Cultural Buildings

Can We Just Go Back?

This London trip was a trip I’ll never forget and now that I am home I just cannot wait to go back. One thing I noticed since being back was how much more calm the UK was about the virus and now being home I see just how crazy it is here. Anyways, my favorite moments from the trip were St. Paul’s, Greenwich, Westminster, and the shard. St. Paul’s and Westminster were stunning with there amazing amounts of history and detail that were just mind-blowing. Greenwich was amazing with its combination of stunning architecture and amazing greenery. The views from the observatory were well worth the steep hike up to the top even though it meant giving up some time in the Queen’s House. Finally, I felt that the shard was an amazing way to end the trip as we got to look back over everything we had seen throughout our trip and really made me reflect and appreciate our time in London. The entire trip in general made me love city of London and I hope to one day go back and who knows, I would now after this trip consider even living and working there as well which would create even more amazing memories in that city.

St. Paul’s Choir

View from the observatory at Greenwich

View from the shard

My Favourite Day.

Experiencing Westminster Abbey and having the freedom to pick my own museum and explore the city for the rest of the day was the best part of this trip for me. That day was also a big stepping stone for me because I switched from using pencil to pen and allowed any mistakes speak for themselves. From the beginning of this semester, I wanted to improve my drawing skills. I had never taken an art class (except for studio) before this one and I was excited to see myself learn and grow. I am normally very precise and careful with my drawings so when I was able to just go straight in with pen, I felt as if I accomplished something big for myself.

A quarter of Westminster Abbey!

Experiencing London

My Experiential Map!

By far my favorite sketch that we have done from this trip was the experiential map. I liked it because it helped me to reflect back on the day and remember exactly what we did. It also gave a new perspective to just how much are we covered, and helped me relate a map to the experience of walking through a space. I also enjoyed making quick little sketches of the places we visited, and accompanying them with longer descriptions of my experience in that space. I think this is the sketch I’m most proud of, and I am really happy I learned about this type of sketch in this class.

Henry Moore’s Mother and Child in St. Paul’s Cathedral

One of the most interesting pieces I found in St. Paul’s Cathedral was Henry Moore’s Mother and Child: Hood. Moore’s semi-abstract sculptures helped create a very specific form of modernism in the United Kingdom.

Completed in 1983 out of travertine marble, Moore’s take on Michelangelo’s Pieta is able to convey the grieving Mary after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ using minimal detail. The characteristic disparity in size between the Madonna and Christ becomes further exaggerated through the abstraction of form. The way Moore nests the two figures strengthens the maternal relationship by creating an almost wombic cradle.

Seeing more contemporary works of art in such historical spaces highlights the interconnectedness of their simultaneous presence in the city.

Henry Moore’s Mother and Child

Why do these people seem to have so much influence?

Today we went to Westminster Abbey in London. One of the things that i could help but feel is why does the British people give these people (royals) so much credit. I get the idea of the theater of it all and just pure tradition however it just seems so bizarre to me. I will saw I probably have my own biases because I’m American, but to me these people seem like just bonfires celebrities. The idea that in some way people pay in taxes for these people in some way just sits weird with me. Also these idea they can cause and create so much attention is just very bizarre to me. Also today’s I visited the Victoria and Albert museum , to me this and the British museums are very similar in the exhibits shown however the Victoria ones were more interactive. What I found interesting today was this idea of these museums siting within everyday life. Like for example, we have Cosi in Columbus, a paid museum, in the city which is presented with a more hierarchical positioning in its site. With this museum, it blends into the site of the city generally and is free to all. I just thought it was something interesting to note about the our city and London’s .

Cultural Appreciating Vs Appropriation- British Museum

Visiting the British museum I was able to see actual see a museum. When I say that I mean in America we see a museum and we don’t nessasaly see a building of historic architecture coupled with original historic pieces. In London we see amazing works in classical architecture presenting original works of art and history. So, one thing I think is interesting about the museums is the topic of cultural appropriation. See, have the items in the British museum are not their original property and in many cases they continuously decline to return the pieces. They are just taking or matter of fact stealing other peoples history and showcasing it as a specifically in there own city. On one side this is negative operation stealing from other cultures. The other side would say that Britain is refurbishing send maintenaing the items and rather then appropriating they are appreciating. Both sides have valid points. However, it still is stolen items at the end of the day. I would like to do further research before I come up with my own conclusion. Like I want read up further on how they got these items and how they have managed discussions about these items with the countries and tribes.

