Art in Architecture

To me, art is expressing yourself in any way you feel passionate. By my definition, art will be different for every single person. I think this is true because art is something you have to have emotions for and feel strongly about. Since each person is different from the next, it is fair to say that the concept of art will change for everyone. I think that any form of personal expression to anyone is considered art, as long as someone is able to connect to it.

Being an engineer, the type of art which intrigues me the most is architecture. I really appreciate buildings and structures, and enjoy seeing all the different styles around the world. One of my favorite things to see when I go on vacations and travel are the famous structures that are near the area. I am very math and physics minded and love being perplexed by how some structures can even stand. My family went to Key West last spring and I got to see the 7 mile bridge. I was really excited to see it because I think it is amazing that we as humans can build a 7 mile bridge over an ocean and have it stand for going on 30 years now. I believe architecture counts as an art because the designs bridges and buildings have aren’t just functional; they are also made for aesthetic appeal. When the engineers constructed the 7 mile bridge, they designed it first to make it structurally sound, but secondly to give it a personal touch. If another engineer were to design it, it is safe to say the bridge wouldn’t look the same.

Along those lines, I am a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural work. He has many different structures in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which are my home state and where I live. His personal touch to all of his pieces makes each structure what it is, and I really appreciate every aspect of what he does. I really like his idea of creating structures “of the land, not on the land.” His best representation of this, in my opinion, is Falling Water located in our very own Pennsylvania. This building is literally built on top of a waterfall and on a rock, amongst the woods. There are parts of the building that wrap around the trees creating courtyard-like areas, and this makes the house look like it actually belongs there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater

Obviously architecture isn’t the only thing that I consider art, but it is one of the types that I appreciate the most. There are also types of art that I don’t love, but I respect and appreciate for what they are. The main example I feel this way about is musicals. I have been to my fair share of them, and seldom do I love them afterwards. However, I admire how much effort goes into them and how impressive both the acting and singing aspects of them are.

If you want to be be amazed, creeped out, concerned, intrigued, and a whole slew of other emotions, take some time and watch this conspiracy video about the Denver Airport. Through architecture, art, and structure, you will see some fairly questionable things that link the art involved in the airport to a story involving the Illuminati.