EMP and The Space Needle
On my recent trip to Seattle I went to visit one of my favorite museums in the country, The EMP Museum, which is a wavy, curvy architectural masterpiece. Designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, the EMP Museum building was inspired by the fluidity of music and the multicolored parts of a guitar. Some people say it looks like a smashed guitar when you view it from above. I can’t say that I saw the resemblance, but it still looks a ridiculously cool and fun.
EMP view from Space Needle Elevator
The EMP was originally built as a musically inspired passion project by Microsoft gazillionaire Paul Allen, who wanted to create an homage to the one of Seattle’s original musical pioneers, Jimi Hendrix.
Housed within the multicolored curvy Gehry exterior, the EMP has really fantastic exhibits on music, pop culture.
There is also a really cool, curvy 3 story high sculpture built from guitars and other instruments, and a wrap-around Sky Church Theater inspired by Hendrix and is a fantastic and fun place to spend a few hours.
A 3 story high Guitar Sculpture in the EMP Atrium
The exhibit that blew me away was Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses. Besides the incredible collection of memorabilia from the band, it was fascinating to see the hand written note about the iconic naked baby in the pool cover image of the Nevermind album, “if anyone has a problem with the penis we can remove it.” Let’s be grateful no one had a problem with that nudity issue.
Nirvana Exhibit at the EMP
There’s a Science Fiction Hall of Fame, where I geeked out massively because I got to see some of the tribbles from my all-time favorite episode of Star Trek, “The Trouble with Tribbles.”
Tribbles from Star Trek
Bradbury plaque
Even the gift shop is packed with curvy fun. Did you know you can buy Lady Gaga paper dolls?
If you get to Seattle, check out the EMP Museum. It’s located on the campus of Seattle Center and is easily combined with a visit to the Space Needle. And for even more fun, you can ride a monorail right through the curves of the building and take a quick ride right back to your hotel (I’d highly recommend the Four Seasons Seattle).
This is the first panorama I shot with the panorama feature on my new iPhone 5. I think I still prefer Autostitch
Current exhibitions at the EMP:
Worn to Be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket
The Rolling Stones
Icons of Science Fiction
Can’t Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film
Nirvana: Taking Punk To The Masses