Between Silence and Light

between silence + light

I found the title “between silence and light” to be a bit puzzling for my interpretation of these word prompts. I can think of several points in the 19th century that personify the title, but those were not the examples that I linked with the word prompts for this week. I intentionally chose to not go the obvious route this week and talk about the arts and Crafts movement. If I were talking about the Craft movement the title “Between Silence and light” probably would have fit much better. In the end-I felt that the impressions I took from these prompt words better represented myself and my thinking than trying to feign interest in the arts and crafts movement- so this my Opus.

These words are linked together by the 19th century quest to find another kind of balance- the balance between form and function. Increasing awareness and availability of information to a group of highly intelligent and inquisitive architects made the hugely contrasting styles of the 19th century possible.

public/private
“In the United States, where laissez-faire capitalism controlled business and politics, no direction was given to urban growth. In Europe, however, where governmental and bureaucratic control was more customary, steps were taken to shape urban growth…” (Roth 491).
Roth spends a great deal of time giving statistics on the growth of cities in the nineteenth century. His numbers show that growth of cities was exponential in both Europe and America. I found it interesting that after the above quote-Roth immediately described the dreary state of Paris before the "steps were taken to shape growth," making his above argument seem, at least for a short period of time, contradictory.

1--2

The mid-nineteenth century was a time of transition

and of growth for cities, business and trade. The
ground floors of these residences on Water Street in
Philadelphia, Pa



If you didn't know that these two images came from two different countries- you might assume that the photo on the right came from Paris- It seems as though neither America nor Europe could adequately handle the population boom of the 19th century.

language
Language is the most basic unit of common understanding and communication. If two people understand a common language they should be able to understand each other on at least a word-for-word basis. Sir George Gilbert Scott, an architect and designer of High Victorian Gothic style building sought to send a message that didn’t require the use of words, but drew on the common understanding that experiences create for a people. John Ruskin, architectural critic described, “…external representation of internal function through varied building masses and in expressive use of various building materials in their natural colors…” as one of the primary goals of architecture (Roth 484).

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The different ways that buildings can portray the function of their interior on the exterior is clear in this photograph. St. Pauls is very clearly a church- then just across the street- The Guaranty Building is a bit of a misnomer!

technique
“While the students at the Ecole des Beaux Arts were taught structural design and construction techniques, design instruction at the Ecole des Beaux Arts focused strongly on plan organization, with a view to the simplest possible circulation into and through the building, as well as on expression of the character of the function being housed.” (Roth 499)

4-5
Ecole des Beaux Arts

Necessary for the development of any fine art is the availability of a good education. Variety of educational resources is as necessary, if not more, to the development of one's individual technique. Art is only heightened by the push and pull that are created by the ego.

craft
“Nearly all these late-nineteenth-century architects had extensive academic training and ready access to huge libraries of photograph, monographs, and illustrated portfolios covering the rich panoply of past architectures. They used an eclectic approach to design, but based on academic knowledge and restraint.” (Roth 506)
It is important for the refinement of a craft that professionals have a healthy interest in historical information and documentation of generations past. While creativity is worth its weight in gold, there is only so much that an artist can do without inspiration.

virtual
Princeton’s wordnet dictionary defines the word “virtual” as “(a): existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact.” Skyscrapers are the virtual Gods of the metropolitan city. Roth quotes Louis H. Sullivan, “to his definition of the modern commercial skyscraper: ‘It must be every inch a proud and soaring thing, rising in sheer exultation that from bottom to top it is a unit without a single dissenting line.” (Roth 509).

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1. Photo courtesy of Free Library of Philadelphia. http://www.census.gov/history/www/economic/010887.html
2. photo not cited- found via google through wikimedia.
3. Promotional Photograph for the City of Buffalo- http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/visitors/tours/driving.asp
4. Found on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/28905170@N00/3050137603/
5.Found on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/28905170@N00/3327787451/