Photographs used for educational and non-commercial purposes only. This is a new thread of investigation – In what ways does “preservation” help us avoid death? How does the purity of our preservation efforts directly reflect personal feelings of loss? Our world is in a continuous process of demolition (Pruitt Igo Housing demolition), destruction (ISISContinue reading “Preservation, Demolition, Destruction, Decay and Death”
Category Archives: Frank Vagnone
The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museums: Evaluation Methodology for Historic House Museums
The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museums: Evaluation Methodology for Historic House Museums Franklin Vagnone, Deborah Ryan, and Olivia Cothren ‘‘Don’t you want to preserve old things?’’ ‘‘Trying to preserve a century by keeping its relics up to date is like keeping a dying man alive by stimulants.’’ F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and DamnedContinue reading “The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museums: Evaluation Methodology for Historic House Museums”
Contemporary Art Happenings in Historic House Museums
Contemporary Art Happenings in Historic House Museums. F. Vagnone Presentation given at the Thomas Cole Historic Site, Catskill, NY
The destruction of the sacred
I watched the screen in disgust as the crowd began to tear apart the tree. They ripped off whole limbs with their hands and women grabbed leaves and began to stuff them inside of their jacket pockets. The mob grew larger and eventually the assault on the tree resulted in the bare trunk being pulledContinue reading “The destruction of the sacred”
The narcissism of details
The narcissism of details New York City, 2014 I don’t mean to pick on Old George, but he really slept around. A lot. Have you ever noticed that the official messaging for a historic house site usually involves an obscure detail? The most obvious – “George Washington slept here”. I have been stunned to learnContinue reading “The narcissism of details”
fingerprinting: a defense of leaving your mark
Don’t scratch your name in the wall OF COURSE! – But, what do we take away with us from a visit to a museum? postcards, a book and a “selfie”. Why does this matter to a house museum site? Because what I consider important may not be the same for you. We have to allowContinue reading “fingerprinting: a defense of leaving your mark”
How Rudolph Schindler’s bathroom changed my life
Schindler House & Studio, West Hollywood, CA, 1921-1922, Bathroom. “I shut the door, locked it, and in silence and intensity just stood there – looking around…when (if ever) have I actually been able to use the authentic bathroom and toilet of an historic house museums? “ Johnston-Felton- Hay House, Macon GA, 1855-1859. During anContinue reading “How Rudolph Schindler’s bathroom changed my life”
philosophy of old windows
Hello my name is Frank and I love old windows. Franklin Vagnone with Laura Orthwein, Claire, Emma and Sophia – surrounded by a few of the extensive window sash collection. Photos by Daniel Eller. 2001. I realize most people would see my view of the world as unbearably right brained. But for me, right now,Continue reading “philosophy of old windows”
Upside down & and backward.
Taken from an interview of Franklin Vagnone by ArtFWD Interview Franklin Vagnone on Historic House Museums Breaking the Rules BY KENDRA DANOWSKI, ARTSFWD EDITOR & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR JUNE 25, 2014 0 COMMENTS SHARE How can historic house museums flip the script when connecting with local communities — by working backwards and rejecting traditional practices? This mobile kiosk willContinue reading “Upside down & and backward.”
adjusting foundations – a broad definition of preservation
Thaden Jordan mid-century modern sideboard. Molded birch plywood sideboard designed and produced by Thaden Jordan Furniture Corporation, USA, late 1940s – early 1950s. After selling this piece of furniture on Craigslist, I began to think about my relationship with the objects in my life & how that relationship has helped form a broad philosophy ofContinue reading “adjusting foundations – a broad definition of preservation”
Twisted Preservation 