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The Guggenheim Museum is like Mecca for any Frank Lloyd Wright fan. Well, after Falling Water of course. I hadn’t descended the famed ramp yet and had just peered in at the atrium last time. This time, however rains and the company of my Mama, Mami, and cousin (all three are architects too), the decision to visit Guggenheim was almost unanimous. Like typical desis (and other freeloaders from other countries) we waited for the ‘pay as you wish’ hour. As soon as we entered, we headed toward the elevator as you should whilst in Guggenheim. You begin exploring the museum from the top and work your way downwards along the ramp. You see the artwork on the circular walls of the spiral and when you are done, you are at ground level again. However, the Annex, built after FLW’s death and the mirror-like structure (Eye of the Storm) in the atrium totally ruined my perception of the Guggenheim. The Annex, first of all lets visitors drift away from the ramp and go off on a tangent, like any plain-Jane museum. The Guggenheim was supposed to be piece of art in itself; more specially a piece of non-objectivist art. The Annex totally defeats the purpose. I admit that circular walls and the uneven floor of the ramp may not be ideal for a visitor to the museum (main criticisms of Guggenheim), but then the Guggenheim wasn’t your run-of-the-mill museum. You are free to criticize and stay away.
I heard that the artist Daniel Buren spent almost ten years trying to convince museum authorities into displaying his Eye of the Storm. In my opinion, they should let him spend another ten. The mirror ‘scuplture’ in its attempt to be inconspicuous and giving the visitor an illusion of reality only succeeds in goading the visitor to imagine what it would be like if the mirror wasn’t there. Effectively, that is a failure of the structure. Also, the intermittent breaks when you go behind the structure as you descend down the ramp again is contrary to Lloyd’s idea of giving the visitor a seamless perception of his descent to ground level. Also, since refraction and reflection are such bitches, you never get a jointed view of the structure (is it possible?). I had dreamed of taking a wide-angle shot of the atrium lying flat on the ground, getting a clear shot of the glass and the spiraling ramp ever since I was in architecture school. I guess I have to keep that for next time.
If you rather read a layperson’s account of the Guggenheim, hop over to Ash’s Exploration of the Infinite Abyss. Also, check out the Guggenheim photoset at my Flickr page.
by Patrix | on Friday, June 3rd, 2005 at 8:00 am | 
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June 3rd, 2005 at 9:44 am reply
Patrix- For what it’s worth, I visited the Frank Lloyd Wright Church in Sedona, AZ once. It was fantastic sitting up on the red rock in the hills there… I hope you are having a good time!… I also am asking for your perspective. If you get a minute would you give me your comments on a post I have up on Kashmir? I saw some news on the events there this week and posted on it. It seems to be quite a passionate issue- to say the least. Just wondering. Hope you are well!
Jim
June 3rd, 2005 at 3:52 pm reply
Jim - Nice to see you again. I love FLW’s work but hate it when people try to tamper with his original creations.
Regards your post on Kashmir, I just left a detailed comment and have made a short post on your take on the issue. Feel free to check it out.
July 18th, 2005 at 6:04 pm reply
Living in NYC, i make a pilgrimage to the Guggenheim every quarter, or when a new exhibit opens.
I think the museum’s success is how it changed the way museumes were thought of in its day. There are tomes of analysis as to whether it is good or bad, and i wont get into it.
I do disagree with you that the best way to see Guggenheim is by walking down. I personally think its the walk up and the walk down. When you move up u see bits and parts of the art pieces and the whole action of walking up a ramp is very symbolic of walking up towards a summit. It makes the whole process much more engaging.
It may sound wild but to me it is akin to walking up a mountain and then when you reach the top you see down below over everything.
Did u get a chance to see the new MoMA ?? Overall an OK job after all the great publicity for the last 4 years. I wish it was more engaging and tangible, rather than being so pristine and minimalist.