 

 

 

A Willingness to Change?

London continues to amaze. I have been afforded the opportunity to visit some culturally and historically rich sites of England. These sites included Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey, and Tower of London. After all sites had been visited, I think the idea that stuck out the most to me was the idea of change. The Blue Badge Tour Guide at Westminster Abbey indicated that the church was a combination of years of ideas with no original plan. He elaborated that even though Westminster may appear to be finished, they will continue to update the architecture to fit current needs. I found this idea that they would be so willing to change the building as seen fit instead of freezing it in its current time period very unique. The openness to change was quite different than what I experienced in Stonehenge and Tower of London. Stonehenge had had an unfortunate history of vandalism before it became a much more regulated area, but as a result, Stonehenge never seems likely to change. The historical preservationist organization that cares for the structure seem to have frozen it in place with only additions and changes to infrastructure around the site. This idea seemed more normal as that has been my general experience. When going to museums like the Tower of London, the pieces within seem to be static and unlikely to ever change. The whole idea of willingness to change was extremely surprising to me, but I am glad that the people of England and its visitors will have spaces that make sense for current uses instead of outdated purposes.

West works of Westminster Abbey. Latest additions include 10 small statues above doorway.

Stonehenge: A Complete Mystery of Use

White Tower within larger Tower of London fortress

Window into the old Monarchy: The Tower of London

Today I am thankful that our group was fortunate enough to have received a tour of Westminster Abbey. From seeing the tombs of Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I, it was only a natural segue that for the museum we were able to venture to on our own was the Tower of London. Upon entering the establishment one immediately spots “Traitor’s Gate”, which Queen Elizabeth I herself passed through while under arrest by her half-sister Mary I. This entry point from the river comes to meet the first set of the Tower’s defenses as its path joins that of the pedestrian to being to pass through the multiple layers of inner fortifications of the Tower. This dense layering most definitely serves its purpose of intimidation upon the pedestrian even today as it proved to be an impenetrable labyrinth of walls we most certainly needed to be guided through. Upon entry into the main center of the Tower, it was incredible to enter the White Tower itself; serving as a fortress, palace, armory, etc. it was well apparent its significance at the literal and contextual core of London’s history. Across from the White Tower the Crown Jewels are housed. To be allowed to view these left me speechless. The items all showcase the deep, rich history of the United Kingdom as one of the world’s foremost empires in history from the sheer grandeur and global utilization of materials for the jewels themselves. I am most thankful to have been able to see them. On a more solemn note however, from the entrance of the Crown Jewels display one is able to gaze upon Tower Green. It is here numerous history shaping, albeit gruesome events took place. For example, Lady Jane Grey, Queen of 9 days before Mary I usurped her on throne, was beheaded here at just age 16; as well as Queen Katherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, just at age 19. Most infamously though, it is also the location of Queen Anne Boleyn’s execution; mother of Queen Elizabeth I and the catalyst for England’s split from the Pope. Anne is buried underneath the floor of the adjacent chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, and to witness the seemingly nondescript tomb of one of the most controversial women in all of history, was well worth the overall ticket price and free choice to visit the Tower of London today in my opinion.

Anne Boleyn’s floor grave marker in chapel

The White Tower

Interior Chapel of St. John

Rescued or Taken Hostage?

I think that the question of whether Britain should return the Elgin marbles definitely can not be answered with a simple yes or no, otherwise I wouldn’t be writhing this blog. I feel that back when Britain “rescued” the marbles and put them on display in 1817, they were a much more civilized and developed country than Athens, Greece was. Therefore this raises the question of was Athen’s capable of properly housing, caring for, and protecting the Elgin Marbles. Who knows, if Britain never moved the marbles, they might not even exist today. However, since we cannot change the past, we must look at the fact that they do exist today, and are a focal point of Athenian and Greek culture. It would be similar to taking the Declaration of Independence from The United States. Therefore, I do feel that now Britain should return the stones or at least have some way of Athens buying or trading back for them.

