Friday, May 18, 2012
This week, I’m co-hosting FriFotos with Laura of About London and the weekly, founding team of Stephanie, Charles, and Jonathan. I’m super excited about this week’s theme of Holy Places because so many places across the world are holy to different cultures. Natural formations, historic architecture, certain spots that have been temples/churches/mosques for centuries, food meccas, etc. I think this week is going to have many, many fantastic photos.
I deliberated between literal or figurative interpretations of holy places and had to make a compromise to myself. This post will feature literal holy places, but I’m going to share more figurative holy places throughout the day on Twitter. Be sure to check out the hashtag on Twitter for fab shots and my feed for RTs of ones I love.
Newgrange in Co. Meath, Ireland was an important site to the ancient culture over 5000 years ago. Every year on the morning of the winter solstice, the interior chamber lights up with sunlight.
The Pantheon as we see it now is the second iteration of a temple to all of the Roman gods. It was immediately transitioned into a Christian church when Christianity became the official religion of the Empire. It's been used as a holy site for 2000 years.
This stone is the highlight of Quo Vadis Church in Rome along the Via Appia Antica. Legend says that this exact stone is where St. Peter heard the voice of God asking him where he was going (eg. quo vadis in Latin), and where he turned around to return to Rome and ultimately get crucified.
Glendalough in Ireland was originally an early medieval hermit site that was converted into a monastery in the Middle Ages. It was used as a local parish up through modern times.
The New Mosque in Istanbul dates from the 16th century, and it is still a working mosque today. Though Turkey has a secular government, you're constantly reminded that Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire with its numerous mosques. Many were converted Byzantine churches, and many of those churches were built on Greek and Roman temple sites.
St. Peter's: you can't cover holy places and not mention it. This current church replaced a 4th century basilica when the Vatican realized Florence had bigger, grander churches which challenged their power. Random fact: there are no paintings in St. Peter's. Everything is sculpture, mosaic, or inlay work.
Here's a detail of Doubting Thomas on the exterior of La Sagrada Familia. Hagia Sophia was built in the 5th century in 5 years; La Sagrada Familia was started in the late 19th century and is hoping to be finished in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death. Quite a difference in building times.
Basilica Cathedral in St. Louis, MO is modeled after San Marco in Venice which is modeled after Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. So it's like three churches in one.
What’s #FriFotos? It’s a weekly Twitter event, with a different theme each week, founded by @EpsteinTravels where people from all over the world share their favorite pics. Search #FriFotos on Twitter to see everyone’s submissions.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
This Friday, many art museums in North America are participating in Art Museum Day as part of the larger International Museum Day being celebrated across the world. To quote the Association of Art Museum Directors:
Art Museum Day is an opportunity to focus attention on the role of art museums in North America as part
of a larger worldwide initiative. ICOM’s International Museum Day (http://icom.museum/imd.html) has
been celebrated all over the world since 1977, to encourage public focus on the museum as “an institution
in the service of society and of its development.”
Even the visitors kiosk at the DeCordova is sculptural.
It’s a great opportunity to check out a museum you may have never visited and to connect with the cultural institutions in your area. I’ve highlighted the Boston area art museums that are participating. For other AAMD Art Museum Participants, click here. For International Museum Day participants, click here.
(Updated) Peabody Essex Museum: 3 free months of membership if you join on 4/18. More details coming soon. They have a huge, diverse collection and are expanding (again!) to house it all.
Institute of Contemporary Art: free 5-9 pm. Be sure to check out the Charline von Heyl exhibit. I attended the press preview for it and loved her work.
Harvard Art Museum’s Sackler Museum: free all day May 18. The Sackler currently has a “best of the collections” of Harvard’s three art museums while they work on renovation and expanding on their property on Quincy Street to house all three collections under one roof.
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park: free all day May 18. Please note that only the Sculpture Park is open as they install their summer exhibition.
Monday, May 14, 2012
I’m heading to Montreal in two weeks to check out the food and art scene. It’s going to be a quickie, long weekend road trip so I have limited time. Montreal is about 5 hours from Boston, so it’s a pretty manageable road trip and a nice getaway. I haven’t really travelled since we moved here; we’ve focused more on exploring the city and neighborhoods around us. So I’m stoked to do a 180 (let’s see how much French I remember after taking it for 6 years) and leave the country for a few days.
Look forward to beer tasting, art biennials, a performance art piece and more. I’ll be tweeting, Instagramming, and more while there. And you know I’ll fill you in on the fun here on the blog. I’ll be using the #ASenseOfMontreal hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, too.
My Sunday and Monday morning have some wiggle room to add a few things to the current itinerary. Any ideas or suggestions? We’re staying near the Old City and near the Latin Quarter if that helps. Any offbeat discoveries that you made on a trip there? Or has anyone tried the duck confit poutine that’s calling my name with its ducky siren song? Are there any huge suspension bridges between Boston and Montreal that I need to know about? I really, really hate suspension bridges and will make the hubs drive that leg. I’d love to hear any recommendations or suggestions.
Photo by Francois_Brodeur via Pinterest.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
I could not get over the colors and patterns in the rooms at Topkapi Palace. The Harem was even more intricate. These rooms were off limits to visitors during the days of the sultans. Each room was essentially a gilded jail cell as many family members were kept locked up in these rooms to protect them from assassination plots from rival family members. To imagine that this room was were some people spent most of their lives is kind of crazy.
Friday, May 11, 2012
This week’s FriFotos is all about paradise. I’m expecting tons of beach photos this week, but that’s not my version of paradise. I’m an architecture junkie and a bit of a foodie. So my paradise involves good food, good drinks, and an amazing architectural back drop. Here’s a visual representation of what makes me happy.
The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto: what more could you want than a museum full of shoes??
Hagia Sophia: I nearly died from happiness when I got to visit last September. I spent a LONG time taking A LOT of photos there. Sigh.
La Sagrada Familia may or may not have elicited a happy dance.
A vineyard in Napa on a gorgeous day in September. Doesn't really get better than that.
Really, does this even need an explanation?
Guinness Storehouse with a mini glass of Guinness. I could live there.
Have you ever been to the Lindt factory in Zurich? It smells like what I think Willy Wonka's factory would smell like. Melted chocolate-y goodness.
What’s #FriFotos? It’s a weekly Twitter event, with a different theme each week, founded by @EpsteinTravels where people from all over the world share their favorite pics. Search #FriFotos on Twitter to see everyone’s submissions.
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