast by the sculptures were equally as interesting. The bronze goat with all of its texture, the smooth bronze woman in the bustle dress that made me think of the Victorian Era, the woman pushing the stroller who felt like someone out of the 1940’s. Such richness in detail. So personal. So beautifully crafted. Why have these been kept out of the public view for so long? The curators say that this will probably be the only time in our lifetime that these precious objects will all be brought together on such a grand scale. So if you’re anywhere near New York City, you must make time to see this show.

The exhibit closes February 7, 2016.

Picasso Sculpture at MoMa

Architecture

Gore Vidal’s Hollywood Hills Estate Listed for Sale

November 19, 2015 romicortier@yahoo.com 1 Comment

Gore Vidal Living Room on the evening of his memorial. Photo Romi Cortier — Gore Vidal Living Room and Ceiling Mural on the Evening of his Memorial. Photo Romi Cortier

Gore Vidal Dining Room on the Evening of his Memorial. Photo Romi Cortier

Gore Vidal Door Detail of Dining Room, Evening of his memorial. Photo Romi Cortier — Gore Vidal Door Detail of Dining Room, Evening of his Memorial. Photo Romi Cortier

Gore Vidal 2nd story Stain Glass Window on the Evening of his Memorial. Photo Romi Cortier

Gore Vidal Dining Room Chair from the Set of Ben Hur Photo Romi Cortier — Gore Vidal Dining Room Chair from the Set of Ben-Hur. Photo Romi Cortier

Gore Vidal Memorial at his Hollywood Hills Home, Photo Romi Cortier

Gore Vidal’s Hollywood Hills Estate just hit the market for $5,695,000. Clearly the above photos are not from the MLS, but rather photos I took on my iphone while attending Gore’s memorial service at the home a couple of years ago. I never intended to share these photos, but now that the home has hit the market, I find it fascinating to see the current incarnation of the home. I will also say that I felt very lucky to be invited to the memorial, even though I never had the pleasure of meeting him.

Each piece of furniture had a story, like the chair shown above from the set of Ben Hur. The walls previously soft yellow, cast a yellow glow in each of my photos, nearly impossible to color correct. From what his family members told me, that’s the way everyones photos in the house turned out. Now, the home has been white washed to look clean and modern. All of the furniture has been put into storage, for possible auction at a later time, and the home beautifully staged. I recently renovated a property in Palm Springs, and did the same thing with my rental property there, going from soft white to Ultra Pure White. It’s clean. It’s fresh. And it’s blank canvas for anyone coming in who might want to put their own stamp on the home.

This Mediterranean villa was built in 1929 and measures in at 4,782 square feet, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as a self contained guest house. Original architectural details include terra-cotta floor tiles, hand-carved fireplaces, scrolled wrought iron accents and thick plaster walls. The two story foyer features an exposed beam ceiling, a paneled library with glass fronted bookcases as well as a separate den with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Up on the hillside behind the garage and guesthouse, is a secluded swimming pool surrounded with trees.

The home is quite extraordinary, and loaded with history. I hope the next occupants of the home will embrace its richness, and not erase it, as so often happens in Los Angeles.

Learn more here

Window Display

Crimson Peak at Bergdorf Goodman

October 16, 2015 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

The Gothic Romance film Crimson Peak opens in theaters today, and Bergdorf Goodman in New York has created these superbly ghostly windows in honor of today’s premiere.

What a thrill to be in Manhattan for only a few days and have the pleasure of seeing these spooky ooky windows. If you’ve ever seen their windows, then you know what works of art they are, they’re theater in their own right. And to be honest, I really didn’t know what Crimson Peak was until I googled it. I just thought these were some crazy cool pre Halloween Windows. But once I saw the film trailer and it all clicked. All I know is that I make it a top priority to see their windows, no matter what time of day or night. And lets face it, night time is the best time to see windows like these.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the film stars Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain. Set in Cumbria, England, in the late 19th Century (translates to spectacular costumes) the crumbling mansion harbors ghostly and mysterious entities. The estate, owned by siblings Lady Lucille Sharpe (Chastain) and Sir Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston), is the setting for Edith Cushing’s (Wasikowska) romance and marriage to Sir Thomas Sharpe… who isn’t who he appears to be. That said, this film looks to be the perfect Halloween romp that might scare the pantaloons right off you. Imdb gives it four stars, and Rotten Tomatoes gives it three and a half.

Where Art Inspires Beauty

New York’s Renovated St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Rodeo Drive Holiday Window Display

Picasso Sculpture at MoMa

Gore Vidal’s Hollywood Hills Estate Listed for Sale

Crimson Peak at Bergdorf Goodman

A Design Diary by Romi Cortier