A representative approach to Colombian music…

Colombia is a country of 47 million inhabitants established on 1 million and 150 thousand square kilometers. The country is dominated by the Andes mountain range which contains the majority of the country’s urban centers.

As result of the diverse origins of the Colombian population there is a melting pot of people very ethnically diverse; additionally of its origins, the culture has also been influenced by Colombia's varied geography. Colombian territory is characterized by striking variety in temperature and precipitation as results principally from the differences in the elevation (height above sea level) of its different human settlements. The temperature range from very hot at sea level to relatively cold at higher elevations but vary very little with the season. As a consequence of those characteristics Colombia is also a strongly multicultural country.

Through a song "La Tierra del Olvido" (The Land of The Forgotten) composed by Carlos Vives, the foundation “Playing for Change”, got together native musicians, famous and unknown who have used music as a way of inspiration, social change and reconciliation. They performed across the country and produced this remarkable work. I like to share this video with my bloggers...

On the 12 0ctober 2011 the foundation uploaded to You Tube the video of that work with this presentation: “This video features over 80 musicians across the country of Colombia. Throughout our journey we have learned that music is the greatest tool for healing broken countries, cultures and hearts. With this video we set out to unite and inspire the people of Colombia so they can move forward from years of conflict and create a positive future. Listen to the music, see the smiling faces and remember we are going to make it as a human race!! One Love, Mark”

Just click on the link below: 

"La tierra del Olvido"

Aquitania, Boyaca, Colombia, February 2006

Firavitoba, Boyaca, Colombia, Feb 2006 by Patrick Gibbons

Cartagena, Colombia, Feb 2006 by Patrick Gibbons

Cartagena, Colombia, Feb 2006 by Patrick Gibbons

The Four Courts, Dublin (2)

There are, however, some other architectural elements around the Four Courts building which should be mentioned since they create a whole architectural ensemble.

August 2010

St. Paul's Church, Arran Quay, February 2009

November 2011

For example, a nearby graceful and solid parapet winds alongside the banks of the River Liffey on the present quayside; it runs continuously from Heuston Station to Butt Bridge. The present parapet was erected in the middle of the 19^th century by the Dublin Port and Docks Board. This fine stone wall with its curved top is only broken at the Four Courts, where the parapet was replaced with a classical balustrade. 

November 2010

October 2011

Observing the two flanking bridges to the building, O’Donovan Rossa Bridge (1816), standing at the east of the Four Courts and Fr. Mathew Bridge (1818), standing at the west of the Four Courts, we can see that both carry a classical balustrade with a granite coping. The same  balustrade style is the one which continues along the quay in front of The Four Courts and it is a very elegant feature of the River Liffey at this point, which provides a kind of transparent low screen emphasizing the height to the Four Courts building, adding stylishness and complementing the Gandon’s noble masterpiece.

October 2011

 

O'Donovan Rossa bridge, April 2007

July 2006

Additionally, there are also many mature trees along these quays, which lend a sense of grace to the Four Courts building and to the River Liffey.

The Four Courts, Dublin (1)

September 2008

The Four Courts is a landmark building in the Irish and Dublin history and is the home of the Irish law courts since 1796. Four Courts are located along the River Liffey on the north quayside, in Dublin's city centre. This 18^th century building, a masterpiece of the Georgian Dublin was designed by the English architect James Gandon (1742–1823), the building has Palladian and Neoclassical style influences.

The building main features are the massive drum and shallow dome, the main portico with Corinthian columns, and the decorative exterior statues of Justice, Mercy, Wisdom, and Moses. Four Courts is a dominant structure on the scale of rows of buildings that line the River Liffey in Georgian Dublin now days.

The Four Courts was burned during the Civil War in 1922 and also was destroyed the irreplaceable collection of 700 years of accumulated historical documents held in the adjoining Public Record Office.  The building was later artfully restored but most of the Gandon’s interior original work is gone. The exterior was unchanged from the original except for the dome which had to be reconstructed in its entirety.

It is just faces the block of apartments on the opposite side of Church Street, where I live in, I have wandered in its environs for the past eight years and I have taken several shots in different times. I think that I have captured a good side of the spirit of this building, and I wish to share some of them with mi bloggers here.

August 2003

August 2003

Reflection on the river, 2003

October 2008

February 2009

February 2009

September 2008

Portrait of Zaida, a friend of mine in front of Four Courts, December 2010

Self-portrait  in front of Four Courts, March 2009

Mathematics and Art!

Strange and unusual relationship… perhaps would be your first idea about such a combination, but let us listen at what a friend of mine Dr. Maurice O’Reilly will tell us in his lecture tonight, (October 21^st from 7.00-9.00 pm) at the “Dublin Contemporary 2011” Art exhibition on Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, LT2.

 

“The study of Mathematics involves not only the acquisition of computational skills and algorithms, but also the understanding of abstract concepts”

 

Theory and applications of mathematics ‘a way of seeing art’

Read More.

 

Images: Force Fit by artist Liam O’Callaghan and a portrait of 
Dr. Maurice O’Reilly, courtesy of Dublin Contemporary 2011

No.1 Nun’s Lane House in Killester, Dublin

As part of Open House Dublin 2011, I was a volunteer in No.1 Nun’s Lane House in Killester, Dublin by DONAL HICKEY ARCHITECTS. This is a contemporary three-bed roomed house with an adjacent office for the owner, an architect.

The day was a typical dull autumn day, but luckily with no rain.  Over 300 people came along and we managed to run eight tours between 12:00 and 6:00 pm.

From my point of view, this house has two outstanding features: the use of natural light in a very successful, balanced way, and the use of both existing and created views.

 The layout of this  urban house is unusual and innovative but also highly successful in providing  three different courtyards which act as functional extensions for the interior and amplify the sense of space while also providing enjoyable views. Finally the use of a dramatic but sensitive pallet of materials (exposed concrete, timber, glass, steel, and natural stone) complements the overall scheme, making this a great Irish architectural work.

I enjoyed having the opportunity to support Open House in escorting members of the public during their tour of this project in the company of Joan, and wish to stand out the owners of the property, who proved to be such excellent hosts.

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Open House Dublin 2011

Open House Dublin 2011 is starting today, busy weekend with a lot of locations to get to! Most Open House Dublin buildings and events are easily reached by foot, bike, train or tram, and all of them are FREE. Good starting for this blog to invite everibody to get involved in this event.

Presented by the Irish Architecture Foundation, Open House Dublin is Ireland's largest architecture festival.

Read more:

http://www.openhousedublin.com/