Music Hall Monday: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC

<a href="http://www.visitingdc.com/images/kennedy-center-address.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.visitingdc.com/images/kennedy-center-address.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 239px;" /></a><br />As all eyes of the world are focused on tomorrows inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th President, I thought it was a good week to focus on The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.<br /><br />The Kennedy Center, located on the banks of the Potomac River near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., opened to the public in September 1971. But its roots date back to 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed bipartisan legislation creating a National Cultural Center. To honor Eisenhower's vision for such a facility, one of the Kennedy Center's theaters is named for him.<br /><br />Here is a video of Beyonce singing "The Way We Were" in honor of Barbra Streisand at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors Awards ceremony, held in the Opera House at the Center.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pr15PPIKqyc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pr15PPIKqyc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Center was designed by American architect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Durrell_Stone">Edward Durell Stone</a> (1902-1978). The Kennedy Center features a 630-foot long, 60-foot high grand foyer. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_M._Harris">Cyril M. Harris </a>designed the interiors and auditoriums - including the double box design used to keep out the noise of air traffic. The three main theaters at the Kennedy Center are the Opera House (2,300 seats), Concert Hall (2,441 seats), and the Eisenhower Theater (1,100 seats).<br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/KennedyCenterFromAir2.JPG/800px-KennedyCenterFromAir2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/KennedyCenterFromAir2.JPG/800px-KennedyCenterFromAir2.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 442px; height: 332px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wrldesign.com/images/MS_JFK01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.wrldesign.com/images/MS_JFK01.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 427px;" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/judithsydney/InsidetheKennedyCenter.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/judithsydney/InsidetheKennedyCenter.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 274px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh3.google.com/maskirovka77/R0B61VERp2I/AAAAAAAAK5M/tEF2P4OPoqo/s400/KennedyCenter010.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://lh3.google.com/maskirovka77/R0B61VERp2I/AAAAAAAAK5M/tEF2P4OPoqo/s400/KennedyCenter010.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" /></a><br />Sweden's gifts to the Kennedy Center are 18 Orrefors crystal chandeliers and matching wall sconces that need a total of 8,000 lightbulbs. Each chandelier is 15 feet long, seven feet in diameter and weighs one ton.<br /><a href="http://www.wrldesign.com/images/MS_JFK06.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.wrldesign.com/images/MS_JFK06.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 427px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://belvairformodernliving.1stdibs.com/archives/upload/8095/260/orrefors1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://belvairformodernliving.1stdibs.com/archives/upload/8095/260/orrefors1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 164px;" /></a>Orrefors crystal chandeliers from the Kennedy Center available at<a href="http://belvairformodernliving.1stdibs.com/itemdetails.php?id=109628"> Belvair for Modern Living</a>.<br /><br />Eight mirrors, 58 feet high and nine feet wide, are Belgium’s gift to the Kennedy Center.<br /><br />Twenty brass planters along the Grand Foyer and throughout the building are India’s gifts to the Center.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rachelleb.com/images/thanksgiving_2003/kennedy_center_jfk_bust_front.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.rachelleb.com/images/thanksgiving_2003/kennedy_center_jfk_bust_front.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 442px;" /></a><br /><span class="thirteen">Bust of President John F. Kennedy by American sculptor<a href="http://robertberksstudios.com/"> Robert Berks</a><br /><br /></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.wrldesign.com/images/MS_JFK05.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.wrldesign.com/images/MS_JFK05.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 427px;" /></a><a href="http://www.rachelleb.com/images/thanksgiving_2003/kennedy_center_flags.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.rachelleb.com/images/thanksgiving_2003/kennedy_center_flags.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 387px;" /></a><br />The crystal chandeliers in the main <span style="font-weight: bold;">Concert Hall</span> were made by <a href="http://hadeland-glassverk.no/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=47">Hadelands Glassworks</a><a href="http://hadeland-glassverk.no/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=47"> </a>and were a gift from Norway.<br /><a href="http://www.zvents.com/images/internal/7/2/1/1/img_211127_primary.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.zvents.com/images/internal/7/2/1/1/img_211127_primary.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 184px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2590325470_06d8bcf541.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2590325470_06d8bcf541.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 322px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2589489625_e4091b2633.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2589489625_e4091b2633.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 431px; height: 323px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Opera House</span> is the setting for the annual Kennedy Center Honors televised event celebrating the highest honor for the performing arts. The crystal chandelier by <a href="http://www.lobmeyrusa.com/">Lobemyr</a> was a gift from Austria.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.quinnevans.com/images/photo_opera_vert.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.quinnevans.com/images/photo_opera_vert.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 234px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/national-monuments-kennedy-center-for-the-performing-arts-national-memorial-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/national-monuments-kennedy-center-for-the-performing-arts-national-memorial-2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 171px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.quinnevans.com/images/photo_opera_horz.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.quinnevans.com/images/photo_opera_horz.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 229px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh6.google.com/maskirovka77/R0B9hFERp9I/AAAAAAAAK7Q/NNmSwJ6yNnM/s400/KennedyCenter018.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://lh6.google.com/maskirovka77/R0B9hFERp9I/AAAAAAAAK7Q/NNmSwJ6yNnM/s400/KennedyCenter018.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Eisenhower Theater</span> hosts mainly plays and musicals, operas, ballet and contemporary dance.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.kennedy-center.org/images/about/virtual_tour/IkeRendering.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.kennedy-center.org/images/about/virtual_tour/IkeRendering.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 276px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2930050690_56432f1e27.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2930050690_56432f1e27.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 265px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2930049770_3e901fd3d4.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2930049770_3e901fd3d4.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2929192275_7c21c9c7a1.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2929192275_7c21c9c7a1.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2930051136_14f654e160.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2930051136_14f654e160.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" /></a><br /><br />Here is a video tour of the Kennedy Center:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yLBwayvWcJY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yLBwayvWcJY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">All images are from <a href="http://www.kennedy-center.org/">The Kennedy Center</a> or <a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Kennedy%20center%20for%20the%20performing%20arts&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi">here</a> and credits belong to the copyright holder. No rights are granted here.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Music Hall Monday: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC

As all eyes of the world are focused on tomorrows inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th President, I thought it was a good w...

Read more »

Resolute in Ought Nine - And the Winner is!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsfNbOodR6XU9EwgsQlxzQ1om-t1I8HTZstkj0tP_HHzKkI-LcvX-OqYdev6ozUFvpjVI9TykkTyddXtZXOXZM-vuu4MLl-6UsfKbEfvsRau-QpGEroiK3en53tHxtxL6RJVcNetKMtY1/s400/Glover+lamp.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsfNbOodR6XU9EwgsQlxzQ1om-t1I8HTZstkj0tP_HHzKkI-LcvX-OqYdev6ozUFvpjVI9TykkTyddXtZXOXZM-vuu4MLl-6UsfKbEfvsRau-QpGEroiK3en53tHxtxL6RJVcNetKMtY1/s400/Glover+lamp.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Congratulations to the "<a href="http://fabulousfluffstuff.blogspot.com/">Self Confessed Lamp Tramp</a>" - you are the winner of<a href="http://www.tracygloverstudio.com/"> Tracy Glover</a>'s beautiful handblown glass lamp! Your resolutions reflect your post-Katrina difficulties as well as a positive approach towards moving onwards and upwards! That you're a New England native didn't hurt either!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://fabulousfluffstuff.blogspot.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.poshdaisy.com/clientsnodelete/ltheader.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 177px;" /></a><br /><br />Tracy and I thank all of you for<a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2009/01/its-contest-resolved-in-ought-nine.html"> sharing your 2009 resolutions</a> - serious, silly and everything in between!<br /><br />And a big thanks to Tracy for offering this beautiful lamp. You're so lucky Lamp Tramp and I hope you'll share photos of the lamp in your house with us all!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Resolute in Ought Nine - And the Winner is!

Congratulations to the " Self Confessed Lamp Tramp " - you are the winner of Tracy Glover 's beautiful handblown glass lamp! ...

Read more »

Passages: Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009)

<a href="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/writingchair2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/writingchair2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 600px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/belowdover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/belowdover.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 227px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/libertylaunch2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/libertylaunch2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 528px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/easterly.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/easterly.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 413px; height: 297px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/bigroom2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/bigroom2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 406px; height: 310px;" /></a><br />All images courtesy of <a href="http://www.swoyersart.com/andrew_wyeth/">Soyersart.com<br /></a><br />Andrew Wyeth's official website is <a href="http://www.andrewwyeth.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wyeth">Wikipedia page</a> :<br /><h2><span class="mw-headline"></span></h2> <p>Wyeth was often referenced by cartoonist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_M._Schulz" title="Charles M. Schulz">Charles M. Schulz</a> (a longtime admirer) in the comic strip <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanuts" title="Peanuts">Peanuts</a>. In one strip the character <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoopy" title="Snoopy">Snoopy</a> was presented with a bill for "psychiatric help" <i>20 cents</i> and states "I refuse to sell my Andrew Wyeth". In another strip, Snoopy's prized <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Gogh" title="Van Gogh">Van Gogh</a> painting is burned in a fire, and he replaces it with an Andrew Wyeth.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wyeth#cite_note-11" title=""><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers" title="Fred Rogers">Fred Rogers</a>, from the PBS television series <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers%27_Neighborhood" title="Mister Rogers' Neighborhood">Mister Rogers' Neighborhood</a>, had an Andrew Wyeth painting in the entry way of the studio home, readily seen as he entered and exited.</p> <p>Tom Duffield, the production designer for the American remake of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ring_%282002_film%29" title="The Ring (2002 film)">The Ring</a>, drew inspiration from Wyeth's paintings for the look of the film. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Night_Shyamalan" title="M. Night Shyamalan">M. Night Shyamalan</a> based his movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Village_%28film%29" title="The Village (film)">The Village</a> on paintings by Andrew Wyeth.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wyeth#cite_note-12" title=""><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Village_%28film%29" title="The Village (film)">The Village</a> was filmed in Chadds Ford not far from Wyeth's studio. <sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wyeth#cite_note-13" title=""><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup>Director <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Ridley" title="Philip Ridley">Philip Ridley</a> has stated that his 1990 film <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reflecting_Skin" title="The Reflecting Skin">The Reflecting Skin</a> is heavily inspired by the paintings of Andrew Wyeth in its visual style.</p><span style="font-size:85%;">Visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wyeth">Andrew Wyeth's Wikipedia page</a> for live links above.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Passages: Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009)

All images courtesy of Soyersart.com Andrew Wyeth's official website is here . From Wikipedia page : Wyeth was often referenced by car...

Read more »