View from the center of the exhibit

Statues from the frieze

War horse carved depiction

The Peculiar Mixing of the New and the Old

As the days have gone by I’ve come to enjoy London more and more. Many things are different here than in the U.S., but perhaps none as much as the mixing of past and present. In U.S., sites of deep historical significance are few and far between. The ones that do exist are set almost on a stage, in their own environment, removed from the modern world in a way. That is not the case here. There are so many historical sites, too many to see in just 10 days. All of these sites are part of the fabric of London; they sit on the street like every other building. I first noticed this when I saw parts of the old Roman walls. They were just in a little green space, in the shadow of several buildings. I thought it was incredible that these pieces of ancient architecture were just sitting here, free for anyone to climb on, paint on, or just ignore. Although other sites I visited were held in a higher sense of reverence, they were still just sitting there, right next to the sidewalk. As I headed to St. Paul’s Cathedral, I couldn’t help but feel that it was somewhat peculiar to have this grand cathedral on one side of the street and a McDonald’s on the other. Even Westminster Abbey, which is somewhat more isolated as it is next to Parliament, sat right next to the street, with people just driving and walking past trying to get to somewhere else. It just seems wild to me that these buildings and sites of huge cultural and historical significance are framed by, or in the shadow of, apartments, cafes, and commercial businesses. Even when I went to Stonehenge, I couldn’t help but notice that it was not surrounded by a park, but rather farmland, with sheep grazing just a plot of land away. Maybe because Britain, and London more specifically, has so many historic sites, that it would be impossible to give them all the “proper” setting, so instead they are just treated like every other building. Either way, at least I can observe St. Paul’s while eating a Big Mac.

Parts of the Roman walls, just kind of sitting there, seemingly forgotten.

Stonehenge framing a highway

Westminster Abbey siting right behind a flow of traffic

Museums, Greenwich and Cathedrals, Oh my!

On Saturday, the afternoon after we arrived in London, we went to St Paul’s cathedral. The inside was incredibly intricate and vast, the structure is monumental and absolutely gorgeous. We climbed up many compact, winding stairs (through the double dome structure) to get an amazing view of the city, which really helped me to orient myself, and gave a great preview to all the activities and places to look forward to in the coming days.

View out from top of St Pauls towards One New Change shopping mall.

Our second full day in London consisted of a 10 mile walking tour, starting with Monument, then heading down to Tower of London, across Tower Bridge to Tate Modern, a boat out to Greenwich, and finally ending at the Olympic Village. My favorite part of this whole day was visiting Greenwich, where we saw the Painted Hall, The Queens House, and the Prime Meridian. The whole complex was incredibly beautiful, I especially enjoyed the Thornhill paintings in the Painted Hall. We also hiked up the hill to the observatory, and got a great view out towards the Thames.

Ceiling by Thornhill in Greenwich Painted Hall

The next day, we visited the British Museum, where we drew the central plaza and reading room. This was a real challenge, because the ceiling is very complex. My favorite part of the museum was all the Greek statues.

View of Reading Room and ceiling at the British Museum

Blog 1

On Saturday, we were able to go to so many cool places such as Barbican, Museum of London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. We took the tube for the first time from Tottenham Court Road to St. Paul’s on the Central Line! The tube was much cleaner than I could’ve imagine, especially compared to the subway in NYC. It felt very easy to navigate which was very reassuring for the rest of the trip.

Casey and I in the Tube for the first time.

Barbican was a very different building to be in, as I haven’t been in many brutalist buildings before. It was really interesting learning more about Brutalism from Troy’s lecture while we were in the building.

From Barbican we went to the Museum of London. There were a few really cool sections to see, but the most exciting one was definitely the London Wall. Even though it is just a small bit of the wall, it is so amazing to think of how long that has been standing and how much history is within that wall. We got to go all the way up to it, which I wasn’t expecting. The wall was amazing to see, and obviously Casey was very excited about it.

