One of the most prolific and influential landscape architects of the twentieth century; Lawrence Halprin (1916–2009) was best known for the FDR Memorial in Washington; D.C.; and Sea Ranch; the iconic planned community in California. These projects; as well as vibrant public spaces throughout the country—from Ghirardelli Square and Market Street in San Francisco to Lovejoy Fountain Park in Portland and Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis—grew out of a participatory design process that was central to Halprin’s work and is proving ever more relevant to urban design today. In City Choreographer; urban designer and historian Alison Bick Hirsch explains and interprets this creative process; called the RSVP Cycles; referring to the four components: resources; score; valuation; and performance. With access to a vast archive of drawings and documents; Hirsch provides the first close-up look at how Halprin changed our ideas about urban landscapes. As an urban pioneer; he found his frontier in the nation’s densely settled metropolitan areas during the 1960s. Blurring the line between observer and participant; he sought a way to bring openness to the rigidly controlled worlds of architectural modernism and urban renewal. With his wife; Anna; a renowned avant-garde dancer and choreographer; Halprin organized workshops involving artists; dancers; and interested citizens that produced “scores;†which then informed his designs. City Choreographer situates Halprin within the larger social; artistic; and environmental ferment of the 1960s and 1970s. In doing so; it demonstrates his profound impact on the shape of landscape architecture and his work’s widening reach into urban and regional development and contemporary concerns of sustainability.
#227212 in eBooks 2014-08-28 2014-08-28File Name: B00MGSLCGK
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fun if somewhat predictable memoirBy Ivy LinThere are celebrity memoirs that surprise you; where the person is nothing like what you expected. For instance; Bill Clintons long; rambling memoir has none of the punch and sharpness of his public speeches. And then there are the memoirs where the person is exactly who you expected her to be; and the memoir is exactly what you expected it to be. Its not good; its not bad. Patti Lupones autobiography falls into that second category. For many years this pint-sized Broadway diva has starred in legendary shows and productions; and acquired a reputation for being an exacting perfectionist. This comes through loud and clear in Pattis memoir. Her life is her work; and her work is her life. Personal life is mentioned casually -- a decade long on-again; off-again relationship with Kevin Kline goes no further than "we were back together again" or "we broke up again." Shes married with a son but that also is dispatched of in a few sentences.What this memoir is is a candid; fun look at her storied career. Lupone has enough self-awareness to sprinkle her memoirs with candid admissions of her temperament. Lupone is a diva (she admits she got so frustrated with that she had to be sedated with xanax; that she wrecked her dressing room when she found out she was fired from Sunset Boulevard; and she abruptly told the directors not to tell her how Faith Prince sang anything in Evita). As you might expect any project with Andrew Lloyd Webber is colored by her infamous fall-out with him during Sunset Boulevard (in which she was abruptly fired after opening the show in London and having a contract to transfer the show to Broadway). So she doesnt have much nice to say about Evita (her breakout role); saying it wrecked her voice. And she writes that she was "so happy" when Sunset Boulevard closed on Broadway.Other memories are happier: Gypsy (for which she won her second Tony award); Anything Goes; Les Miserables; Sweeney Todd. She has an earthy fun sense of humor as well as a charming lack of humility -- of her infamously muddy diction she says "I didnt understand why people complained about it. I understood myself just fine." Theres lots of gossip; most of it fun and appropriate. And there are a FEW surprises -- she says that to unwind after shows she often went to dive bars and hung out with prostitutes.So basically; this memoir is a great read for those who love theater and Patti Lupone. Its not earth shattering; there are few surprises; but hey; part of the reason shes lasted so long in the biz is consistency. So heres to more years of the pint-sized diva belting on the Great White Way.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Grand Lady of the TheatreBy AngelafI adore Patti Lupone as an artist. Ive seen her on Broadway in The Old Neighborhood; Sweeney Todd; in Gypsy at City Center and again at the St. James Theatre. I saw her in concert in Miami at the Arscht Center and years ago; at the Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall sometime in the late 90s. I have met her and found her to be quite welcoming. I thoroughly enjoyed A Memoir. With Patti its what you see is what you get. She is honest; direct; funny and quite moving. Reading this book is almost no different from seeing her perform or hearing her speak. I read it in one sitting; I could not put it down. Its a must have for lovers of the theatre and for those of us who hold a special place in our hearts for NYC theatre. Patti is who she is...a rare talent with the insides of a volcano; with her emotions on the surface. She is an absolute original.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A unbiased look at a career in show business. Must Read!By Joseph N. Fusco"Patti Lupone: A Memoir" is a MUST READ for people in the industry as well for the people who are patrons of the art. Ms. Lupone speaks with great candor about the ups and downs; the hits and misses; the struggle to create while the powers that be seem to be constantly underlying the importance of the talent and creativity of the actor. As an accomplished; extroidinary talented performer; Patti lays out her path to stardom. The joy of having a job; the fear of being overlooked; the abusive treatment that can easily deflat ones creative ego and the skulldugery of what goes on behind the scenes. A fast paced read that tells the tales; good and not so good; that come out of ones struggle to remain sane; while trying to create and exhibit their talents; to the best of there ability. Ms. Lupone will go down in history as a Queen of Broadway. Her emmence talent has survived the backstage autrocities; the back stabbing; the selfishness and dishonesty of the producers; the hurt and insults of the critics; the uncertainty of the "Next" job; the struggle to keep her sanity and self worth. Through all this; she has held her head high and perservered; made long lasting friendships; created memoriable experiences out of not so good situations and most importantly; she has survived and still going strong. The road to stardom is not what one may think it is. It is not all roses and glory. That is just a small part of the journey. One; told so well in this Memoir. You will have a much deeper respect for all actors; once you have read this book. I can honestly say this; as I am one of those talented actors who have had the boom come down all too often. This book gives me hope as I am still striving to cement my name in this business we so fondly call "Show". Thank-you Patti; for not being afraid to tell it like it is. Your book gives me hope and joy; and reminds me of the evil forces that hide behind the scenes. After all; no matter how good a book or score is; it is the actor who makes it come alive. I commend you for your courage to tell it like it is. You are indeed a bright shining star and a very generous human being.
