>im a fan of architecture. something about buildings and construction as an art form just amazes me. it must be awesome to express one's self using such a HUGE CANVAS, with immense dimensions and considering a multitude of engineering details!
i just found out that south beach has the biggest concentration of art deco buildings in the world. and i just had to join the walking tour of the art deco district to appreciate this artistic movement.
"Art Deco was a popular international design movement from 1920 until 1939, affecting the decorative arts such as architecture, interior design, and industrial design, as well as the visual arts such as fashion, painting, the graphic arts, and film. This movement was, in a sense, an amalgam of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Bauhaus, Art Nouveau, and Futurism. Its popularity peaked during the Roaring Twenties. Although many design movements have political or philosophical roots or intentions, Art Deco was purely decorative. At the time, this style was seen as elegant, functional, and ultra modern." Wikipedia
i thoroughly enjoyed the walking tour conducted by the Miami Design Preservation League, a foundation dedicated to preserving the artistic heritage of Miami, primarily through protecting the buildings. Scott, our gay tour guide (or at least i think he is), gave us an excellent overview of the art deco movement, mentioning by heart the prime movers, the design elements as well as the history of the preservation. it was wonderful just walking down mainly ocean drive as he pointed to examples of art deco, with plenty of trivia in between. (the birdcage movie with robin williams and nathan lane was shot in south beach with the Carlyle as their theatre restaurant!)allow me a diversion. just found this scene hilarious...
another side note... dont hesitate to join tours if you travel. i had some reservations, too, but now, everytime i travel i manage to join a tour group. i know, i know, not a lot of you want to look like tourists or to feel like ducklings being herded by the tour coordinator BUT the value is in the information these trained tour guides give. seriously! i also joined the new york movie and tv shows tour and the tour guide was a part-time actress who had all these inside information. the wealth of information these people give actually pays for the tour. and on top of that, they show you first hand how to appreciate...
not a bad deal, right?
5 comments:
I'm not really a fan of tours. The only ones I go on are small tour groups of like ten people. I think large tour groups are scary and I don't like being herded like sheep.
The best tour I participated in was one for Napa Valley. It was excellent. You get to visit both large and small wineries and not have to drive. Incidentally, I thought my tour guide was gay too, but he had wife.
You'll miss the Miami weather once you get back to New York. I guarantee it!
i was supposed to take up an architecture course but did'nt, now i regret it. my brother's taking that road and i envy him 'cause their field trips are cool (going to heritage sites, old ruins in the philippines, etc.) i love reading books/magazines about building designs, materials used, and techniques and the technology. fascinating!
*sigh*
OMG i love this movie the birdcage
and the guy is hot as in hot... to think its a mike nichols =)OMG i love this movie the birdcage
and the guy is hot as in hot... to think its a mike nichols =)
i have been missing miami weather, john. though i will be going back to manila soon so im really trying to enjoy it!
filli, you should have seen the buildings! but of course, you still have the opportunity to just appreciate, like me!
onai! thanks for dropping by!
shoot. your comments dated '07 pa. i just started reading this blog and its hard to stop. time check (1252am) july7'12. ive been reading this blog around 130pm of the 6th of july 2012. this will be my last post that ill be reading. my eyes is starting to twitch. haha for sure ill read again tom. just like you sir, i love architecture. i do collect architectural/travel/art/national geography magazines.
thanks for the blog. im happy i discovered this blog of yours. SALUD! :)
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