One Day Vacations

Most adults going to Las Vegas do so for the idea that it is Disneyland for adults; fine dining, ample shopping, gambling, and shows. But as an artist, I peeled away from my gambling cohorts to experience the newly-opened Crystals at City Center. While Crystals might be a shopping destination for some, for lovers of public art, environment art, and large sculptures in general, this is one of the most exciting venues to be visited anywhere in the country. Yes, one can shop from Louis Vuitton or Tiffany, but the real gems are to be found in the designs of its architecture, design, and sculptures. The center of the vast space is a wooden structure knows as the Tree House inside the “trunk” of which one finds the Concierge Desk. It is cathedral-like in its monumental scale, while the skeletal framework provides light and space through its spines.

Instead of a concrete stairwell linking levels, warm, rich dark wood leads visitors up and down but when one turns around to look back, a shocking flash of pink is revealed UNDER the stairwell with a mosaic of back-lit sliced geodes. The juxtaposition of the elegant wood with the shocking pink is transformative and slightly scandalous.

Water appears in a variety of forms, both frozen, in funnels, and as fountains. Created by Southern California’s WET (Water Entertainment Technology), the center floor area of the shopping area contains the sculpture Halo. Interactive in that viewers are invited to walk amongst the creations, vortices of water spinning like Whirling Dervishes contained within tubes of acrylic, rising and lowering at various rates. But below your feet are additional tornadoes of water, spinning in an endless cycle. Mesmerizing and meditative, there are 20 cylinders above ground and another 30 below ground, providing infinite viewing possibilities as all spin in different directions and at different speeds.

At the other end of the shopping area is Glacia, 15 columns of ice which sit in a black pool of water. Visitors are welcome to touch and stroke the phallic tubes of blue and purple ice which vary from 4′ to 15′ in height and are accompanied by music of Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead.

I am more than thrilled with what the folks in Vegas are doing to create art-friendly locales and From the Press Kit I was able to discover, I offer their specifics:

Crystals houses more than 500,000 square feet of sophisticated retail and dining. Designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind* with interior architecture by David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, Crystals combines dramatic architecture with exclusive offerings from the world’s most elite brands.
• Architecture. Libeskind conceived Crystals’ exterior to be a dynamic sculpture that presents a work of art from every angle. The multi-faceted, brilliant glass canopy depicts the intricate beauty of a quartz crystal that welcomes an abundance of natural light into the stunning three-level experiential environment.
• Atmosphere. Within Crystals, Rockwell was inspired to create an abstract 21st century park that reintroduces and celebrates nature and the seasons. A central element of this design is the three-story sculptural Tree House that reaches 70 feet from the ground level to frame an oculus in the roof. Visible throughout Crystals, the treehouse serves as a meeting point for guests and unfolds on the second level to surround the terrace seating at Mastro’s Ocean Club. Crystals also features “changeable artwork” in the way of abstract hanging gardens, a flower carpet and more. As the seasons change, so does the artwork and it all is offset by intriguing murals and spectacular water features.

Built in 1920, this elegant showplace has hosted The Marx Brothers, Jack Benny, Josephine Baker, Carmen Miranda, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra to name just a few. The building, designed by the Beaux Arts trained architect, G. Albert Lansburgh, was renovated in 1979. This 2,426-seat theater usually plays host to big touring packages, primarily lavish Broadway musicals.

One of the interesting aspects is the elaborate mosaic which surrounds the ticket window. I am guessing this was added as part of the 1979 restoration as the placard for the artwork says “Mosaic by Atlas Scenic Studio Ltd., Bridgeport, CT, a Matt Maraffi Design.” Googling around shows that Atlas Scenic Studio is a company that provides theater equipment rental and that there is a Matt Maraffi who is Director of Production at Global Scenic Services, a company which specializes in technical and set design. Who can speculate on the careers of these people and companies in the late 1970s, but it does seem curious the theater stayed with a set-design firm instead of an established artist. I like the mosaic, but I am unsure why it obviously references New York City in its design.

The rest of the building is a reference to stylized Gothic architecture with its trifoils, but more opulent in the Beaux Arts style with its sweeping rusticated first floor which rises majestically above the grand lobby. The ceiling is where the eye is drawn with its gold leafed garlands and cartouches, all examples of neoclassic architecture.

GOLDEN GATE THEATER
1 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 551-2000
Corners of Golden Gate, Taylor, and Market streets

Visiting London, I made sure to go and see the Masonic Grand Lodge for its history and grandeur and art. I thought a similar sojourn would be equally as fascinating only to learn that the behemoth marble building on the corner of California and Taylor Streets in San Francisco is not a lodge at all, but merely an auditorium. It is an income-generating venue for the Freemasons but still provides a worthy — albeit brief — artistic experience.

