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August 20, 2008 / Bo Mackison

Milwaukee Art Museum – Caught in Flight

Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee Art Museum

Yes, this is Milwaukee. Isn’t she lovely?

This is the Quadracci Pavillion of the Milwaukee Art Museum, which hugs the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee’s downtown, and has easily become a symbol for the revitalization of the city. The design, built in 2001, features a movable winged structure which stretches a magnificent 217 feet when it is open during the day. It closes, folding on itself, at night or during inclement weather.

The architect, Santiago Calatrava, is world-famous for his playfulness and the use of kinetic features. Some of his work, including both the Art Museum and the renowned Turning Torso in Sweden, is featured in this video. If you like buildings, but not your plain-old-ordinary rectilinear buildings, this guy does some amazing work that is art – in and of itself.

5 Comments

  1. ybonesy / Aug 20 2008 7:33 pm

    I couldn’t decide whether to comment on this or the photo below it of the art museuem. Both are so clean and contemporary; they truly capture what I imagine to be the architectural structure and space.

    This one lends itself well to the black-and-white. It’s like the sail and bow of a ship. Very nice.

  2. montucky / Aug 20 2008 7:38 pm

    It is indeed lovely! An elegant display of lines,

  3. Anna Surface / Aug 21 2008 6:54 am

    Amazing, really. Milwaukee is one place I’d like to visit. I love ‘visionary’ type of architecture which speaks art. Enjoyed this post. Nice, Bo. 🙂

  4. Gandalf / Aug 22 2008 9:32 am

    I’m amazed at Milwaukee. This is a far cry from Laverne & Shirley. 🙂

  5. Bo / Aug 22 2008 1:57 pm

    Milwaukee has it’s problems, as do all larger metro areas – especially in the Rust Belt. But they are making huge efforts to improve and seeing results. It’s really a pleasure to visit. I have my eye on taking a trip to the new ball stadium, Miller Park, to see the Brewers beat the Cubbies.

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