Weekend Reflection

Looking into a revolving door.

For other reflection photos visit James here

Muehlebach Hotel II

Most of this looks original although the lights above the counter are new.

This is still in a conference dining area and obviously is no longer in use.

Muehlebach Hotel Light

The historic Muehlebach Hotel in downtown Kansas City was built in 1915.  It was visited by every President from Theodore Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan.  This is now one of three wings of the Marriott Downtown and looks to serve as a banquet area.  No one was in the area when I walked in last week.

Does anyone know the theme for April?

Wednesday Doorway

Hotel Phillips built in 1931 in Downtown.

Central Library II

More details from inside the lobby.

Library Vault

The old bank vault is now a movie theatre.

Central Library

This lobby was originally built as a bank lobby in 1906.  This was magnificently rich and appropriate space for a bank lobby.  The library consists of five floors, the lobby houses popular reading materials.

After a buy out of the bank I worked for in New Mexico, I was brought to KC and worked for this bank.  Not in this particular building but I visited this building many times as it housed the administrative offices of the bank.  After many buyouts my department was downsized and I have found my way elsewhere.  I remember special evening events held on these marble floors.

Parking Garage

Downtown in the Library District

Zahner Campus

 I am always drawn to architecture modern and historic.  As I drove to the 18th and Vine District my eye caught this unique building.  At that time I was not impressed with the shot I captured, so had to get another.  Upon research I found out this is the A Zahner Campus.  Zahner is known throughout the world for it's precision craftmanship in it's production of design by bold architects

Zahner has been on projects for the 

September 11 Museum

Dream Downtown in NYC

Art Gallery of Alberta

200 Eleventh in Chelsea

McCoy Federal Building Jackson, Mississippi

Cooper Union Academic Building, Manhattan

Lake Whitney Water Purification Facility and Park

These are just a few of the outstanding buildings in A Zahner's portfolio.  I enjoyed looking at all the designs of unique buildings.

Thinker at 9th and Central

At times I think I have exhausted my exploration of downtown KC, but everytime I take a different street in the early morning on my way to work, I find something new.  I found this piece of art on a parking garage and stopped to shoot it.  It wasn't until I uploaded that I saw this group of lights represented the thinker.  I could find nothing about this art online and perhaps missed the artist on my quick stop for the shot.

I love downtown Kansas City for it's old historic building mixed with modern and the art displayed throughout.  I am once again headed to downtown to collect some more photos of the area.  I hope to get inside some of the buildings that are locked on the weekends mornings when I usually explore.

Reclining Figure: Hand

One more from the KC Sculpture Park.



I promise to get out for more photos this week, I have work long, long hours for the last 3 months and finally have a couple of extra days off.  Thank you all for bearing with my lengthy series.

Gem Theatre

The Gem Theatre was built in 1912 as a silent movie house catering to the African American audiences.  Today the state of the art theatre showcases local and national Jazz groups.  This is located in the 18th and Vine Jazz district

Rockhurst

Not far from the Nelson-Atkins Museum is Rockhurst University, founded in 1910 by the Jesuits.  Most buildings in the area built of limestone, a natural resource found in Kansas City.

Shuttlecocks

Although these photos were only taken two weeks ago, the scene has changed due to warm weather and rain.  The grass is green and the trees have buds.  There are 4 shuttlecocks on the lawns of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art by
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.  This is the only one on the north side of the museum looking out toward the homes across the street.  I thought the one to the left looked slightly airborne.

Do enjoy your Sunday!

Weekend Reflection

Looking into the new Block building with a rainbow reflected Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

To see more photos with reflections click here.

Ferment

Ferment by Roxy Paine was installed last spring.

Large Totem Head

This sculpture by Henry Moore.  The museum has the largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures outside of his home country of England.  When I moved to Kansas City in 1995 and first visited The Nelson-Atkins and the sculpture park, it was called the Henry Moore sculpture park.  Tomorrow I will bring you the lastest sculpture added to the park last year.

Standing Figures

 

Standing Figures by Magdelena Abakanowicz.  The artist asks what is your interpretaion of this piece.  It reminds me of soldiers and war.  

Totem Pole

Totem Pole by Kenny Mowatt and Charles Heit

Three Bowls

Three Bowls by Ursula von Rydingsvard

Here birdie

The shuttlecocks on the lawn of The Nelson-Atkin Museum of Art by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in 1994.  Each shuttlecock weighs 5,500 pounds, stands almost 18 feet tall and 16 feet in diameter.

Weekend Reflections

 Rumi by Mark di Suvero

North of the Nelson

To see more photos of reflections click here

New Mormon Temple

On my drive to work Tuesday morning I crested a hill and saw a glow of white light in the skyline and immediately knew it was the New Temple.  I displayed this new temple previously here.  Since there is no skyline except tree line in the Northland this huge white glow could be seen for miles.

Grounds

 The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art sits on 22 acres of well designed gardens, lawns, sculptures and reflecting pool.  The above shot shows the original building built in 1933, the addition on the right is the new Bloch Building opened in 2007.
The Block Building is named in honor of Henry W. Bloch and his wife Marion.  Mr Bloch is the Chairman of the Nelson-Atkins Board of Trustees.  Henry Block founded H&R Bloch with his brother Richard here in Kansas City in 1955.

Art and Knowledge

On an exterior wall of The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

The Thinker

Although this piece is in the permanent collection of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, an exhibit inside consist of 40 bronze Rodin sculptures from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation.  Since I was in the sculpture park early in the morning the museum had not yet opened.  I will be visiting this exhibit in the near future.  This is a cast of the original located in Paris.

I read a book about Rodin years ago. His life was quite compelling.

Rush Hour

I visited the KC Sculpture Park on the grounds of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art this morning.  I showed you many sculptures a year ago, but I had not made it all the way around the park.  I caught the other half of the sculptures which I will be bringing you this week.  This piece is by George Segal.

Stained Glass

Grand River Chapel, was constructed in 1918 in Jameson, MO.  In 1992 it was deconstructed and moved to this site on William Jewell College campus.

Jameson, MO is about an hours drive north of Liberty, MO.  It is an amish community and fun to explore.  It has been years since I visited and would be a great photo opportunity.

Weekend Reflection

 Two photos today, one has a reflected Charlie Parker that I displayed earlier this week and Charlie is in the background of the other.  I sure hope everyone is safe from yesterday's outbreak of tornadoes in the south.  To see other weekend reflections click here.