A Night Out With the Architect, Article 2 Parrish Art Museum

My second "Night out with the Architect" article, even less learning here than in my typical articles but entertainment is a strong possibility. You may notice in reading this night out article an architectural critique which is by design. I thought, how could I be different than the average writer of architecture, not bore you with my night out and be witty and informative all at the same time? Sneak a critique in there was my answer. WOW, you're amazing you must be thinking, how did you ever come up with that idea? OK settle down, I'm not saying this is as exciting as checking out your Facebook status but maybe one day architecture will get the glamour and glitz that it deserves! I intend on making architecture "Hip" once again. What's hip... Being in the Hampton's visiting the Parrish art museum. Never heard of it? Well I'm not surprised, so let me tell you a little bit about this place. Located in Watermill, right after the village of Southampton and before Bridgehampton, you will find the controversial Parrish art museum, featuring the work of local artists such as Jackson Pollack (please don't go there expecting to see his master works) in a beautiful setting overlooking a vineyard and winery.

For some time I wanted to visit this building designed by renowned architects something and something or another. I decided to call my friend "W" who lives a stones throw away from the museum to join me on my first visit. W, a local architect with a flair for snobbishness  knows the Hampton's inside and out. W also has a nice habit of contradicting everything you say with great vehemence then patting you on your back like he was your long lost friend. So I thought he would be a good foil for my critique of the place or at a minimum good entertainment. We met at the Parrish parking lot and W immediately sensed my discrimination for the building when I told him, "jeez, I don't like the look of this building", to which he replied, "hold your opinion until we visit inside, don't judge a book by its cover was his mighty quip.

Here was my first view of the place:

That's kind of long I thought, as I pondered how much walking I was about to do. With that in mind I took my visit with W. and found the nondescript entrance and equally well hidden front doors, which are not at the front but somewhere  midway of the building and I stepped in. I was greeted by a receptionist thank god and not the mechanical room or broom closet, after all there is no architectural indication that  yes, this is the entrance. After collecting my ticket the receptionist explained to the right are the restrooms and to the left are the exhibits. Although the building stretches like a limo on steroids as you can see from the pictures above, that's not the sense you get inside the place: the interior was very nicely done:

 Here is my favorite piece of art there:

 So at the end of my visit I gathered my thoughts and opinions told W. I would meet him in the village (Southampton) at Le Chef restaurant for a bite to eat. On the way to the restaurant I was thinking, what a pleasant experience I had but I still don't like the architecture. However, an admirer of the museum I became. "What you talkin about Willus?" Contradiction don’t you think? Well let me explain. Although I'm not a fan of this architecture I admire the museum and what it stands for. I admire the convictions of those who brought this building into existence. I admire that this place is a museum and not another strip mall or housing development, or McMansion. I admire the mission the museum had in mind, trying to create a notable attraction by reaching out to so and so architects who are known in the field with somewhat celebrity status-(at least that’s what I’m told).  So what if I don’t like the look of the building that has no jigging or jogging and would make for a fine pistol range (or the world's longest bowling alley) but hey that is just an opinion and in architecture as of yet, opinions are not factual statements. One consensus I am certain of: this is no master work of architecture. But that does not matter. This building tried hard in its intent; not in the way say a Frank Lloyd Wright or Le Corbusier, Richard Meier would pursue. Nor is this place noted for its sheer sculptural or engineering beauty. Its fame lies in its intent. Like Michelangelo said:

 “The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and failing but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark” 

The Parrish literally took this statement and turned it on its side and set its aim East to West and to infinity. 

So there we were ending our time together at "Le Chef" restaurant (great place to eat by the way) I ordered a "Manhattan" in honor of my late great architect friend, Courtland Smith, who would order that very drink in that very restaurant in times past and so did W. Maybe one day I'll write about Court and the many other eccentrics I have had the pleasure of knowing in the Hampton's. Maybe the mysticism of the Hampton's beyond the glitz, glamour and money deserves it's story to be told as well. (Great Gatsby style?) So cheers to you W. the Parrish and to life, that Manhattan tasted great.

Visit the Parrish. Come see the wonderful art. Come see the building for yourself and make your own decision. Like W. said “don’t judge a book by its cover", or my critique. See you at the Parrish. Stay tuned for more interesting articles.