My Little Corner of the Net

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Frank Lloyd Wright's Bachman-Wilson House at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art


One of the new exciting displays under construction at the Crystal Bridges Museum is the addition of the Bachman-Wilson House.  The museum acquired this Usonian house designed by world renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.


This is a rendering of the house circa 1954


This is a close up view of the model on display





This architectural model on display at the museum shows where the house will sit on the museum grounds.


On January 15, 2014 the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas announced that it was acquiring the Bachman-Wilson house and has made plans to relocate the house in its entirety to the museum grounds,


The house is slowly taking shape on the museum grounds.  This was as close as I could get.



This photo shows the house at its original home in Millstone New Jersey prior to relocation.  The front façade of concrete blocks has an almost fortress-like appearance to ensure privacy from the street. The house is built with Way-Lite concrete blocks and Philippine mahogany trim. It has a second story, rare in a Usonian house, with cantilevered balconies. The living room has a built-in banquette facing a wooded scene through a wall of 10 foot high glass panes, symbolizing a transcendental pew set before the altar of nature.

The public space is a dramatic focal point, with walls of glass and an open floor plan. Cut-out wooden panels of abstracted forms over 24 clerestory windows provide an unobtrusive yet restrained decorative touch to this lavish space. These recall Native American geometric motifs as well as stylized forms that may be based in nature. Construction was completed in 1956.

To see more about my trip to the Crystal Bridges Museum click HERE


Thursday, July 16, 2015

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

I had the opportunity to travel to Bentonville Arkansas last weekend and visited the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.


This is an aerial view of the architectural model of the complex which spans creek-filled ponds.  The multi-million dollar facility is built of concrete, wood and glass and contains literally billions of dollars in art.  If you are ever in the area, you should definitely stop in.  The price of admission is free!


Here is an photograph of the same view.  The facility was designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie from Boston and was commissioned by Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and ranked as one of the world's wealthiest women.


The galleries are organized chronologically and contain American art spanning from the 1700's through the present.  I have posted a few pieces below.



This giant stainless steel tree is at the entrance



My wife was enjoying the Georgia O'Keeffe painting in one of the galleries of art formerly owned by her husband Alred Stieglizt.



This painting of Rosie the Riveter is by Norman Rockwell




Part of the early work contains these two paintings of George Washington, America's first President.  I liked the contrast between the young George and the old one (1797).  The painting of the older George is by and the museum reportedly paid $7,250.000. for it and paid $8,100,000.00 for the oil on canvas of the younger George.



I liked both the frame and this painting of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago 1893 - the world's fair changed the face of American Architecture.


I liked this painting of hollyhocks.  They were a favorite element used in geometric patterns by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.  This painting was by John Lafarge and dates from 1895


This was probably my favorite painting.  It is entitled Lantern Bearers and dates from 1908.  The lanterns seem to literally glow.  The museum reportedly acquired this piece for $4,272,000.00.  One of the most exciting new acquisitions of the museum is a Frank Lloyd Wright house which they are currently re-assembling on the museum grounds after re-locating it from New Jersey.  I will post some pictures of it later.

To see Frank Lloyd Wright's Bachman-Wilson House, Click HERE

Monday, July 13, 2015

Victorian Cottage Jr.

An old friend of mine gave me a kit that he and his daughter started a few years ago.  It is the Special Edition Victorian Cottage Jr. by Real Good Toys.


 The kit is a combination of plywood and press board and goes together fairly quickly.


 This kit has a small porch, but I am going to do something a bit larger.


I think it will be a great place to show off my antique cast-iron pieces that I have been collecting.  


 It's still a work in progress and needs some accessories.


 and some Victorian style curtains.



 I want to keep the house fairly simple so that the focus in on the furniture.


Sunday, July 12, 2015

Playmobil Wedding Day

My nieces and nephew came over for dinner tonight. 


 After dinner, we played with the Playmobil Victorian Mansion


The play evolved into a big wedding!  I was able to find a red carpet for the event and appropriate music on my iphone.


 I love these kids, they have such great imaginations!
( note the photographer on the balcony!)