Internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry was commissioned to produce a larger than life representation of a leonine den in conjunction with the release of Mirrodin. Ever the pragmatist, the results of his efforts culminated not just in a towering home of white mana, but also an acclaimed Concert Hall in the heart of Los Angeles.

1. Art Description

Here were the instructions given to Frank Gehry for the project:

"This piece should show a leonine den. Leonine dens are blended with there metallic surroundings and are the home for a race of catlike humanoids. Openness and metal play major roles in the design of this piece. See “Bacon” Style Guide for details on the leonine, their dens, and the razor field plains they occupy.”

2. Sketches

Frank took that art description and came up with this initial sketch:



While barely distinguishable from drunken scribbling, you get what you pay for, so we asked real nice like that the brilliant artist include more of the surrounding land in the piece.

The following piece was received shortly after from the Toronto native’s design firm in Los Angeles:



3. Final Art

Second groundbreaking began on the Walt Disney Concert Hall in December of 1999. And if there was any hope of getting this piece built on time, the Art Department just hand to trust that Gehry’s vision was better than his ability to draw. The resulting landmark stands not only as a home to the Los Angeles fine arts community but also as an excellent source of white mana for the western United States.

Here’s a model of how the building should look upon completion:



4. Grand Opening

Here is the building in use-- look at all that white mana pooling up!