#chrysler museum

[krispyweiss]

Paul McCartney’s “Eyes of the Storm” Comes to America

- Photo exhibit on display at Virginia’s Chrysler Museum through April 7

Mirroring the Beatles’ taking of England before conquering America, Paul McCartney’s new photo exhibit lands in the States after debuting in London town.

“Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm” is on display at Virginia’s Chrysler Museum through April 7, 2024.

“What struck me about these images, beyond their obvious historical value, was McCartney’s sensitivity to his subjects,” museum director Erik Neil, said in a statement. “The empathy that is at the center of his music is equally evident in his photographs.”

The collection includes 275 recently discovered images McCartney shot between November 1963 and February 1964 and promptly forgot about. The negatives were found in 2020 and made into a book that shares the exhibit’s name.

“Looking at these photos now, … I find there’s a sort of innocence about them,” McCartney said in a statement.

“Everything was new to us at this point. But I like to think I wouldn’t take them any differently today. They now bring back so many stories, a flood of special memories, which is one of the many reasons I love them all, and know that they will always fire my imagination.”

“Eyes of the Storm” finished its London run in October.

12/8/23

[starseneyes]

Museum Kids

I grew up in a bygone era—when school field trips were plentiful and adventurous. My mother worked 80 hour weeks on film sets, including Fraturday schedules. So, she lacked the time and energy to take us places like that.

School took us all over. Aquariums. Historical forts. Islands protected from human involvement. State Zoos. Amusement Parks. Disney World. Museums. State Fairs. And this was public school in the 90's!

My kids have the benefit of a mother and father with (relatively) normal hours who are teamed up to raise them. I love museums, so I started taking them in infancy. Not just to Children's Museums... but to art museums. And, guess what? They love them.

I remember the first time I took all three to Norfolk alone to visit the Chrysler Museum of Art. My Littlest was not quite 2, and the twins were nearing 5. I remember gripping their hands, hoping it was a good idea.

At one point, my Middle child released my hand and ran away from me. I panicked, a moment. He is Autistic and prone to wandering. But, he ran only a few feet and planted himself in front of a frame on the wall. In a room full of paintings, he found the only Degas.

"That's beautiful," he breathed as he stood and marveled.

So, rather than chide him for running off, I told him a bit about the painting and artist. He listened, took my hand back in his, and we kept exploring.

This week, the Littles and Matthew (school teacher) are on Spring Break. It's tough for me because I still have to work while they are all home, but I shift my schedule so we can take outtings in the afternoon together.

Today, we visited that same museum for the first time in a bit. The children (now ages 6, 9 and 9) were enthused, especially taken by the Venetian Glass exhibit after we've been watching the show Blown Away.

The twins fell in love with a piece of art that allowed them to see one another instead of their own reflection, and decided together they wanted to stage this pose. Don't worry, they aren't touching the glass, but holding their hands close enough to complete the illusion.

Neither saw their own reflection... only each other. And as twins who each came from a different Fallopian tube and then affixed to the opposite positions (front and back) of my uterus, the mirroring seemed beautifully appropriate.

But the best moment for me was standing in the Modern Art wing with my Littlest looking at a massive piece on the wall covered in Mardis Gras beads and lots of color.

6yo: Mama? Do they have any Picasso? Me: They've had Picasso exhibits before, but I don't think they have any right now.

A woman walking by overheard me and gave me a quizzical look. She pointed behind me and uttered a single word: "Picasso".

There was a massive Picasso right behind me. After laughing at myself, the Littlest posed in front of it for a photo.

The children made little drawings to add to the collection on the wall, and we journeyed through so many beautiful pieces of art.

My Middle leaned against my arm as we walked, whispering the meanings he saw. Littlest cheered at the rainbow room of glass. And Eldest looked for everything that was new between our last visit and this one.

On the way out of town, we stopped at Doumars for grilled cheeses and ice cream for the Littles, then at Zeke's for poké bowls for the grownups.

It was a lovely afternoon. And I sit here in such awe that my Littles are museum kids. I hope they grow up to be museum grownups! One can hope, right?

[thefairfeline]

[photoreeper]

Dat face tho

[fatchance]

Tactual Stimulation, Dafna Kaffeman, 2007, flameworked glass filaments.

At the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia.

[brooklynmuseum]

“My work is timeless because it’s based on the beauty of the human body and the fascinating world we live in,” said Thierry Mugler.

Never one to shy away from daring endeavors, Mugler staged photoshoots in some of the world’s most breathtaking settings including: icebergs in Greenland, the White Sand of New Mexico, and the Tlalpan Chapel in Mexico City to name a few. 

