My name is Ian and I am working in conjunction with the Philip Johnson Glass House Museum to explore international modernism, starting with France. I am a senior in high school traveling abroad and will be staying in France for most of July 2007. Art History has always been an interest to me, but it was not until after I studied abroad for four months during my sophomore year that I began to focus on modern art and architecture. My interest in languages also draws me to France, but, as I have discovered, French is a formidable opponent.

Besides Paris and the Parisian suburbs, I will be traveling to Lyon and Nimes to document numerous sites on this blog, hoping to inform you of the vast and eclectic response to modernism that is evident in almost any country around the world. The following modern structures are vestiges of the social and political events that transformed the twentieth century, and therefore, I believe, should become just as important to the international traveler as are other remnants from the more distant past.

While in Paris, I recommend that you manage to see the city from above, be it through a monument, a blimp or, my favorite, the Ferris wheel in the Tuileries (summer time only). The view, which is already incredible, will give you a better sense of the lay out of Paris and how these modern sites interact with their surroundings. I also highly recommend becoming acquainted with the Métro – it saves time, money and your soon to be sore feet.

Enjoy!


-Ian
Philip Johnson Glass House Intern