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Asamkirche, Munich

Asamkirche or St. John Nepomuk Church, 1733-1746 The Church is divided into three levels. The first level which is dimly lit is where ordinary worshippers sit for the service. The second level with the balcony is for the Emperor. The top level which benefits from light emanating from the windows, is dedicated to God. So there is an established hierarchy in the church - ordinary people, the Emperor and God. Above the lower altar are the figures of the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and Jesus on the cross. The ceiling fresco depicts the life of St. John Nepomuk, a martyr of the Catholic church. It was painted by Cosmas Damian Asam who was schooled in Rome. Notice the beautiful gallery reserved for the Emperor. Check out one of the confessionals with cherubs. View of the left side of the church from the main portal. The golden sun symbolizes eternal love. This is found in the vestibule of the church. One of the core themes of Asamkirche is the sanctity of the seal of confession which is why...

Taking Notice of Airport Art

The Canyon, Gordon Huether, 2020 Are you one of those travelers who rush through airports, train and metro stations to your designated gate/quay as soon as you clear Customs and TSA? If so you may have missed some interesting and intriguing artworks which are now mainstays in many terminals around the world. The Louvre-Rivoli metro stop in Paris displays replicas of sculptures from its museum collection like the Venus de Milo. And I recently found out that there is an archaeological museum at Istanbul Atatürk International Airport. So if you have some time to spare, check out the beautiful works of art at your next airport, train/metro stop. The Canyon installations span 362 feet and are made of 500 individual tensile membrane fins with an aluminum frame wrapped in fabric material. Huether was inspired by the canyons of Utah and how light transformed the rock formations. He brought his impressions to the new terminal at Salt Lake City International Airport complete with an immersive li...

Munich was luminous

Munich was luminous.  A radiant, blue-silk sky stretched out over the festive squares and white-columned temples, the neoclassical monuments and Baroque churches, the spurting fountains, the palaces and gardens of the residence, and the latter’s broad and shining perspectives, carefully calculated and surrounded by green, basked in the sunny haze of a first and lovely June day.  Thomas Mann, Gladius Dei, 1902 Neue Rathaus and Marienplatz A radiant, blue-silk sky stretched out over the festive squares  Frauenkirche ...and white-columned temples St. Michael's Kirke ...and Baroque churches Karlsplatz Stachus ...the spurting fountains Nymphenburg Palace ...  the palaces and gardens  Gardens of Nymphenburg Palace ...and surrounded by green, basked in the sunny haze of a first and lovely June day.   Then (1902) and now (June 2017). Note : The palace that Thomas Mann was referring to is the...