Myth, Music, and the Magical Imagination of Niki de Saint Phalle

The Stravinsky Fountain, Niki de Saint Phalle 1983. Paris, France    

This bright-colored, whimsical creature by Niki de Saint Phalle is a focal point of the Stravinsky Fountain located in the public square near Pompidou Art Centre. The fantasy figure represents a firebird from Russian folklore.  The fountain includes sixteen kinetic sculptures that Niki created in collaboration with her husband, Jean Tinguely. 

In the Firebird fairytale, Prince Ivan is a key character who searches for the elusive firebird at the request of his father.  During his adventurous quest, Ivan fell in love with a beautiful princess. After Ivan completed several tasks to capture the firebird, he lived happily ever after with the princess.

In 1910, the fairytale was adapted to a ballet sponsored by Russian-born Sergei Diaghilev, who directed the productions of the Ballet Russes in Paris.  He commissioned musical composer Igor Stravinsky to create an orchestral suite to coincide with the ballet performance.  So in essence, the fairytale captivated audiences through the creative collaboration of music, dance, theater and the visual arts.  The French title for the Firebird is L’Oiseau de Feu.

Another version of the Firebird by Niki de Saint Phalle, is located outside of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She created an extensive body of public sculpture that can be seen in several European countries, the United States, and Israel.  An exhibition about Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes is featured this summer from May 12 to September 2 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

References:

Stravinsky Fountain. 2007-2012. Niki Charitable Art Foundation.

     http://nikidesaintphalle.org/public/france/paris/stravinsky  (accessed April 3, 2013).

Igor Stravinsky. 2013. Carnegie Hall Corporation.

     http://www.carnegiehall.org/Golden_Age_of_Music_Stravinsky_Firebird 

     (accessed April 3, 2013).

Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes. 2013. The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

     http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/diaghilevinfo.shtm (accessed April 13, 2013).

Face to Face: Chess Players in D.C.

Chess Players. Lloyd Lillie, 1983. Bronze, life-size.  Washington, D.C.

A bronze casting of two chess players is a pleasant surprise for anyone walking through the John Marshall Memorial Park in Washington, D.C.  The park is a tranquil, green space between the U.S. District Court building and the Canadian Embassy. These two bronze figures are seated on a low wall as they consider the next strategic move of their game.  One gentleman holds a bishop in his right hand, as his opponent concentrates on the chessboard’s remaining pieces. These two friends are engaged in a challenge of critical thinking with the goal to checkmate the king, and win the game.  Their attire suggests that they are professionals, perhaps attorneys, who may ultimately be responsible for prosecution or defense in a legal case that they also intend to win.

The surface treatment of each figure indicates the artist’s preference to reveal the original malleable mass of clay that was used to begin the sculpture. This technique, a reminder of the artist’s hand, is also used for expressive purposes.  Sculptors often begin a figure by modeling with clay or wax, and then replace the original material with bronze. As the outdoor sculpture is exposed to changing weather conditions, a green patina has accumulated on the surface as well.  Sometimes, a sculptor will artificially induce the appearance of a patina.

Activities of daily life, have been a popular subject in art, and even though the rules of the chess game are a challenge to learn, it is a form of entertainment that has been enjoyed by many cultures around the world.

References:

Chess History. 2007-2012.The United States Chess Federation.

     http://www.uschess.org/content/view/7326/28/ (accessed March 27, 2013).

John Marshall Memorial Park. 2008. John Marshall Memorial Park Foundation.

     http://www.johnmarshallmemorialpark.org/thevision.html (accessed March 24, 2013).

Lillie, Lloyd. Lloyd Lillie Commissions. 2002. http://lloydlillie.com/lillie_3col_commission.html

     (accessed April 2, 2013).