Guggenheim | Inspiration Galore

Continuing on my journey of discovering inspirational and creative spaces, I ventured to The Guggenheim, a staple of the New York City art scene since its opening in 1959. Not only is the architecture of this building stunning, the interior aestheticism will take you for a spin (literally).

Upon entering this beautiful behemoth of spiraling gallery space, museum goers are escorted into an elevator and taken up to the sixth floor in order to begin their descent down each floor of exhibitions. The unique architecture of the space is an experience in itself, the unconventional rotunda design provides visitors a fluid sense of interacting with the contemporary collections in a way that feels more personal. As I began working my way down each floor I couldn't help but notice the amount of young artists that stood along the sidelines, sketchbook and pencil in hand, consumed with the artwork in front of them in attempt to find inspiration in the work of the greats. Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect behind the art museum, sought to elevate and enhance the human experience through his designs and I must say he succeeded.

Vision by Alphonse Osbert

From Van Goh to Picasso and every great artists in-between the stark contrast of the slanting white walls and the modernism adorning them draws your undivided attention into each individual piece. As I was working my way past Calder and Pollock, I noticed something ahead, something that didn't match the rest...was that a burgundy hallway in the distance? Yes, it was in fact and it led to my favorite exhibition, Mystical Symbolism: The Salon de la Rose+Croix in Paris 1982-1987. The exhibition space features works that take a step away from the contemporary and more modern art of the main space of the Guggenheim and takes you to a more magical and extravagant artistic point of view. With blue velvet sofas accenting the space and beautiful frames surrounding the paintings, I was completely enamored with the change in atmosphere.

The Death of Orpheus by Jean Delville

Personage by Joan Miró

Stepping back into the main space, I continued in my journey through contemporary art and I had a startling realization. I realized how many people move through the museum as quickly as possible without noticing the very short, yet in depth descriptions written about specific works of art that hide within them insight into the minds of artists and their creative process. As an artist I believe it is imperative to understand how other creative minds work, because that open-mindedness allows for the flow and exchange of creative energy. The beauty behind visiting an art museum is just that, allowing yourself to be immersed into the inner-world of an artist through each and every work of art they produce because those canvases are an extension of their being.Although some may joke and ask, "How does this piece make you feel?" that is the point of art to my understanding; creating a piece of work that makes someone feel something, whatever that may be.

Take Miró for example in the above description of his creative process, without reading the description how could one understand the process behind the abstract Personage painting? Now I'm not saying that every artist has to go through a hunger-induced hallucination to create art, but there is beauty in such madness.

The Guggenheim as an entirety opened my mind to the experience of a space and the impact that has on perception, from the architecture to the pragmatic placement of each piece of work the space speaks to the creative process. After leaving the museum, my interest in the uniqueness of the experience left me with a thirst for wanting to know more in how it all came together. So of course, as any millennial would, I took to my right-hand man Google and it all started to make sense in why the nonsense felt so right. In an excerpt from an article about the museum's architect, Frank Lloyd Wright and his creative process;

Good architecture, Wright wrote in a 1908 essay, should promote the democratic ideal of "the highest possible expression of the individual as a unit not inconsistent with a harmonious whole." That vision animates the Guggenheim Museum. In the course of descending the building's spiral ramp, a visitor can focus on works of art without losing awareness of other museumgoers above and below. To that bifocal consciousness, the Guggenheim adds a novel element: a sense of passing time. "The strange thing about the ramp—I always feel I am in a space-time continuum, because I see where I've been and where I'm going," says Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Every moment of my time within this space made me feel as though I were taken into another realm, one that allowed a pure and personal experience of interacting with art, yet also a very conscious collective experience of existing within the space itself.

Keep it creative xx

P. S.

Procrastination Nation

A Beautiful Mess is a creative blog started by sisters Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson, this technically a lifestyle blog but the topics that they cover are not only do-it-yourself projects. These sisters actually have a handful of e-courses and one of them is called Blog Life which is all about how to become a blogger and sustain a functioning website. Since I am new to this blogosphere I was  browsing their blog and notices an aptly named article titled "Help Me I Procrastinate". Reiterating the fact that I do work full time and go to school simultaneously, that leaves little time to get to blogging. But this sister duo has a few key points that have helped me manage my time slightly better. These include;

1. Lists + Planning: Organize your schedule
2. Variety of Work: Don't bore yourself
3. Work Hours Rule: One thing at a time

Check out this fun and quirky article and see what else you can learn!

Keep your head in the game :)

P. S. 

Ace in this case...

As I had mentioned in my previous post Ace Is The Place the Ace Hotel's lobby is one of my favorite creative atmospheres. Many media outlets categorize this specific place as a communal work space, which is what drew me to the hotel in the first place. So let me tell you about my first experience doing work at the Ace...

Ace Hotel NYC Front Desk

Late one chilly February evening last year after leaving my busy job as head hostess in a trendy SoHo restaurant, I had a paper to finish for one of my communication courses that semester. So after skimming a few late night spots that Google threw at me, this particular place seemed promising, little did I know what was in store. Walking through the doors around 11:00 p.m. I noticed a spot at a table next to a lovely corner bookshelf, which I snagged right away. Sitting next to me was a peculiar character, who furiously typing on his computer gave me the impression that he was a writer. A lanky man, with greyish hair and dark features surrounded my papers and books was a writer indeed, a conspiracy theorist writer at that and the second-coming of Christ and the person that "predicted" 9/11 - what a guy. So after about 30 minutes of a conversation that started with this mystery person asking me about the book I'm reading - aptly titled The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, here I was 2 hours later asking him what the point of his manifesto that he'd been writing for 10 years was. Not to much surprise, the point never surfaced, but at OK! magazine article with his photo in it did. I have since attempted to find it, but this stranger never actually introduced himself.

In the midst of the conversation, which at a point steered towards fractals (see video below) and the fact that the universe is a spec amidst a never ending pattern, little did I know I entered a never ending conversation until I made the conscious choice to leave (one of my better ideas)

Leaving the building, a person that was sitting at the communal table who I happened to make eye contact with amidst the insanity that I had endured sparked a conversation over a cigarette (don't worry, I've quit since) and what he was doing at the Ace was not writing a conspiracy theory, but attempting a art concept based around the Six Degrees of Separation which was a concept touched upon by Gladwell in the book I was reading at the time. Mads Madsen (yes, that's his real name) has since been one of my very close friends that I have pursued a few artistic projects with, we also shared a studio space for a while. By the end of our conversation, I had given his The Turning Point, without ever finishing it because the coincidence of the situation had been just too great. So circling around to why his project was so relevant, is that he had given a thousand dollar Contax camera to a stranger in the lobby of the Ace during a party and told the stranger to take a few photos and pass it along. By the end of the night, lo and behold, on just trust in humanity Mads got his camera back with a full roll of film resulting with the room buzzing about the concept of the camera. Not only did this experiment bring people together, but it proved that a space and its ambiance does have an impact on how people act and interact within its borders. 

P. S. 

Wonderfactory Wonderful

There are a few companies that have jumped on the bandwagon of creative workspaces, Google being the leading contender on that endeavor. Doing some research on creative office spaces I stumbled upon a pretty done pace of an advertising agency that specializes in digital marketing. The space is not only innovative, but also aware of employees needs on a level that is subtle yet powerful. 

The Wonderfactory is located in New York City and is home to a bouquet of creative minds. Each space in the office was designed with purpose and the intent is apparent: to spark creativity and support collaboration. The co-founders of the office space are supportive of the integration of open space coupled with open creativity. Even the entrance takes you for a loop being hidden behind a bookcase, from beginning to end the experience of being in their work environment leaves you wanting more. The immense detail within each room is marketed towards a specific type of experience, whether that be collaborative or independent. Not only do the spaces show a difference in color scheme and ambiance, the way the rooms are connected fosters a sense of fluidity within the work space thus allowing for employees to come together. 

