January 6, 2012

Other rotundas.

We've devoted many hours to the rotunda of the Wisconsin state capitol. Today, we explored another state's capitol — a place of mystery...

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... professionalism...

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... nonpartisan unicamerality...

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... and impressive masculinity....

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40 comments:

HT said...

Missouri

Dr Who said...

nonpartisan unicamerality can only mean one place: Lincoln, Nebraska

Ann Althouse said...

Yeah, that was a *huge* clue.

HT said...

oh, yeah. you win. I was in the ballpark at least. Wow, state caps are purty. why do teachers bother taking grade schoolers?

David said...

One man's rotunda is another's child porn, I guess.

Imagine a newly commissioned government funded public display with that motif these days.

reformed trucker said...

You know you dig "impressive masculinity"... :)

Meade said...

"You know you dig "impressive masculinity"... :)"

Aw shucks.

And I do mean... shucks.

misterdregs said...

http://capitol.org/building

By "impressive masculinity" did you mean the image of what is popularly known as "The Penis of the Plains"?

WineSlob said...

To Cock A Single Chamber
Is in Firearm Terms a Danger
But on the Floor of Nebraska's StateHouse
As Shown in the Photo by Althouse
The Tile Arranger Without Any Danger Cocked the Chamber.

Quaestor said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Quaestor said...

Somebody with a wicked sense of humor coined the name Omaha World Herald... I hope.

Quaestor said...

Notice how the artist gives us a somewhat less than full monty.

You're standing there saying to yourself "OK, so I'm not a porn star. What else is new?" Then the mosaic answers back "Hey, there could be inches more of it I'm not showing... and that's flaccid length. Go home and shoot yourself, girlyman."

Jaske said...

I like the mosaic. It reminded me of Hagia Sophia, which I visited while in the USN. If you're ever travel to the Mediterranean Sea, it's one of three things I recommend.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia

Penny said...

"...and impressive masculinity".

It's still OK to notice?

Penny said...

Thought we were expected to marvel at the "muscularity"?

Jim in St Louis said...

But if you do make it to Missouri's you should go into the Senate conference room.

http://www.wpamurals.com/JeffCity.htm

edutcher said...

When The Blonde and I drove through NE, they had a 4% sales tax and 75 mph speed limit.

God's country.

Didn't get to see the Capitol or any of its anatomy.

Scott X said...

Welcome to Lincoln, Ann. Is there any single reason why you're in town?

Anonymous said...

Hildreth Meiere (the only woman on the design team) is responsible for the buildings murals.

From her bio at the capitol's website:

"Up until her death in 1961 she acknowledged the Nebraska State Capitol as her crowning achievement."

I bet! I also bet she had a specific tableau in mind.

Issob Morocco said...

you gave it away before we could ever flail in our attempts.

C R Krieger said...

How does that non-partisan thing work, and work out?

Regards  —  Cliff

Rusty said...

. and impressive masculinity....





(sniff) damn right, (sniff)

Phil 314 said...

I appreciate the "non traditional " capitol bldgs. (I'm speaking of the exterior, not interior.)

Phil 314 said...

And speaking of "non traditional " state capitols, here's the "opposite " of the Nebraska capitol.

Jeff with one 'f' said...

I love the ceilings there especially. The appreciation that you've shown for the Wisconsin State Capitol had me wondering what you would think of my beloved state's finest building. That it departs from the imitation US Capitol buildings of so many other states' capitols and that it seems an ultimate expression of the prairie style and art deco is a point of pride for Nebraskans.

Anonymous said...

What's that large paper-like object that the man in bronze in holding in front of himself? I mean, what is it used for and why is he holding one?

cliff claven said...

Kids are too old for Boys Town, aren't they?

William said...

The Nebraska rotunda doesn't have the production values of the Madison building. They tried to distract from the overall shabbiness by using the shock value of nudity. A cheap trick that fools no one.

Quaestor said...

rocketeer wrote:
Hildreth Meiere (the only woman on the design team) is responsible for the buildings murals.

However, what Ann has shown us is a portion of her mosaic, not the murals (and the portion she chose is the Pecker of the Plains, whoa!)

According to Wikipedia Meiere's art for the Nebraska capitol has evolution for its theme -- a cycle starting with prehistoric invertebrates and culminating with Man (Mr & Mrs Peckerman and son). Take that, Creationists!

The article is really worth reading. Hildreth Meiere was a classically trained artist and a patriot, and a nice contrast to many so-called artists of last hundred years. The difference is the work of a true artist stands on its own, we don't need to know anything about the artist to experience aesthetic delight, whereas far too much modern art comes with a justifying narrative attached, usually penned by the creator. For example the real distinction between a Jackson Pollock and a drop-cloth is the signature.

Wiki says she studied at Florence but little about her murals. Mural is technically just painting on walls regardless of the surface material, but there are many techniques. A mural can also be a fresco, i.e. painting on wet plaster, a technique so complicated that many consider it an art form unto itself.

Perhaps Ann can help us learn whether Meiere's capitol murals are actually frescoes.

Wince said...

Althouse said... "and impressive masculinity..."

Huuugh.

Joe Schmoe said...

What's that large paper-like object that the man in bronze in holding in front of himself? I mean, what is it used for and why is he holding one?

I wonder that myself. I heard in the olden days it served as a wrapper for fish...but seriously, who does a bust of a guy reading a newspaper? Now I'm just imagining if they showed the rest of him: he's probably sitting on the throne dropping a deuce.

Joe Schmoe said...

I think the guy in the mosaic is just smuggling a corn cob between his legs.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

HT-

I would have guessed Missouri too. That seems the perfect mural for the Show Me state.

Quaestor said...

But seriously, who does a bust of a guy reading a newspaper?

Unsculpted is his wife complaining "We never talk!"

gadfly said...

Quaestor said:

"Somebody with a wicked sense of humor coined the name Omaha World Herald..."


But that somebody was not nearly as grandiose as the one who christened Nebraska's best-named newspaper as the York New Times.

Craig Howard said...

I'd have gone with Missouri, too. That guy reading the paper sure looks like Truman.

I'm embarrassed to admit that, though I had once known of Nebraska's "unicamerality", I'd forgotten.

Joe Schmoe said...

Unsculpted is his wife complaining "We never talk!"

LOL

What, no murals, busts, or mosaics of Warren Buffett? Where's the homage to Ben Nelson and the Cornhusker Kickback?

who-knew said...

Who is the guy with the newspaper? Does anyone out there know?

Carnifex said...

And this is why we old white Catholics put fig leaves on all our "manly" art

Methadras said...

I hate the word rotunda. Makes me think and taste tomatoes. blech!!!