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!

Marie Antoinette's desk

You may remember an apartment I featured awhile back that belonged to my friend Henry, HERE. Henry is interested in the age of enlightenment and in the arts of the time period; remember his visit to Versailles where he shared some of his pictures of the beautiful woodwork? He was kind enough to put together a post for me about a recent piece he saw that he thought we would all enjoy. Here is a delightful Louis XVI writing table I discovered at the National Gallery of Art. Superstar cabinetmaker Jean Henri Riesener made the table for Marie Antoinette in 1785. The table was at the Tuileries Palace, where the royal couple lived three years until their guillotine visit in 1793. The table is a perfect example of the Louis XVI style. It is symmetrical and rectilinear; and outlined in gilt bronze rope beading. A parquetry trellis pattern covers the tabletop, fenced three-quarters by a gilt bronze gallery.On the table’s sides, gilt bronze bas-relief putti play musical instruments in the clouds, flanked by “grills” of alternating palmettes and fluting. Two-toned parquetry echoing the tabletop edge lends depth to the tapered legs, which terminate in gilt bronze leaf-cast sabots. In a candlelit palace, the elegant table would shimmer in delicate golden outline. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette idealized virtue, simplicity and reason. They associated these ideals with the ancient Romans. In furniture design, Roman motifs like fluting, putti and acanthus leaves symbolized these ideals. The symbolism was ironic in the context of the controversially lavish royal lifestyle. Marie Antoinette’s writing table (Widener Collection 1942.9.407) is on display in Basement Gallery 11 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Thank you!!

I had a package waiting for me in the mail today. Patricia from PVE and her friend who works at Wiley sent me a care package of two books to thank me for guest blogging! This made my day :-) Honestly, I was so excited to guest blog that it was thanks enough (but I will still keep the books!). Here they are on my coffee table waiting to be read!The first book has stunning photographs of buildings from the turn of the 19th century in Paris. This book explores where the period's stunning architecture came from and how it evolved from its predecessors. It's really interesting in that it studies a lot of the 'not famous' buildings that you don't normally study -I can't wait to dig into it further!!The second book, and my favorite because it has floor plans (I could look at floor plans all day long, it's an addiction) is about the work of Baillie Scott and is entitled 'the artistic house'.

Scott had a long career as an architect from 1892 till 1939 in the English Arts and Crafts style. This book is wonderful -the homes in it are just magical and so special. I especially like that many of the homes have been altered somewhat and you see the evolution (pvc drainpipes and all!). He is credited for being one of the first architects to use the 'open floor plan' so popular in the last century and opening the house to the garden and outdoors. 'Blackwell House'

These houses pictured are charming, not overbearingly large and many little nooks and corners full of delightful detail. Like a lot of other idealistic architects of the time period, he was obsessed with the idea of perfect houses for everyday people -workingmen.1901 - Baillie Scott -interior

Thanks so much again, both of you!!

Travel

I've had travel on my mind lately due to my guest blogging over at PVE on the art of travel. I keep thinking of all the places I have yet to visit that are must -sees! Probably #1 on my list is Venice.I've heard people says it is touristy, over-rated or smelly, but nothing beats the romance and beauty of that crumbly, mouldy city in all its excess. I think my love affair with the city began when I first saw 'A room with a view' at a very young age. Many of my favorite artists over time have also been obsessed with this fair city. I've heard it compared to Stockholm, which I know very well, but the images from Venice are just so much more appealing (even though Stockholm is amazing!).

What exactly is the draw of this fair city? Please leave stories, must-sees and your own impressions of Venice in comments! Hopefully one day soon I'll be able to experience it for myself!

PVE

For the next week I'll be guest blogging for Patricia at PVE DESIGN. For those of you who don't know her, her blog is full of her delightful illustrations. She has an interest in interior design and comes from a background in fashion. I'm posting a series of her illustrations on the art of travel this week while she is in Paris (doing the real thing!). Check her out!