Here, Claude Heidemeyer poses on the edge of the Chrysler Building for an aptly-named photograph, “Vertigo,” in 1988. Mugler’s keen eye as a director resulted in photographs and campaigns that helped to convey his exhilarating point of view.

See more of Mugler’s photography as part of Thierry Mugler: Couturissime on view now.

📷 Thierry Mugler (French, 1948–2022). Chrysler Building, New York, 1988. Claude Heidemeyer in “Vertigo” by Mugler, 1988. Photographic print, 35 11/16 × 23 7/8 in. (90.6 × 60.6 cm). Courtesy of Mugler Archives. © Thierry Mugler

[arthistoryanimalia]

t’s #NationalShrimpDay so it’s the perfect excuse to share this 😛

Woman With Shrimp, c.1930s

Ercole Barovier (Italian, 1889-1974) for Barovier & Toso (Italian)

Blown & solid-worked glass

13.5x4.75x7.5 in. (34.3x12.1x19.1 cm)

The Chrysler Museum of Art 97.42.9

[statelibraryqueensland]

Christmas poster featuring a koala dressed in Santa hat and boots ca 1920. (LINK)

[goghvanwillemvincent]

Orestes Pursued by the Furies (1862) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825–1905)

[longlistshort]

Even if fashion isn’t something you normally find interesting, it’s hard to resist the allure of the creations on view at the Brooklyn Museum for the retrospective Thierry Mugler: Couturissime.

From the museum’s web page-

Thierry Mugler: Couturissime is the first retrospective to explore the fascinating, edgy universe of French designer and creator of iconic perfumes Thierry Mugler. A fashion visionary, Mugler established himself as one of the most daring and innovative designers of the late twentieth century. His bold silhouettes and unorthodox techniques and materials—including glass, Plexiglas, vinyl, latex, and chrome—made their mark on fashion history.

In the 1970s, Mugler defined trends with his acclaimed “glamazon,” a chic, modern woman whose style evolved from the hippie fashions of the 1960s. In the 1980s and ’90s, Mugler galvanized the renaissance of haute couture through his provocative collections and theatrical fashion shows, which involved grandiose locations and the era’s most iconic models. Just as his work is still influencing new generations of couturiers, celebrities continue to be drawn to Mugler’s designs: his classic gowns have recently been worn by Beyoncé, Cardi B, and Kim Kardashian.

The exhibition features over one hundred outfits ranging from haute couture pieces to stage costumes, alongside custom accessories, sketches, videos, images by leading fashion photographers, and spectacular installations that mirror Mugler’s futuristic approach. The Brooklyn Museum’s presentation also introduces an expanded section dedicated to fragrance, centered on Mugler’s trailblazing scent Angel. Thierry Mugler: Couturissime is an opportunity to discover and rediscover the fantastical work of this multidisciplinary artist, who revolutionized the world of fashion.

A description of the above gown from the museum’s info plaque-

The “La Chimère” gown-Mugler’s masterpiece made in collaboration with the South African corset maker Mr. Pearl and the artist Jean-Jacques Urcun- has mythical status, considered by some as one of the most expensive creations in couture history, given the meticulous amount of work required in its making.

Mr. Pearl describes that collaboration with Mugler as the most extreme experience of his life: “[‘La Chimère gown] was probably the most intense project, it took six weeks working 24/7, so basically more than one thousand hours just in embroidery. We were about twenty people working on different parts of it along with Jean-Jacques Urcun. It’s about fantasy, it was like going to the University of Beauty. To fulfill his vision and his fantasies with clothes is already a challenge, he is a genius, a perfectionist. You have to try, and he pushes everyone to try what seems impossible to achieve with a needle.”

Also included in the exhibition are several incredible (and often safety-defying) photos Mugler took himself at various landmarks, including the one below at NYC’s Chrysler Building.

(“Chrysler Building, New York”, 1989 -Claude Heidemeyer in “Vertigo” by Mugler, 1988)

This exhibition closes 5/7/23.

[afragmentcastadrift]

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm exhibit, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA

Plus bonus angle from the next room - a glance from across the ages

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1928 Plymouth Business Coupe

The Walter Chrysler Museum's Amazing Cars Collection

[fuckinuhhh]

Take a Walk 06/30/2023

Welcome back to my daily walk diaries. Today we walked around between 5th ave and Park Ave because I was going to check out the Morgan Library & Museum (which if you live in NYC and you didn't know they have free friday's, they do). Anyways I was a little early for the entry time so I walked around and here were the buildings that caught my eye. If you want to listen to the music I was listening to while you read this, I made a playlist of it. Buckle in, this might be a long one.