P. S.

Visceral Victorian

As I have come to learn via this blog, it is difficult to pinpoint a particular space that appeals to the majority of people. My trip to the Met showed me that, although I have been multiple times it wasn't until yesterday that something clicked for me - art draws attention due to details. One thought stood out to me and rings true, I turned to my boyfriend and said "Do you know what the most underestimated aspect of this museum is? The frames." His response opened a door for me as he said "I've never actually noticed." I have been called a "meticulous artist" by one of my drawing professors because I obsessively spend too much time on the intricacies of my pieces, although when it comes to deadlines this dedication to detail is sometimes detrimental to productivity—in life it serves as a source of knowledge and awareness. Trekking further into the Met we stumbled upon an exhibit that I hadn't seen: The Wrightsman Gallery and my poignant attention to detail went wild.

As James started reading the descriptions of each piece of furniture, my eyes wandered to the walls and the lighting. The grandeur of the era overtook my consciousness and made me realize how much time and effort was put into the crown molding, the wall panelling, the crystals of the chandelier and the complete composition of a space. From the ceiling to the floor, everything blends in a gorgeously meticulous fashion. The lighting of each space is also something that caught my attention, now although you can't sit at the 18th century desk and write a midterm paper, you can note the ambiance of the space in terms of feel and atmosphere. The cohesiveness of each space proved to me that maybe I'm on to something while preaching about the importance and impact of ambiance on inspiration and motivation, but don't take my word for it. P. S. 

Chalk Point Concentration

The SoHo District of Manhattan boasts high-end boutiques as well as an abundance of chic eateries and in recent years has become home to a number of art galleries and studios. Hidden away on the corner of Broome and Thompson Street is a market-to-table gem, a restaurant whose heart is at the cross-section of fashion, art and food.

Chalk Point Kitchen, located at 527 Broome St. is not your typical trendy restaurant, it's mindfully trendy—if you will. Spearheaded by restauranteur Matt Levine and Michelin Star executive chef Joe Isidori, CPK opened its doors in April 2014 as one of the few market-to-table restaurants in New York City having not some, but ALL of its ingredients locally sourced in New York state. Since opening the local SoHo eatery has been featured in multiple publications including; Vogue, Interview and Vanity Fair putting this low-key spot on the art and fashion map almost instantly. Not only is Chalk Point a restaurant, but the basement of the space is a hidden away speakeasy piano bar with mixologists that will knock your socks off and the decor is reminiscent of stepping right into the Prohibition Era, except with modern fashion photography gracing the staircase and walls.

Knowing all too well that this spot is a favorite among New Yorkers, dinner and brunch are always hustling and bustling with an energy that is palpable. So I opted to pay them a visit during a weekday lunch, already knowing that I adore the atmosphere of the space. The entrance of this downtown staple speaks for itself being adorned with hundred of polaroid photos of its patrons, in just a short three years Chalk Point Kitchen has cultivated a culture and history all its own. The space itself is quaint, being barely 70 seats it provides a more personal environment complimented by an open air kitchen right behind the bar. With light pouring through the room, I was seated at an adorable white-washed corner table in a booth accessorized with Keith Haring art plates and red gingham napkins. With a menu that changes almost every month, its commendable to see a restaurant so keen on innovation and change—which also expands into their involvement by being part of and hosting events that work towards great causes including hosting a food pantry and raising money to build homeless shelters.  So much yes, just all around, cheers to CPK.

Coming in pen and paper in hand on a Monday around noon was a marvelous idea, the restaurant had just ended their lunch rush and things were winding down into a comfortable buzz of 80's light rock and quiet conversation. The wait staff was absolutely wonderful, my server Cesar was a superstar in more ways that one. Not only was he superbly  knowledgable about the menu, he is also an aspiring Broadway dancer with such a wonderfully inspirational energy. The summer lunch menu boasted a number of both vegan and vegetarian options, don't worry you can add chicken, shrimp, salmon or steak to just about everything outside the Acai Bowl—unless that's what you're into. I ended up going for the Heart Healthy Avocado Toast (because avocado, obviously) and the Vitamin Powerhouse Chicken Bowl, both of which were well balanced, very fresh and simply delicious. It is obvious how much heart is put into every aspect of the restaurants atmosphere, its homey and comfortable with a heaping handful of happy.

Grab a book and go hangout at Chalk Point Kitchen and then you'll understand what you've been missing!

P. S.