Tag Archives: National Civic Art Society

Van Gogh, boring fr. within

Posted on May 24, 2022 by David Brussat

This past weekend we took in the Van Gogh exhibit, called “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” that has taken the country by storm these last few months. Van Gogh isn’t quite my cup of tea, but I was prepared … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Books and Culture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Biden’s putsch at Fine Arts

Posted on May 26, 2021 by David Brussat

President Biden on Monday asked four of the seven members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to resign or be frog-marched out of the picture if they did not do so by 6 p.m. that same day. In his … Continue reading →

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On the Moynihan Train Hall

Posted on January 15, 2021 by David Brussat

News of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Train Hall opening across 8th Avenue from Penn Station in Manhattan is rivaled only by news about the closure of The Vessel, the ridiculous tower of art at nearby Hudson Yards, because of its … Continue reading →

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Betsky on classical popularity

Posted on December 26, 2020 by David Brussat

Before I applaud modernist critic Aaron Betsky’s kind words for classical architecture in the wake of the Harris Poll confirming its popularity, let me note, also with approval, the even more recent article by critic Kriston Capps, entitled “Why Trump’s … Continue reading →

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E.O. just signed by Trump

Posted on December 21, 2020 by David Brussat

I have just now learned that the draft executive order on federal architecture that was leaked last April has today been signed by President Trump. “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again” is now entitled “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture.” I see … Continue reading →

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Fate of E.O. if Biden wins

Posted on November 7, 2020 by David Brussat

I was properly upbraided in a comment on my last post, “Architecture and the ballot box,” for assuming that Joe Biden, if elected president, would not sign a draft proposal to mandate classical architecture for federal buildings. I don’t know … Continue reading →

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Trads trash mods in new poll

Posted on October 22, 2020 by David Brussat

Now would not seem to be the moment for convergence on a major cultural issue in America. Division is everywhere. And yet a new survey by the Harris Poll, done for the National Civic Art Society, shows an overwhelming public … Continue reading →

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Today: Panel on classical EO

Posted on October 19, 2020 by David Brussat

Today at 2 p.m., a distinguished panel on the proposed White House executive order “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again” will be held in Washington. The panel, with Justin Shubow of the National Society of Civic Art, Philip Bess of Notre … Continue reading →

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Nix the San Marco bugaboo

Posted on October 16, 2020 by David Brussat

In my last post, “Neighbors win third straight,” I described the latest zoom meeting of the Providence Historic District Commission, which deferred action for a third (actually, a fourth) straight time on proposals to relocate a historic cottage and to … Continue reading →

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Gehry Ike in its kitschy glory

Posted on August 8, 2020 by David Brussat

Frank Gehry’s monument to hims– oops, I mean to Dwight Eisenhower, does not open to the public until this Sept. 18, pushed back by the pandemic from May 8, the 75th anniversary of his victory in the European theater of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments