Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Please Come to Boston…

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

From May 3rd until June 19th visitors to Boston’s sublime Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum will get a chance to see seven rare Venetian manuscripts from the museum’s extensive rare books collection. The exhibition , called Illuminating the Serenissima: Books of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, History, Libraries, Museums | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Scotland Turns Green or Whisky a Go Go

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Some of my friends in Scotland (and elsewhere too) seem to think that whisky solves all problems. Now Scotland’s power needs are being met by Scottish whisky distilleries. So far 16 of Speyside’s 50 distillers, including Macallan, Glenlivet, Famous Gouse and … Continue reading →

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The Art of the Car

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

The Musée des Arts Paris is now presenting “The Art of the Automobile” , which features 17 fabulous cars from Ralph Lauren’s amazing car collection. The cars on display—among them Bentley, Mercedes, Jaguar, Ferrari and Bugatti—provide a visual timeline for … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Europe, Museums, Photography | 1 Comment

Somedays The News Is Good

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

 

Posted in History | 1 Comment

Free Ai Weiwei

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Internationally acclaimed Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has re-interpreted the twelve bronze animal heads representing the traditional Chinese zodiac that once adorned the famed fountain-clock of the Yuanming Yuan, an imperial retreat in Beijing. Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Freedom of Speech, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Seville the Beautiful

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

I have not been to Seville for a few years, but I’m anxious to get back to see the newly completed Metropol Parosol project. One of the world’s largest wooden buildings, this beautiful series of undulating umbrellas of interlocking wooden … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Freedom of The Press

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Compass Books of San Francisco commissioned Oakland, CA sculptor Shaun Hibma Cronan to create The Press. Handcrafted from bamboo, oak, cork, rope and steel, The Press will be on display at the Compass Book store in San Francisco International Airport. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Freedom of Speech, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged | 1 Comment

Mapping Cities – by nose

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

  Artist Sissel Tolaas is half-Icelandic, half-Norwegian and lives in Berlin. Her artwork explores the sense of smell by examining how people detect and describe odors. She’s particularly interested in how smell impacts the experience of the world around us. Her … Continue reading →

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It’s A Small World After All

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

Alan Wolfson, a Brooklyn-born artist, creates mindblowing minature dioramas that reimagine urban environments. The handmade sculptures, complete with lighting systems, take months to complete. The pieces are not precise replicas of specific locales, but rather a combination of details from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Not All Progress Is Good

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Brian D. Butler

  It revolutionized the way people worked and communicated, becoming an essential piece of office equipment for more than a century. But after decades of service, the humble typewriter has reached the end of the line. Mumbai, India-based Godrej and … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, History, Writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment