Get decorated

Happy Decoration day / Memorial Day! Don't forget to remember your passed loved ones and those who have so bravely fought for our freedoms. I decided last minute to stay in town and because of the hot weather have been nesting. Lilies from the Dupont farmers market.

Dancing in the streets

A lot of life was just added to New York Avenue here in DC recently thanks to the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

A series of sculpture exhibits is planned in the upcoming 5 years for a rather soul-less section of New York Avenue right downtown near the White House (between 12 and 13th streets). The first artist selected for the series is Niki de Saint Phalle, best known for her Stravinsky Fountain in front of the Pompidou Center in Paris.

Her large and colorful sculptures bring a smile to the face of everyone who sees them. The expressions they evoke are of pure joy and exuberance, just what dreary downtown needs sometimes! Even while taking these pictures, I got a lot of comments on how great they were.

The sculptures are in stark contrast to much of the art that is featured throughout the city: overwhelmingly traditional and much of it very staid and seriously themed.

The purpose of the exhibit is to bring the museum into the streets and the community. I think it will also bring some attention to NMWA which I have to admit I've never visited, despite living a mere 3 blocks away!

Saint Phalle liked to challenge the notion of what fine art is, and these pieces are no exception. Whimsical yet still monumental, I would imagine a lot of people enjoy these pieces a lot more than they would a trip to their local museum (or so they would think). Art is to be enjoyed, and these are undoubtably joyful!

They celebrate women, children, cultural diversity and love. I think we can all get behind those subjects.
Every 1 to 3 years, the installation will be changed out, but I hope this one remains longer rather than not. Even the signage for Saint Phalle is fun!Do you have a favorite local statue or exhibit to bring a smile to your face everyday? I would love to hear about it!

National Cathedral

One of the grandest monuments in DC which dominates the skyline is the National Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul (Episcopalian). As the 2nd largest church in the United States and 6th in the world, that comes as no surprise. It also holds the record as the highest point in DC, a fact that's easy to believe when you stand on the 7th floor observation deck surveying the entire city!The idea was rooted in Pierre L'Enfant's 1791 plan of DC for the need of a church of national significance. It wasn't until 1907 that construction began (with President Theodore Roosevelt presiding the foundation laying ceremony) and the Cathedral was officially 'finished' in 1990 with President George H W Bush in attendance. It has indeed been of national importance as it has been host to numerous state funerals and memorial services.The original architect was Frederick Bodley, a well-known English architect, who was replaced upon his death after WWI with Philip Hubert Frohman - who developed and expanded upon the original plans. Much like it's predecessors, the great European middle age cathedrals, the style is primarily gothic. However, the difference lies in the fact that while the churches in Europe were built over centuries (explaining their varied styles throughout the buildings), the national cathedral was purposefully built as a 'hodgepodge' to appear like the precedents: So a 'fake' evolved style if you will. It makes it all the more interesting!What I love most about the building though is that while it is rooted in the gothic cathedral tradition, there is a lot of our modern world at play. Many of the stained glass windows and sculptures depict our modern age: robots, space travel and even Darth Vader!The National Cathedral is, to me, an Opera of a building. By that I mean it combines all the arts into one package: secular and religious, modern and antique, embroidery, stained glass, architecture, sculpture, gardens, painting. You name it, they have it. Not to mention the views of the city!

Now for some of the delicious details. The one side transept (I forget which and both are different) has this beautiful blue ceiling. I love the juxtoposition of patterns! In the pictures above, you almost sense the scale of the space, ENORMOUS. I love the groin vaulting in the ceiling and the way the stained glass adds so much color to the Indiana Limestone interior.Like all good gothic cathedrals, here are the flying buttresses behind the rear chapel.I loved the adjoining buildings of the cathedral school - like an old English country manor!
The basement level is of course a bit gloomy, but full of as many details and workmanship as the rest of the cathedral. I loved this view looking up the stairs into the main church.

In this capital on the outside, you see a bit of the modern 'edge' - a robot amongst the figures!As our national cathedral, much of our countries history is depicted. This statue of Abraham Lincoln rests in the front of the nave.Above one of the interior front doors is Eleanor Roosevelt among some others who are celebrated for their good work.I loved this modern iron gate down in the basement. The handle is a large iron hummingbird.The craftsmanship of everything in the building is breathtaking. Even this simple handrail is so elegant. Thousands of hand embroidered cushions fill the space -each one amazing in its' own right. This one fits with the space travel themed stained glass windows.

Now you can't say "They don't build them like they used to"; 'They' still do - occasionally!

All photos taken during my visit last weekend, May 15th, 2010.

Make no little plans

Daniel Burnham, architect and city planner, said about his master plans for Chicago and also the World's Columbian exhibition:
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die

Burnham could just have as easily been talking about his plans for Washington DC and the National Mall, known as the McMillan Plan. Burnham was also the architect for one of my favorite buildings in DC, right off the National Mall pictured here: Union Station.On June 9th at 8:30pm, the film Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City will be shown on the National Mall at 4th street NW. Joan Allen, the film's narrator, will be attending. You may be familiar with the screen on the green series, which I love; just call this a precursor to the upcoming season!

The McMillan plan was designed by Burnham (along with a host of others including Frederick Law Olmsted, Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Charles F McKim) in 1901 , expanding upon L’Enfant’s original 1791 plans for the National Mall by designing the Lincoln Memorial, the adjacent reflecting pool and the Jefferson Memorial, seen on this plan below.

These ingenius plans turned DC into the beautiful city we enjoy today. The City Beautiful movement from that time period touched nearly every major US city, thanks the Columbian Exhibition, and remain today among the most visited sections of any city.