Casey being extremely excited about the London Wall.

After being at the museum we made our way to St. Paul’s Cathedral. This was by far my favorite part of the trip so far. I’ve been in many beautiful churches but this was one of the most amazing churches I’ve ever been in. The dome was unreal and even though the stairs all the way up to the top were extremely difficult, the view from the top was so worth it.

The inside of the dome at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Birds Eye View of London

London has been breathtaking so far. Everything we have visited so far has not been short of amazing. The three places that stood out to me on the first three days of the trip were St. Paul’s Cathedral on day one, The ArcelorMittal Orbit “Twizzler” on day two, and The London Eye on day three. These three sites particularly stand out to me due to their access to view the city from above. What makes it really amazing is that these are three very different structures in different locations around London. All three sites give you a completely different view of the city.

KEEP IT MOVING!!!!

On day one we went to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and it was defiantly worth the 528 step climb to the Golden Gallery at the top. The 85m view of the city gave me a sense of how big London really is. I was amazed by the views looking out from St. Paul’s, but it was also really interesting seeing the openings left in the planning for to city to preserve the views of St. Paul’s. I was so amazed by the view, that I had to take one last photo and in the process of taking it we got yelled at by the worker in the picture to keep it moving.

Bottom of the twizzler looking up.

The 80m tall observation deck that looks over Olympic Park

On day two we went to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and went to the top of the “Twizzler” to go down the curly metal slide. I was not able to get a photo from the top because we couldn’t bring any personal items on the slide. Once we got up to the 80m tall observation deck I was able to get a birds eye view of the Olympic stadium, swimming pavilion and the city from far away.

View from the top of the London Eye.

On day three of the trip we rode The London Eye, the pod took us up 135m to give a nice view of the city and the River Thames. This 360 viewing pod gave me a perfect view of the city from every angle and helped me understand the scale of everything in the city a little bit more.

A Dreary (At Times!) and Colorful City

Dear London,

The sun can stay, but please keep away the rain.

The past two days have been jam packed with all kinds of sights and experiences. From Greenwich to Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s to Tate Modern, the London Eye to the Tube, an outdoor market to tea at the National Gallery, the past two days have been nothing short of incredible. Coming into the trip, there was anticipation of less desirable weather with colder temperatures and rain, but nothing could have truly prepared me for the downpour during the walking tour. Watching the sun disappear behind a wall of clouds was certainly a bummer. But, despite small spurts of inclement weather, it has been a joy to get out and explore the city. On Saturday, our group took the time to visit Barbican. I was deeply intrigued by Barbican as it was a planned development. Although I may not love the style of architecture, I can definitely appreciate the intent and desire behind its beginnings. It was the most confusing place though, so I do not understand what the intention may have been by making it so convoluted. Further, as it is a brutalist style of architecture, there is lots of concrete involved in its construction. The concrete gives it a strength and formidability, but, it also results in a bland and dull place. Fortunately, many green spaces and water features were planned into the space which I found to be refreshing. Along all the balconies were planters filled with flowers and other greens that really helped breathe life into the space and added color in a relatively colorless space. In warmer weather, I could definitely see how those spaces would also serve as places for residents to gather as a third place away from home and work. Color has played a very interesting role in the city as it draws people’s attention and highlights London landmarks. Although the sky may have been more dreary and dark during our time spent near Tower Bridge, the brilliant blue combined with its incredible detail, size, and location make it stand out nonetheless. Similarly, the Twizzler in Olympic Park is impossible to miss with its bright red structure that towers above the ground. Lastly, even the use stations contain all kinds of color. The Tottenham Court Road station has beautiful mosaics in the wall made of all shades of tile. The color brings a point of joy and expression to an otherwise darker feeling space so far underground. As the week progresses, I look forward to other sites where I may see brilliant colors such as Kew Gardens.

Courtyard within the greater Barbican complex.

Tower Bridge on Sunday, March 9

The “Twizzler” at Olympic Park

A mosaic wall on the platform for the Tube at Tottenham Court Road station

A City Never Forgets

 

Wren’s Desire

London. Over 2000 years of urban history winding along the Thames. Everywhere one looks there is a constant reminder of the past among the present. Roman masonry across the street from Richard Rogers’ high-tech expressionism. World Heritage Sites among ostentatious skyscrapers. Royal palaces in the foreground of world financial centers. Olympic villages on top of reclaimed brown fields.