That aside, it is a stunning architectural marvel and if visiting Grace Cathedral or Huntington Park, immediately across the street. The building was constructed in 1958 and boasts a gorgeous mosaic inside as well as several other intriguing symbols; four 12-foot high figures sit atop the building, representing aspects of the United States’ Armed Forced. Adjacent to those figures are 14 smaller figures in an eternal battle between good and evil. These artistic elements and the mosaic inside was all designed and created by California artist Emile Norman.

From their website, “Emile Norman also crafted the one-of-a-kind mosaic window that dominates the entrance foyer. This historical window, fabricated in the endomosaic process, incorporates thousands of bits of metal, parchment, felt, linen, silk, natural foliage, thinly sliced vegetable matter, shells and sea life, plus 180 colors of stained glass. The lower portion of the frieze is comprised of actual gravels and soils of the 58 counties of California and the Islands of Hawaii. The window depicts the history of the wayfarers and the seafarers that helped found California Freemasonry.”

One of the more unusual shopping experiences in San Francisco is a little shop off Union Square called Kárikter. Bright turquoise blue beckons the eye to a large, glass window. Inside, one spies books and rocket ships, grass walls and a small cowboy riding horse. Eclectic and unusual, one cannot help but see what wonders is contained within.

Quite literally something for everyone, Kárikter advertises itself as “European color style humor.” What exactly does this mean? Well, for children (and the kid inside all us adults), there is a huge selection of books, action figures, and tschotskies related to the Belgium comic strip character of Tintin. With original books, watches, calendars, and t-shirts, I have no doubt that the store is going to see a tremendous growth in sales as Steven Spielberg is filming a live-action story of the Tintin character with blonde-Bond, Daniel Craig!

Tintin aside, the store includes the highest quality selection of travel books, European beauty products and decorative arts to rival Allesi. I was pleased to see a few Wallace & Gromit selections as well as Babar the Elephant books. Artsy-fartsy clocks loom over Italian place settings, lying next to mod jewelry and obscure art supplies.

If you need an illustrated biography of Che Guevera, you might find it next to one of three different sized rocket ships. Karikter is a feast for the eyes while providing intrigue for the mind and whimsy for the soul.

Possibly the best way to beat the warm Seattle summer is ice cream from Molly Moon’s. It is everything good ice cream should be: smooth, creamy, tasty, and made in-house. They have a variety of sweet and savory ice creams with year-round and seasonal flavors. My personal year-round favorite is balsamic strawberry which is perfectly balanced to bring out the natural sweetness of the strawberries with that kick of balsamic oomph. To see the list of current flavors in shop check here (Bacon lovers should definitely look forward to their maple-bacon flavor in winter!)

In a very Seattle style, all of the ingredients used in Molly Moon’s frozen deliciousness are grown as locally as possible. The honey, for example, in their honey-lavender  flavor is harvested by Tahuya River Apiaries in the foothills of the Olympic mountains. They are as organic as is practical (when they have to choose between organic and local, they choose local) and none of their dairy products have hormones. They do have a few vegan sorbets and have allergy information available in their FAQ. Molly Moon’s wants you to know that you are eating not just tasty but guilt-free ice cream: their food is local and the rest- from their sampling spoons to their ice cream cups- are compostable.

Oh and did I mention that they hand-make their waffle cones in front of you?

Molly Moon’s has two locations:

Yes, visiting the royal yacht Britannia is definitely one of the more touristy things a foreign visitor can do when they arrive in Edinburgh. If you look at the official Tourist Board’s website, the yacht is the first attraction that is highlighted after The Castle. And while yours’ truly normally avoids these more-hyped money-sucking time-wasters, I have to admit that there must be a past-life gene which draws me to the sea and all it represents. So of course I wanted to go and walk the decks of a gorgeous, big boat.

There will be a lot of websites that can direct visitors to an overall experience of Her Majesty The Queen’s now-retired yacht. For me, the visit was special for two distinct aspects; the ample hand-crafted examples of silversmithing and the food service. The Officer’s Wardroom hosts a stunning selection of classic hand wrought silver work. Within the dining room itself, the opulent room is set, complete with flowers and napkins, plates and cutlery, as though we are walking into a room that is ready for dinner service. The cutlery and personalised menus bear Britannia’s crest made by Elkington and Company, Ltd.

Adjacent to the dining room is the silver pantry which hosts salt cellars, tureens, saucier spoons, and oyster forks. Impressive to know that all this sterling (NOT plate!) has to be polished constantly. Amongst the famous names to be found in the records are Elkington & Company Ltd, who patented their electroplating processes in the 1830s. Designers include Nelson and Edith Dawson, who were both active in the Arts and Crafts movement, and R.E. Stone, who undertook work for the royal yacht Britannia.

The pantry and kitchen area were equally as impressive, with the knowledge that world class cuisine is prepared and served in a luscious setting of the most classically beautiful decorative arts. The sampling of metalwork aside, standing in the teak room and witnessing the elegant details in an accessible setting puts visitors in the Royals’ shoes. Or perhaps, as you traverse the lower decks and wander the laundry room and claustrophobic living quarters of the sailors themselves, a true appreciation of the life of a royal seaman.

Being an artist and visiting Glasgow requires a stop at the famous Willow Tea Rooms designed in 1904 by Arts-and-Crafts maven Charles Rennie Macintosh. Experiencing the classic tea service in its original setting is like taking communion in the Vatican.

For my visit, only the lower room was open although they allowed me upstairs to photograph the famed blue Oriental Room. We have Catherine Cranston, a local businesswoman, to thank for hiring Macintosh to design the furniture, setting, menus, and place settings. I was fortunate to get a window seat as I sat in one of the high-back, black thrones, soaking in the atmosphere of elegance. Hardwood floors gleamed beneath my feet and the smooth, clean lines of the stenciled wall murals led my eyes to comforting accountrements of hanging lamps and stained glass windows, marching in uniform singularity.

Food-wise, this was certainly not the most spectacular tea I have ever experienced. The bread for the sandwiches is gummy, a hunk of carrot cake is overly sweet, the scone is cold and hard. But I didn’t care. There was ample clotted cream and a good quality strawberry jam to mask the mediocrity of the scone. The ingredients on the sandwiches were adequate and cut through all the sugar that was being served. And the tea was hot. But I didn’t care – I really didn’t. I am an artist and my early jewelry work was inspired by the designs of Macintosh so even if the communal wafer was stale, it was being consumed in church and that alone provided my religious experience.

Many people come to San Francisco and want to see the stretch of colorful homes knows as the Painted Ladies. These stately Victorian and Edwardian homes are scattered all over the city, but most of the tourist buses make a point of stopping and letting the tourists walk around Alamo Square Park. Most head straight to the open grass area which — on warm and sunny days — is speckled with cuddling couples and romping puppies. Here there is the best view of the brightly painted panoramic view of the sloping homes.

For 15 or 20 minutes, tourists line up to grab a shot of themselves in front of these famous landmarks but few bother to any other section of the four-block park which also boasts a tennis court, a playground for children, and a shoe garden. A shoe garden? Yep – it seems that back in the early 2000s, the park’s gardener, David Clifton, hated the idea of throwing away the shoes he would find, discarded from the homeless. First it was just placing the shoes around a flower bed to keep the dogs out. Then he started planting succulents in various shoes.

Over the years the garden has taken on a life of its own. Shoes come and go and other locals bring in the plants. Some of the shoes are nailed down to logs for longevity and others are obvious new-comers to the collection. The garden is quirky and fun and oft-times sentimental. Is it folk art? Public art? Environmental sculpture? The art people can debate that but there is no doubt that it is whimsical and fun and worth a look . While the Painted Ladies stand at attention and never change their stance, this ever-evolving communal art project is changing and growing and always worth a second glance.

A recent visit to Austin brought me to The Blanton Museum of Art, located within the heart of  the University of Texas has several diverse collections worthy of a visit. Both Contemporary and Modern prints as well as an impressive array of more than 140 Baroque and Renaissance paintings. The entrance to the museum is bright and opening with blue striations lining the walls of the staircase which leads to the main collections.

Downstairs hosts revolving exhibits and during my visit, I wandered quickly through a Matisse as Printmaker exhibit. I enjoyed the permanent collections more, particularly the installation of Cildo Meireles’ How to Build Cathedrals a piece from 1987 which has been seen at the Tate Modern in London and other museums. With 2,000 beef bones hanging from the ceiling and a carpet of 600,000 shiny pennies, a pillar of 800 communion wafers stretches through the center symbolically joining the heaven and the earth.

The Blanton offers public tours of all collections and exhibitions in the building and also host a variety of events including BScene, an art party featuring live music, gallery tours, art-making activities, light appetizers and a cash bar.

Blanton Museum of Art
The University of Texas at Austin
MLK at Congress
(200 East MLK)
Austin, Texas 78701

Telephone:
Main Number (recorded message):(512) 471-7324
Fax Number: (512) 471-7023
Front Desk: (512) 471-5482
Tours (adult and school): (512) 471-5025
Visitor and Volunteer Services: (512) 232-1988
Membership: (512) 471-9880
Facility Rental: (512) 475-6516
Museum Shop: (512) 475-6406

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