A Visit to Lincoln Center

4/23/06 | republicanprofessor

[Republicanprofessor]

I'm so outdated.

Thanks for the update. I had seen the Tully images when I was doing a search for images but I had not found the facts of the update that you posted.

Thanks.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. Interesting.

[TBP]

A great place, and thank you for reminding this old New Yorker of a favorite place of mine.

BTW, O'Neill's across the street is a nice place to eat.

Are you aware that the street used in the movie version of "West Side Story" was eliminated to make room for Lincoln Center?

[finnman69]

Other good articles on Lincoln center can be found in this forum. Lately there seems to be a backlash at the renovation plans for the North Campus. The reflecting pool is gorgeous as is. I would not mind seeing the huge overhead bridge on 65th taken down. I think the other Diller Scofido designs for AlicE Tully Hall are too out of place and detract from the overall masterplan, which although nnot flawless, is decent.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3547&highlight=lincoln+center

[LexBaird]

The L.A. County Museum of Art used to be of the same architectural style as the Lincoln Center, but in the '80s, they built an unattractive slab of a building in the front court of an entirely different style which obsures the original buildings almost completely.

You can see a small piece of the old building in the lower right.

[Republicanprofessor]

Unfortunately, styles change all too quickly in our country, and I think especially quickly in Los Angeles. Thus they felt the International Style out of date in the 1980's and updated the LA County Museum with the new Postmodern style, which now looks bulky, ugly, and dated.

I think 50 years is usually the dangerous time. When a work of architecture is about 50 years old, it is apt to be too dated and in danger of being torn down. But if one would wait another 50 years, it would have been heralded as a fine antique of its era.

In Europe, works are not old until they are closer to 500 years old, and there is less random tearing down and rebuilding according to temporary fashion.

I should probably visit the LA County Museum of Art before pronouncing such qualities as ugly, etc. I don't know when I'll next get to the Left Coast, however.

[iceskater]

I was at the Lincoln Center on Saturday night to see Carmen!!
We probably passed each other in the crowds. :)

Unfortunately, much of the architecture was obscured by all the rain so I appreciate this timely post.

I did get to spend a few hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Saturday afternoon. I really only had time to see some of the French Impressionists. I will have to go back to spend more time there, that's for sure.

[Republicanprofessor]

Carmen is also a wonderful opera!

It was very frustrating to be in NYC and not see any museums. I really want to see the David Smith retrospective at the Guggenheim. But we'll see if we can make another trip soon.

[iceskater]

I had never been to the opera before so I think I picked a good one to start with. I really enjoyed it.

I'm glad I could squeeze in some time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But, of course, now I want to go back and spend much more time there.

[LexBaird]

I think 50 years is usually the dangerous time. When a work of architecture is about 50 years old, it is apt to be too dated and in danger of being torn down. But if one would wait another 50 years, it would have been heralded as a fine antique of its era.

Ironically, the LACMA bought the old May Co. building a block away for expansion space. It is a wonderful Art Deco style building of '30s vintage, and has been restored.