Frank Lloyd Wright's Spiralling Legacy: The Guggenheim Turns 50

New York’s legendary, can’t-miss-it, doesn’t-look-like-anything-else-in-the-world Guggenheim Museum turned 50 last week. If you missed the glowing red lights on top of the Empire State Building in honor of the event, don’t worry--great stuff is happening all year long.
For starters, the Guggenheim highlights the paintings of Vasily Kandinsky, whose work has been an intrinsic part of the Museum’s history. Kandinsky’s work, which focuses on non-objective painting, represents a kind of abstraction in which no recognizable imagery can be seen; before the Guggenheim was, well, the Guggenheim, it was The Museum of Non-Objective Painting, in large part due to its focus on Kandinsky’s work.
As you travel up and down the famous spiral ramp in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building, you can also catch a sculptural installation by Indian-born artist Anish Kapoor, who has had a profound impact on modern sculpture with his fresh approach to material, color and scale. “Memory,” which was commissioned by the museum, is on view through March 28.
While you’re there, take a moment to stand on the ramp and gaze upwards at the extraordinary views and use of space. Wright was not a fan of New York or cities in general, so the museum was built near Central Park to take advantage of its proximity to nature. We can only be glad that it was.
The museum is located at 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street. Call 212- 423-3500 for more information.

The Guggenheim and Frank Lloyd Wright Celebrate a Golden Anniversary

Quick, how many architects can you name?
No, neither can we.
Well, except for Frank Lloyd Wright, and this summer marks the 50th anniversary of his design of New York City’s extraordinary Guggenheim Museum, which is celebrating with an exhibition called “Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward,” running from mid May to August 23.
Co-organized by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the exhibition features 64 projects, ranging from private homes, religious spaces, and government buildings, to designs for buildings that were never created; it also includes some original drawings that have not previously been on public view.
Renowned for creating a form of architecture in which form and function meld seamlessly, Wright’s love of nature and tranquility are highlighted here, as is his elegant use of simplicity.
Displayed on the winding ramps of the Museum, one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, the exhibition highlights the artist’s 72-year career through a range of mediums, such as new 3-D models and digital animation.
The exhibition also includes lectures, children’s programs, and an audio tour.
The museum is located at 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street.
For hours, directions and more information, log onto their website: www.guggenheim.org; or call 212 423-3618.