Edit: As I was writing this entry I accidentally deleted ~1.5 hrs of work so Im going to keep this rewrite real brief. sry :/

The Robb House

Built 1892

Architect: Stanford White

Fellow Architect/architectural critic of the time Russel Sturgis (who I love) said of this building, "not a palace, but a fit dwelling house for a first-rate citizen."

Curious as to whether one of those medallions on the third floor was replaced since they're slightly different.

The Haviland Building/Lightolier Building/Morgan Lofts

Built 1912, unknown architect

The interesting split facades and bell tower are without a doubt what grabbed my eye.

Funny enough they also stood out on the back of the building when I took a trip around the block without even realizing they were the same building!

Next we have Tiffany & Co.'s second building, built after their previous cast-iron store at Union Square, and as a posthumous completion in honor of Tiffany founder, Charles Tiffany.

Built 1905

Architect: Stanford White! (yes again)

Just look at those Corinthian orders! This building is massive.

(Now is probably a good time to bring up my camera situation.) I've been shooting these on my iPhone 8 mainly because my only other camera is film, and because of it's convenience. However I may end up getting another camera so that my pictures don't come out with such poor quality. (I wish I remember how I worded this during the first take of this post, it was much better)

This is the CUNY Graduates Building, formerly known as its original identity the B. Altman department store. The past 3 buildings in fact were part of a push up 5th ave from Barclay's St downtown where Haviland's, Tiffany's, and Altman all had stores previously.

Built 1906

Architect: Trowbridge & Livingston

The back of the Altman building has this interesting moment where seemingly 3 portions of the building meet. I say 3 instead of the obvious division of the top addition only because if you look closely at the roof overhang on the left, it turns 90 degrees into the building before the 4th window in.

Regardless this transition between is artfully done both between the front and the back, as well as between the base and the upper addition in the reference but not direct copying of window/facade themes.

The Stewart Building

Built 1914

Architect: Whitney Warren

(Bonus picture of the proximity to the Empire State Building)

Right across the street from the Tiffany building lies this beautifully ornamented loft/department building with terracotta tiles said to resemble Josiah Wedgwood jasperware pottery.

Before we get to the Chrysler building this building caught my eye with it's geometric ornamentation on the facade of the building, which I assumed was to fit in amongst the foothills of such an icon in Art Deco Architecture.

This is the Socony-Mobil Building

Built in 1956

Architect: Harrison & Abramovitz

The Icon in question, The Chrysler Building.

Built 1930

Architect: William Van Allen

There is a wealth of knowledge on the internet about this art deco beauty, but I'm just going to give you my brief takeaway.

First, that entry way!!! I'm in love, its so grand and those angles are so pleasing to look at. There is one on each side of the building facing the street and boy oh boy it does not lose it's charm the second time you see it.

I also wanted to point out that, um, the base of the building is not centered????? I had literally no idea prior to this but if you look, in the third picture there are three bays of windows to the right of the center and five bays to the left. No your eyes aren't tricking you that's really how it looks in person.

In the tune of imperfections to such a seemingly pristine design, the backwall isn't actually perpendicular to the road or to the rest of the building. It wanders off at some other angle as seen in the fourth picture.

I give it a 9/10 still, it's imperfections are even more reason to love it. They give it an organic beauty that art deco even tends to reference and emphasize, the beauty in natural forms.

Right around the corner of the Chrysler Building is Tudor City, and here are just some highlights. In the order of most difficult things to photograph, these buildings are all built up in a style I like to call the princess tower style with an elaborate penthouse on top. Here are some of the highlights of this group of blocks on the east side.

45 Tudor City Pl. (pics 1 & 2) aka Prospect Tower & St. Albans Church Built 1927, the worlds first residential housing skyscraper Architect: H. Douglas Ives

Around the corner (which regrettably is not pictured) is Harry Osborne's penthouse in the Spider-man movies at 5 Tudor City Pl. aka Windsor Tower

The Church of the Covenant (pic 3) Built 1871 Architect: J. Cleveland Cady

Woodstock Tower (pic 4) Built 1929 Architect: H. Douglas Ives

(pics 5-7) The Cloister & The Manor Built 1927 & 1928 Architect: H. Douglas Ives I think this is also an interesting marrying of facade courses.

[ajl1963]

Deco Doings - March, 2023

[fatchance]

Gold figure, 1000 - 1500 CE, from Veraguas (modern Columbia).

I don't know the significance of the sour expression, but I can certainly relate.

At the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia.

[boylikelinus]

Escher exhibit today.