As London has evolved, it’s kept much of its previous DNA, even if as appendices in  many cases. As the city continues to change, what will we decide to save and discard? The things we produce and keep as a society reflect our needs and values. London is an incredible menagerie of what we hold dear, even if for the wrong reasons.

If New York was delirious then London is raw. Faced with confronting plague, the Great Fire, and the Blitz, it has kept its markers of preservation while carrying on with progress.

 

 

London Wall and 88 Wood Street

Tower of London and Beyond

Queen’s House and Canary Wharf

Blog 1 (B)

For our first day it was great to kick it off with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. While here, to witness the architecture of Christopher Wren was breathtaking above the ground, however during exploring the entire site I ventured down to the crypt and found some equally inspiring architectural moments I wished to sketch. In this sketch I wished to capture 2 key elements. First, the vaulting structure of the supporting ceiling captured my attention. The way in which the vault itself meets the elements of the column displays an interesting juxtaposition from a streamlined architectural support system into a detailed one. Second, the shadows created by the light in the crypt I personally found to be extremely beautiful. Practicing shadowing in sketches is a keen interest of mine and I hoped this sketch would provide the opportunity to further explore and perfect my technique.

Specifically the area sketched in question was the central space in front of the back chapel altar

Jack’s Day 1 Blog Post

Ever since I applied for this class and was accepted I couldn’t wait to see Saint Paul’s because of it being such an iconic landmark of London for its beautiful architecture and astronomical scale. Therefore, not having to wait the whole trip to see it was definitely a bonus as well. When we first arrived I was immediately blown away by the scale of things but also by just how ornate and detailed every inch of the cathedral was. There wasn’t a missing detail and nothing looked anything less than perfect. We ventured up to the golden gallery first which definitely wasn’t made with the thought of taller people. However by the time you got up there the views were breathtaking. It was also somewhat scary thinking you were that high up and just a railing was there to stop you if you tripped however I became more and more comfortable and got the take in the amazing panoramic views. Overall, Saint Paul’s was everything I thought it would be and more. Now I am excited to see Westminster Abbey and how it compares to Saint Paul’s. I am sure it will be equally fantastic and cannot wait to see Henry VII’s chapel with its one of a kind ceiling.

Northern End of the Transepts

St. Paul’s Dome

Gates leading into the choir

The British Museum, is it right?

Today we went to the British Museum. I had a great time as there was so much to see. One of the best things about the Museum was its vast collections of artifacts and art from all over the world. However, the location of those pieces here in London raises questions concerning Britain’s (and other nations) history of “relocating” or “saving” items of cultural significance from around the world. While admiring all of the artwork, I couldn’t help but ponder on whether the British Museum should be allowed to hold such important pieces of other societies. On one hand, I would argue that it is good that the British Museum has done this, as someone like me can visit one place and see art from all over the world, dating back thousands of years. London, being such an international city, provides easy access for all of the world to experience those works of art. Had those pieces stayed in their places of origin, I would not have been able to see Greek pottery, Roman sculptures, Egyptian mummies, Chinese jade jewelry, and so much more in just one day. Most likely, I, and many other people, would have never been able to experience any of those things. On the other hand, I would argue that there is something not quite right with someone growing up in Greece, living within eyesight of the Parthenon and never seeing the Parthenon Marbles while a kid living in England could see them whenever they choose. The more I think about it, the harder it is for me to say that it’s okay. Why does England (and several other countries) get to take the most incredible pieces of culture from all over the world and keep them for themselves? Imagine if the U.S. (or any other country) just took the Crown Jewels and held them in a museum. I think everyone would agree that that isn’t right, so what’s different about what England has done? Nevertheless, I am grateful that I was able to visit the British Museum and experience all of “its” wonders.

Me displaying Greek Statues

A bronze Chinese sculpture

Me wondering if the Parthenon marbles should be housed in England