Like so many others, we are watching our budget. Our love affair with the movies quickly adds up to an expensive one- not only do we love seeing movies in the theater, we also love Netflix. So, I've been pleasantly surprised at the selection of DVD's available at our local library- for free! There are plenty of the usual suspects- documentaries and educational fare, a large selection of classic films and plenty of new releases too. This week we picked up Ken Burn's documentary Frank Lloyd Wright.
Today Frank Lloyd Wright is remembered as the most influential American architect of the 20th century, but it wasn't always so. His career flat lined during his fifties and was resuscitated in his old age. I knew very little about Mr. Wright's tumultuous private life, and this documentary filled in all the heartbreaking details. William Cronon provided insightful commentary on the Mr. Wright's personal philosophy, which was deeply influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson and nature itself.
Perhaps I've just been following The Sartorialist too closely, but the other thing that struck me was Mr. Wright's extraordinary attire. He definitely cultivated a signature look- the pork pie hat, the long silk scarves, the tweeds, the cape, the sharp collars like daggers beneath his saggy chin and the cane with which he denounced all the architecture of his day with a grand flourish. It all looks very deliberate, severe and elegant, just like the man himself.
Wright himself once said, “Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.” That's one way to stick to a budget.
2 comments:
I laughed at that last sentense! When you're fabulous your priorities are different, or you wouldn't be fabulous anymore.
Just saying hello and discovering your blog.
I've been telling people all along. . . come to the library, it's free! But we still mostly get weirdos who appear (and smell) like they have a severe soap allergy and old ladies (reluctant husbands following behind with an enormous pile of books). Anyway, everyone should come to the library. . . it's free!
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