Le Corbusier at work on Sainte Marie de la Tourette, Eveux-Sur-Arbresle, 1959 Photograph by René Burri
Over the weekend I attended the preview of Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes at MoMA. As promised, this is a seriously comprehensive exhibition beginning with his early life and work in Switzerland and culminating with the last projects before his death in 1965 on the beach near his beloved cottage in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the French Riviera. I am a huge fan and it was a dream to see all of this work — including sketches, paintings, architectural models, plans and elevations and so on — organized chronologically in one space to get an even better sense of the evolution and process of one of the most important architects and designers of the twentieth century. Most intriguing for me were actually Le Corbusier’s many paintings, so evocative of the modern movement in the 1920s and 30s, and also his religious buildings. The latter because I didn’t know that aspect of his work as well and because I have always been fascinated with modernist-designed places of worship. These structures number three in total — Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut, Sainte Marie de la Tourette and Sainte Pierre de Firminy — all built in France. The last of which, Saint Pierre de Firminy, was just completed in 2006, more than 40 years after it was conceived. The church of Saint Pierre was finished under the direction of José Oubrerie, an architect who worked for Le Corbusier from 1957 to 1965, and who in fact helped in the design of the edifice from its very beginning during those years. Quite remarkable. www.moma.org
I have recently had the great privilege of seeing Five Dances, the beautiful new film by Alan Brown. It is visually stunning with simply the studio and the city as the backdrop. The music is perfectly chosen, including an exquisite original score by Nicholas Wright, and very much becomes the sixth element or dance in this film. Cast entirely with professional dancers, the acting is quiet and intimate. It is almost impossible not to feel close to the characters and quite drawn in to the film. And of course the movement and dance are mesmerizing, created by internationally renowned choreographer Jonah Bokaer. Five Dances, in keeping with Brown’s previous films,is indeed a work of art. https://fivedancesthemovie.com/
We have a weakness for all things letterpress and can’t wait to be among the first to see the new designs from SMOCK on Wednesday! Hope to see you there!
I have just finished reading The Painted Girls — a great new work of historical fiction. Set in Belle Époque Paris, The Painted Girls tells the story of the Van Goethem sisters, students (les petits rats) at the Paris Opéra Ballet School. The middle sister, Marie, was the real-life model for Edgar Degas’ rather revolutionary sculpture, Little Dancer Aged 14. Degas, the Opéra, known criminals of the day and evenÉmile Zola are all characters in Buchanan’s rich, captivating novel. Her juxtaposition of the beauty of the ballet, the ParisOpéra and the entire era with the ugliness and despair of the daily lives of the Van Goethem sisters and the world from which they come and seemingly cannot escape is immensely powerful. Most profound though is the deep and quite exquisite relationship between these sisters. The Painted Girls (Penguin Group, 2013)
With Venice on my mind this week, I have been thinking about one of my favorite spots in this wonderful city — the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Located right on the Grand Canal in her beloved home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, it houses her renowned collection of modern masterworks as well as special exhibitions — a Robert Motherwell show just opened this week. Peggy lived at Palazzo Venier dei Leoni from 1949 until her death in 1979 and opened it to the public every summer in order to share her growing collection. I love the Palazzo and all of the works of art therein, but I especially love the sculpture garden which is also the buriel site of Peggy’s many dogs and Peggy herself. I find it the perfect place to sit and imagine the extraordinary life that was lived there. www.guggenheim-venice.it/inglese/news.php
Today begins the previews of la Biennale di Venezia — the 55th International Art Exhibition in Venice. We love Venice best at just this time, at the start of the Biennale, when the city is full of the contemporary art world’s most notable figures and an energy and vibe that is almost unmatched. The Director of this year’s exhibition, titled Il Palazzo Enciclopedico (The Encyclopedic Palace), is the New Museum’s Massimiliano Gioni — perhaps making for the most impactful Biennale yet.
The Biennale is open to the public from June 1 – November 24, 2013.
We have just made our summer travel plans to Maine which now always include dinner at one of our favorite restaurants — Petite Jacqueline in Portland. Named after owner Michelle Corry’s grandmother, Petite Jacqueline is my kind of perfect. The casual, light-filled space seems always lively, the carafe wine is exactly right and the food is outstanding. In fact, I have had the best escargots of my life at Petite Jacqueline. Not in Paris, but in Portland. I so wish this was my neighborhood bistro and, the truth is, I think about it all year long. If you find yourself in the great city of Portland, you must give a try. www.bistropj.com
