Ian
priscilla 1The Guggenheim Turns 50
November 18th 2009 01:38
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opened its doors on October 21, 1959 and is one of the best-known museums in New York City and one of the 20th century's most important architectural landmarks. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the museum––which is often called simply The Guggenheim––is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art, and also features special exhibitions throughout the year. Located on the Upper East Side in New York City it is the second museum opened by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation which was founded in 1937. The 50th year anniversary of the Frank Lloyd Wright building occurred on October 21, 2009. The Museum recently underwent an extensive, three year renovation.
In celebration of the anniversary, these are some historical pictures from the Guggenheim in New York. Images and information sourced from Life.com, read the full article here.
The glass and steel dome above the Guggenheim's rotunda, with its finely balanced mix of geometric and natural, arched shapes, is the sort of detailed touch for which Frank Lloyd Wright was justly renowned.
Many Guggenheim aficionados swear that the only way to truly enjoy Wright's design is to ride the elevator to the top of the ramp, and then view the artwork while walking down. Others are equally adamant that walking up the ramp and looking at art at the same time is, literally, a nauseating experience.
The famous dome gleams as if new after the museum's 2007-2008 renovation.
The Guggenheim—especially now, after it has been 'fixed' to more accurately reflect the architect's original hopes and ideas for what it could be—captures much that makes Wright's work so distinctive and revolutionary. It is at once austere and welcoming, hinting at self-aware humour without falling into the self-indulgent traps (cuteness, or weirdness for weirdness' sake) that bedevil so much post-WWII public architecture. It is a marvellous contradiction: a museum for the people, designed by an arrogant, narcissistic, American visionary.
*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article for Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
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