Chapter 4 - Architecture

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Architect -Unknown. May have been designed by Bonanno Pisano and Guglielmo of Innsbruck

"Leaning Tower of Pisa"

     This peice of remarkable architecture is located in Pisa, Italy. I chose this peice because I am Itailan and I love learning about the history and culture from Italy any chance I get. I have always wanted to visit this place and take a picture of me trying to hold it up. 

     This tower is 191 1/2 feet tall and has an estimated weight of about 14,500 tons. It was built in the 11th century and was not intended to be a leaning tower. This was to be a cathedral bell tower and the architect didn't account for the base of the tower being built on a dense section of clay causing the leaning. Until 1990 the tower leaned at a 10 degree angle, and now has an angle of 5.5. That is a huge difference. From start to finish, the leaning tower of Pisa took over 800 years to be constructed- probably the longest construction time in the world! If not for the tower's lean it would not be a historic landmark that everyone knows and loves today. This is an example of how a simple mistake can change everything and what makes our world so unique and beautiful.
     As far as the architecture goes it has intricate carvings, columns, archs, and arcades. A lot of repitition adds to this buildings beauty going completely around it. Proportion at one time might have been then but as I explained has had some issues with the soil underneath. The architect did not account for his context, or environment. Which was a mistake at the time but turned out to be a great way for us to always remember his peice.

Sculpture Post - Chapter 3

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"Agora"

Artist: Magdalena Abakanowicz

This is a peice of 106 nine foot tall torso and leg sculptures walking in all different directions made from cast iron. The name Agora comes from the Greek meaning "meeting place." Growing up Magdalena was obsessed with the image of crowds. She states, "I suspected that under the human skull, instincts and emotions overpower the intellect without us being aware of it.” This is why I feel she did not include any heads with her sculptures. The fact that she used cast iron was thought out I believe. Knowing these would be outside and get wet and rust leaves a bit of rust color on the ground by the feet. This could be interpreted as a shadow.

For me this sculpture speaks to me because I have seen it first hand. It is one thing to see a photograph, but a completely different thing to stand right next to the nine foot tall sculptures. I saw them from far away and remember running over to see them and could not stop taking pictures. I was using my sight, my touch, and even my smell while I was examining them. 

Picture Post - Chapter 2

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"The Dream of Reason Brings Forth Monsters"

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes

This is a piece with a person asleep. Surrounding him are everyday animals such as owls and types of cats. Owls are a symbol for wisdom and cats very sneaky creatures. Dreams can be beautiful things but if not controlled with reason as Goya depicts here, it can bring darkness and "monsters." 

Goya explained for the description of his piece that, "Imagination, if not restrained by reason, brings forth monsters, but combined with reason is the mother of the arts and the source of wonders." This quote when I read it really jumped out at me. I feel imagination is one of the greatest powers a human being can have but if you don't give yourself boundaries it can quickly get out of hand and bring you trouble. As you look deeper into the picture you will notice the animals get darker and the owls standing for wisdom and knowledge are now changing into dark figures and eventually into bats. Bats, for me, are a symbol of evil, or demon-like creatures. 

Goya is obviously very talented. He constructed this piece of art with freehand lines and etching. He focused most detail on just a few of the creatures giving them a dramatic feel, while the others were not as time consuming. The burst of light and dark effects with this piece are very influential representing good and evil. As imagination starting out pure and harmless (good) but without boundaries or reason to go with it you see the dark figures (evil).