Architecture can often influence how you perceive a museum; it can sometimes give you an initial idea of what you may find in its collections. In my own experiences, I have found this to be true; an example of this is the Experience Music Project in downtown Seattle. Inspired by the look of a smashed guitar, the building has a lot of curved steel arranged in an eccentric pattern, very much similar to the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain. The EMP, however, has bright colors added to the steel, and it even has the downtown monorail running right through the middle of it. The fact that the museum is designed like this is very appropriate for the content inside. Mostly dedicated to musician Jimi Hendrix, the museum also has a lot of other exhibits dedicated to further enriching guests into the world of music. A huge guitar spiral and guitar room compliment the museum as well, which furthers the notion that the outside design is not only appropriate, but an attraction in and of itself.
KAYLEE “golden girls forever”,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that your other blog topics show pictures of different and unique museum buildings. I would guess that the skin of the museum not only gives you a clue as to what is inside but is also a point of interest and attracts you to want to see what is inside. At first I didn’t agree with Giebelhausen, that the “architecture is the museum”, but the more I think about it, I agree with you, that it is an important piece. I’m looking forward to my first trip to the EMP. I’ve gone past it many times, but have never stopped. The stories from class have made me curious.
I agree with you about the appropriate design of the museum for it's exhibits. The bright colors, cold steel, and modern shapes fit in with both the urban surroundings, and the modern and deeply cultural items in the museum. I didn't know that it was inspired by a smashed guitar...very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI also did not know that the design of the EMP was base on a smashed guitar, and it's appropriate since Jimmy Hendrix, who constitutes a good portion of the museum's permanent displays, was one of the first musicians who became famous for smashing their guitar on stage. There's a funny story about the smashed guitar Hendrix smashed at the Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967, which the EMP has on display. The Who and Jimmy Hendrix were playing and both were known for smashing up their equipment after the show, not wanting to looking like they were copying one another a coin tossed determined who would go on stage first. The Who won the coin toss, went on stage first, and proceeded to smashed up their equipment at the end of their set. At the end of Hendrix's set, not wanting to be out-done by The Who, he symbolically made love to his guitar, set it on fire, and then smashed it. That was pretty original and excellent story to inspire, I guess.
ReplyDelete