I hope you can visit the National Mall on June 9th to watch the film!

Where Fabulous Lives

I spent the afternoon today at Hillwood, the estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, which I've blogged about many times in the past: House, Gardens, Greenhouse & Japanese Garden. While I did a quick spin through the house and gardens (how could I not?), I was there primarily for the exhibition on Sevres which ends next week.

It was a gorgeous day as you can see and the grounds were PACKED, always a comforting sight.

The exhibition on Sevres was located in the back garden, in the Dacha. The small exhibit ranges from the infancy of the factory in 1740 at Vincennes, to patronage of the French monarchy and works through the year 2000. It was shocking to see how modern a lot of the older pieces were!

As part of the exhibit, the dining and breakfast room tables inside the house are set with some pretty spectacular Sevres. Many thanks to Steve at Hillwood for alerting me to a very special piece of porcelain in the exhibit and inviting me to the estate today. That particular piece was a cup and saucer commissioned by Marie Antoinette for the dairy at the Hamlet of the Petit Trianon! Thanks for thinking of me, Steven!

While walking around, I noticed these bootscrapes by each door, I'm not sure how I missed them before: adorable dachshunds!

Don't less this fantastic opportunity pass you by - visit the exhibit before May 30th!

DC Design House

Tonight I attended the 'gala' opening of the DC Design house at the design center hosted by Elle Decor. Scrumptious food and decadent drinks, but we weren't there to be wined and dined, rather we were there to see the work of 8 talented designers. Drama was big in the showhouse, as it should be. A beautiful stuffed peacock greeted you in the living room by JDS Designs. I loved the grasscloth wallcovering by Maya Romanoff for Donghia.The foyer, equally dramatic, is by Kelley Proxmire. I loved the combination of turquoise and black. The floor was painted in a hexagonal pattern in black and white, continuing the theme.My favorite room was the study by Nestor Santa-Cruz. The perfect blue walls by Farrow & Ball with a cozy seating group AND stacks of my favorite magazines (WOI and Elle Decor) -just what I would want to spend an afternoon doing here!
The carpet (Stark) was such a great complement - blue, golden yellow with orange accents.

This adorable little brass telescoping table was just large enough to set down a drink.Back in the living room, I loved these console tables by William Switzer for Niermann Weeks. A modern take on a glamourous English console: gilding removed and a simple stone top! I would have gladly taken this home.
Loved this lamp in the master bedroom - a little rabbitt by Moooi! The desk was interesting but it left me in the mood for a massage, yes?

The lobby to the Design center, more drama, was also done by Kelley Proxmire (I guess she specializes in lobbies these days?). Loved the combination of reds with black: you KNOW you've arrived!

The design house is open thru December 4 at the Design Center - please visit if you are in the area and many thanks to Elle Decor for a great evening!

An evening with Thomas O'Brien

Yesterday evening I attended yet another great lecture at the Corcoran Gallery. Thomas O'Brien was visiting for a book signing and to talk a bit about his work. I expected him to be knowledgeable, but what I didn't expect (and found pleasantly surprising) was his charming ineloquence. I do not mean that as a back-handed compliment at all! Rather, the lecture was informal and conversational: straight off the chest rather than totally prepared. Rather than stand behind the lecturne, Thomas casually perched on the edge of the stage and went through images from his book and talked about them in depth. Of course an over-arching theme was his interest in revival; looking back to move forward as he put it.. I was so glad to hear him say what I'm always thinking: antiques were the modern items of their time! Each generation makes its own modernism. Thomas is always trying to see an object in the light in which it was created.

If you haven't seen the book, you must soon - a requirement for any design library! The images are gorgeous of course, but the text is really helpful and an interesting look at his iconic work: from target to high-end custom residential design. As he himself stated, he's not a decorater, but rather someone who is interested in the complete idea: helping you find 'who you are'.

Thomas's work is collection based. He's always on the hunt for unique and special pieces, often at local thrift and junk shops! For this reason, I thought it a bit odd that he's against boutique hotels; I wish he had expanded on that point a bit more. For instance, in DC he's staying at the Hay Adams hotel, undeniably a gorgeous hotel, but I would have thought he would have loved something with more character like nearby Tabard Inn. I suppose it's because he believes design is personal: a boutique hotel is inherently 'fake' in that it represents no one while a true hotel is anonymous and luxurious.

Thomas talked at length about his own homes: both on Long Island and his now famous apartment in New York. I love his reasoning of putting the bed in the living room as it's the most amazing space which he found he wasn't using. This aligns with my philosophy of 'why have nice things if you don't use them!'. During the question and answer session following the lecture, a discussion was started where he states his love for marble. Many people are afraid to use the material as it's 'high maintenance' but he strongly disagreed. He pointed out many uses of marble where it ages and develops a patina that sadly, many Americans are simply scared of. So use those marble countertops: no more boring granite!

Thomas is constantly inspired by everything around him: his interest in movies interested me especially. Gosford Park inspired his use of high sheen and gloss: the long hallways of gleaming white paired with glossy black doors. This also ties in with his interest in texture: the pairing of old with new, the highly polished with the rough. He also mentioned the gorgeous movie 'Fanny & Alexander' (1982) which inspired his love of the enfilade in architecture and fine millwork.

I loved how he talked also of his interest in color, much like another designer who gave a lecture at the Corcoran last year, Jamie Drake. Now, obviously, the two designers are oceans apart: yet the same concept interests them both. While Jamie is interested in the dramatic affects color can provide, Thomas is more interested in the subtleties and ephemereal qualities of color. He's interested in the feeling the soft colors provide and the ways in which light interacts with them. In every project Thomas showed, he spoke of the light the space had: like a true artist. And so he is himself!