Thu Jan 6, 2011
11:40pm - 12am yj's
A few brief days before the snow flies, in the warm glow of the post Christmas season, Ken and I take advantage of the mild weather to continue our survey of downtown Kansas City Missouri.
Walking north at the most recently named crossroads arts district -- an area of post industrial buildings, some offices and contractor warehouses, we come into the new power and light district, which the city has busted the budget building and promoting. Recently we visited the River Quay, and we were seeking out a sign painted on the side of a building, faded with time and memory that advertised the River Quay district.
Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Public Library
Sometimes layers of history are scraped of for one reason or another, and revealed underneath the recent and oh so temporary varnish are clues to a not so distant era.
I am a fan of mid-century modern and googie. When I use the term "googie" many people do a double take and say they've never heard of it. I did not make this term up. Read about it here...
By the appearance of new light bulbs (I think), it looks like some restoration of the Daddy's googie sign might be in the works.
The power and light of Kansas City's style moderne masterpiece that far outshines the district named in it's honor still powers and lights the city's skyline.
The visit River Quay sign was said to be between 13th and 14th streets on Main, which puts it where the new round glass H & R Block building now stands.
Alexander Austins murals beautify the city and light the future by illuminating the past.
It is good to see a return of old style signage.
2nd empire design and a mansard roof. This one belongs to the Midland Theatre. I believe I stood in line as a teenager here in 1981 to see "The Empire Strikes Back." I remember a grand interior and clouds and stars painted on the ceiling. Someone will correct me if my faulty memory is wrong.
Recent glass towers owe their existence to the third reich's obsession with efficiency. The AT&T building, the tallest skyscraper in Kansas city seems to mirror the Power and Light buildings style in glass. This glass tower would be considered post modern.
Ken and I walked around the corner to the Paragraph gallery, and barged into an interesting conversation with the curator and an artist about current art topics being discussed and argued about here. It seems my friends Jeff and Jessica have succeeded in stirring up a shitstorm of debate, discussion, recriminations, personal attacks and etc, by criticizing the art of Archie Scott Gobber.
When we got done being boorish at the Paragraph, night fell quickly in the city, which is alright by me because I love night time photography.
I found myself admiring the now antique style of the downtown Commerce Bank building.
Fidelity Building
In an effort to save land and to be more economic as opposed to flattening nearby properties for ugly surface parking lots, parking garages were incorporated in the structure of some buildings downtown. While the effort which seemed to take root in the 50's and 60's should be applauded, often the esthetics of such structures were lacking.
In the first floor of some parking structures, some surprises can be found.
Check out the Bryant Buildings website, it is very interesting in the area of technology.
I love the midcentury facade grafted onto and into an older design.
More googie -- this time in the architecture, and now used as a modern furniture store.
More daytrips to come in the future in this fascinating part of our metro area.
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