Memories of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Before the Fire

I am revisiting my visual memories of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, from almost exactly two years ago.

Bauhaus Centennial

The Bauhaus logo

"The ultimate goal of all art is the building!" is the first sentence of the Bauhaus manifesto. 

The German school Bauhaus (literally translated as "building house" () was founded in Weimar by Walter Gropius in April 1919 and was operational until 1933. The main philosophy was about design as an interdisciplinary practice involving architecture, painting, sculpture, performing arts, graphic, industrial and interior design and typography. The notion of Gesamtwerk ("total work") and Gesamtkunstwerk("'total' work of art") was informing any methodology and product.

The manifesto continues with enthusiastic appreciation of craftsmanship 

So let us therefore create a new guild of craftsmen, free of the divisive class pretensions that endeavoured to raise a prideful barrier between craftsmen and artists! Let us strive for, conceive and create the new building of the future that will unite every discipline, architecture and sculpture and painting, and which will one day rise heavenwards from the million hands of craftsmen as a clear symbol of a new belief to come. 

Architects, sculptors, painters—we all must return to craftsmanship! For there is no such thing as “art by profession”. There is no essential difference between the artist and the artisan. The artist is an exalted artisan. Merciful heaven, in rare moments of illumination beyond man’s will, may allow art to blossom from the work of his hand, but the foundations of proficiency are indispensable to every artist. This is the original source of creative design. 

 The Bauhaus has provided great inspiration for my interdisciplinary practice Space Ink integrating art, architecture and design at different scales, merging physical products with computing methodologies. My work with performance art also finds references in Oskar Schlemmer, another great Bauhaus master.

Google Doodle also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus movement.

Eva Mueller's Bauhaus Tattoo 

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Vernissages | "From its course into channels" Hessel Museum of Art, Bard College

The fourteen exhibitions From its course into channels opened yesterday at the Hessel Museum of Art, at the CCS (Center for Curatorial Studies) of Bard College. The exhibitions included works of over forty artists, and were organized by the graduating class of the master of arts program in curatorial studies. The curation presented "diverse methodologies, research interests, and exhibition formats - from focused solo shows to new commissions and thematic exhibitions".

It was a relaxing and inspirational day, walking in art and nature in the beautiful campus of Bard College, including a stroll in the Blithewood Gardens, designed circa 1903 by Frances Hoppin. The formal garden (walled Italian) presents a gazebo at the focal point of its main axis, framing views of the Hudson River.