ARCHITECTURE AS REVELATION

Sometimes, the best part of the day is when you just sit and listen. Wednesday evening, August 31st was one of those evenings. I have personally had a difficult time getting into the flow with this Latin American Design class. It could be that it fits very tightly into my schedule. I rush from work (in 110 degree heat) to a jamb packed classroom. It takes a few minutes to settle in and cool down. I then must switch my brain to understand the lecture which Associate Professor Bernardi has prepared for the day. I have been a little tripped up in trying to cognitively comprehend the lectures because of his accent. They move so fast that to write notes, watch the slides, and listen well is comparable to walking and chewing gum. I am by no means complaining. I honestly think it is beautiful. It just takes a little getting used to. Wednesday evening it finally clicked for me. I attended a lecture at the Phoenix Art Museam where Jose Bernardi presented to us the life and work of Mexican architect, Luis Barragn. The Whitman Hall Auditorium was dark and the crowd eager to hear what Bernardi had to say. I closed my eyes and listened.
THE JOURNEY

The first key idea that gleaned from the lecture was that through political struggle and turmoil comes inspiration. Luis Barragn was born in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1902 and at the age of 17yrs. attended school to become an engineer. It is during this same time period that the Mexican Revolution is taking place. The detriment of these experiences gave a voice to many Mexican artists. Individuals such as Diego Rivera, his wife Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente Orozo all produced works which challenged Mexicans to feel differently about post-revolutionary Mexico. I believe Bernardi stated in his lecture that the revolution gave the Mexican people eyes to see. We have seen this again and again through history. The idea is that from struggle is born a purpose. In this case the modern. The Mexican people eventually came to terms with their past. Expressed it and began to move forward. I also learned that we need to embrace ourselves both in the past and the present. By exploring our own history we can contribute to those who follow behind us. Luis Barragan left Mexico for several years just as the Mexican Revolution was ending. He

Each person has a story to tell of their own. Reflection both of ourselves and of the things we are learning. We are constantly developing and morphing as we are influenced by the changes around us. The knowledge of this experience political struggle of the Mexican Revolution inspired several Mexican artists.

There is something pure about the architecture designed by Luis Barragn. It resonates with qualities of simplicity brought about by the natural roughness of materials.

The lecture will reflect about how Luis Barragn struggled to find a modern architectural language between 1920s to the 1970s. The essay should be a summary on the key ideas presented by the speaker with conclusions and critical reflections carefully elaborated by the student. The essay must be analytical rather than descriptive in nature, based on careful notes taken by the student, rather than opinions based on taste or preferences, without any scholarly foundation or bibliographical support.

References:

Bernardi, Jose. ArtBreaks Gallery Talks Architecture as Revelation: Luis Barragan Phoenix Art Museum . Phoenix, Arizona.

World Wide Web: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1136 http://www.ourplaceworldheritage.com/custom.cfm?action=WHsite&whsiteid=1136 http://www.barragan-foundation.org/ http://mexicanhistory.org/MexicanRevolutiontimeline.htm