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“Making art has never been a mystery to me,” Prince continues. “It’s never been something that’s very difficult.” The “umpires” of the art world could re-purpose that same statement as an indictment of Prince’s work. “I’m old enough to not worry about being judged,” Prince responds. “Most artists have made their decision about their work before it goes out of the studio. What am I going to say about something I did 30 years ago? There’s nothing to say.”
Gesner can be credited for a large part of the unique visual culture that comprises the Malibu landscape. His Wave House, built in 1957, inspired the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who went on to design the Sydney Opera House. More recently, Getty Museum architect Richard Meier insisted the museum restore a Gesner house on property it had acquired years ago. "Meier said, 'Don't tear the house down. It's an example of his work, and a very good one.' I can't believe he did this, but he did," Gesner boasts. "They put about a million dollars into fixing it up so it could be a center for their trustees. I was amazed I had designed it, it looked so great."
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As one Philip Johnson house opens to the world, another may be headed for the trash heap.
The Historical Review Committee imposed a 90-day demolition delay on the Alice Ball house last Thursday, after dozens of letters in objection to the planned razing were submitted. The owner, architect Christina Ross, had filed for a demolition permit, following the Environmental Commission’s rejection of a proposed second house on the property. The earliest Ms. Ross may demolish the house is 90 days from the date of her application, November 1.
Under New Canaan’s demolition delay ordinance, a single objection to the razing of certain historical structures can halt demolition for 90 days. The ordinance’s intent is to allow more time to find a buyer willing to preserve an older structure, or at least salvage or document historical artifacts.
The Alice Ball House, designed by Mr. Johnson for a woman and built in 1953, was purchased by Ms. Ross for $1.5 million in 2005.
Ms. Ross had planned to convert the existing three-bedroom, three-bath home into a pool house with changing rooms and a play room; install a pool and build a six-bedroom house with a four-car garage at the rear of the property. Additions built on to the original 1,300 square-foot design would be removed, and plans call to extend the existing driveway to a proposed 7,200 square-foot home, following what was an old carriage road.
But due to wetlands on the property — the modern having been built on a filled wetland — the proposal required approval from the Environmental Commission. After five months of public hearings and deliberation, the commission unanimously denied the application in April, 2006.