Philip Johnson dies aged 98

[Thur]

http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Philip_Johnson.html
I have very little feeling for architecture, even what might be
called traditional stuff, but my attention was drawn to an arts
program which played a short recording where he seemed to
be repeating a post, or may be two, of mine.

I don't suppose such a figure would even have dreamed of
posting or even lurking near a newsgroup.
(So he wasn't influenced by my posts)

He reminded us that there cannot always be a classical era,
and sometimes levels of art can be of a lesser level.

Therefore I conclude that even a Modernist (or Postmodernist)
can agree with me, and that I have unconciously been thinking
on the same plane as a reputedly "great" figure in the Art World.

:-):-)
Thur

[milt...@hotmail.com]

Philip Johnson Is Dead at 98; Architecture's Restless Intellect
By PAUL GOLDBERGER

"He first became famous as an impassioned advocate of Modern
architecture, and his early writings helped establish the reputation of
European Modernists like Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius in this
country. He began his architectural career as Mies's leading acolyte.
But what fascinated him most was the idea of the new, and once he had
helped establish Modernist architecture in the United States, he moved
on, experimenting with decorative Classicism, embracing the reuse of
historical elements that would become known as postmodernism, and
finally returning again to Modernism, yet one with an expressive and
highly emotional energy. "

New York Times : January 26, 2005

[milt...@hotmail.com]

True enough. Along with working with high Modernists likes Mies,
and supporting pomo architect Michael Graves, he played an important
role promoting modern/postmodern artists.

"Andy Warhol's Thirteen Most Wanted Men is displayed on the side of the
New York State Pavilion at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Flushing Meadow.

The architect who designed the Pavilion was Philip Johnson. He invited
various artists, including Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein,
Robert Indiana, John Chamberlain and Andy Warhol to create art for the
exterior of the building. (DB181/4)"

http://www.warholstars.org/chron/1964.html

Another article on the same fiasco (the mural was censored for PR
reasons):

http://www.carnegieinstitute.org/cmag/bk_issue/1998/sepoct/feat6.htm

He donated a Warhol to the MOMA:

"Andy Warhol. Gold Marilyn Monroe. 1962. Synthetic polymer paint,
silkscreened, and oil on canvas, 6' 11 1/4" x 57" (211.4 x 144.7 cm).
Gift of Philip Johnson. © 2002 Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual
Arts/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York"

http://www.moma.org/collection/depts/paint_sculpt/blowups/paint_sculpt_022.html

and was the subject of one of the artist's 1972 multiple portraits.

[Clem Mattis]

In article <1106956253.9...@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
milt...@hotmail.com says...

>The architect who designed the Pavilion was Philip Johnson.

I believe his finest hour was the "glass house"
he designed which set a new standard for "privacy"
or lack thereof. It incorporates the classical
in the sense of "seeming" to be open-air while
being totally modern in concept and design.