Friday, January 6, 2012

Brian Goggin at SMF

A friend traveling sent me some photos from the Sacramento airport of public art so whimsical it had to be shared.Brian Goggin created 2 sculptures entitled "Samson" that surround columns in the SMF baggage claim area. The 700 pieces of hard case luggage seem to balance precariously, 23 feet high, on luggage carts bearing the piece's name.And don't forget local building codes -the fire alarm is still intact......in the midst of the luggage!

Many thanks to Bob for the photos!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Small inventions

Nothing pretty today, but I had to share with you the coolest feature of my apartment in Paris. The trash can was located under the sink on the back of the kitchen cabinet door, with a string connecting the lid to the side of the cabinet.

When the door was opened wide, the string would pull the lid open! I had never seen anything like this (do I live under a rock?). Simple but ingenius! Have you seen anything similar?

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

What would you call these?

Following yesterday's topic, these eagle telamons (I hesitate to call them caryatids as they're so masculine looking) which grace the Italian embassy in Prague have my attention. Originally the Kolowrat-T​hun Palace, the baroque palace was built in 1726 by G. A. Lurago and B. Scotti. Does anyone know if brackets like these have a specific name?

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Telamons

Lest you think I've foresaken my classical roots in favor of more modern fare, these Telamons (the male counterpart to the caryatid) in Paris stopped me dead in my tracks. Sculpted by (Sylvain?) Kinsburger in 1905 for this apartment building by the Parisian architect Auguste Joseph Garriguenc, they certainly make for a grand entrance!