tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89743245334826675632024-02-06T21:27:53.703-05:00Luncheon of the Museum GoerSusan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.comBlogger791125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-5557663226892667652020-02-16T15:01:00.000-05:002020-02-16T15:01:14.532-05:00New Trends in Spanish Sculpture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdh1M1y3TGnCvLpmZWz2nn7ykqoOwPZLBFoE-_OAfTThSn8vC8Q2B8GrF1-CMJ7-Y3lN1y1xDsgEE1SB8S0LyF3eXiKwaJn4GBxzkCm01s-MJKlQO2pNR_7NWeLrIKT4VHJGQzPW4Dts/s1600/thumbnail-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdh1M1y3TGnCvLpmZWz2nn7ykqoOwPZLBFoE-_OAfTThSn8vC8Q2B8GrF1-CMJ7-Y3lN1y1xDsgEE1SB8S0LyF3eXiKwaJn4GBxzkCm01s-MJKlQO2pNR_7NWeLrIKT4VHJGQzPW4Dts/s320/thumbnail-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> National Gallery of Art, West Building<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing February 17, 2019 (tomorrow!)<br />
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I'll say right up front that I'm not a fan of Spanish sculpture. It's a lot of Mannerist figures, all elongated arms and legs, and lots of religious imagery. Just not my cup of tea. And Alonso Berruguete is apparently the person who started this all off. Not the religious subject matter, that was firmly established before he returned to his native Spain from a decade in Italy, but the Mannerist style.<br />
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If you're wondering what Mannerism replaced, it's something called Hispano-Flemish style. They had some examples on display, and I liked them. Much better than all that exaggerated emotional angst, and the crazy limbs as a physical manifestation of the agitation inside.<br />
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I will say, if you like enormous altarpieces, you should under no circumstances miss this show. When the wall notes say these are "monumental," they're not kidding. Even broken into pieces, you get a sense of the massive works these would be in a church. I couldn't help but think they'd give restive parishioners lots to look at, if the sermon got boring.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> Not my jam, but an excellent representation of this style.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-82167563340403425782020-02-09T13:14:00.001-05:002020-02-09T13:14:50.668-05:00A Different Picture of Iran<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWni6siy9glVQyLu9JSG09HIWFjew_CstMoukaLNLSMhi8zRxtmo0TxcxshEJ9Y7YGmIsFuYrdmUpj8KLcp1hhITOrLfh6oxNQFE7Q6fyVOgTtdzbON_FmRadGN5jVe_Jq0jSk1rSmCpw/s1600/thumbnail-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWni6siy9glVQyLu9JSG09HIWFjew_CstMoukaLNLSMhi8zRxtmo0TxcxshEJ9Y7YGmIsFuYrdmUpj8KLcp1hhITOrLfh6oxNQFE7Q6fyVOgTtdzbON_FmRadGN5jVe_Jq0jSk1rSmCpw/s320/thumbnail-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> Sackler Gallery of Art<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing February 9, 2019 (today!)<br />
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So if you've got a few minutes to spare today, run right over to the Sackler to see this exhibit of Iranian women photographers. These are portraits from the late 1970s to the present - not the Iran of the Revolution, but the Iran that has emerged afterwards.<br />
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The show opens with the video pictured here by Newsha Tarakolian. I thought at first it was a very large photograph, but it's a video - you can see the branches of the tree and the plastic bags moving in the breeze. The woman who is the subject of the portrait is holding very still - you have to watch very closely to see any movement at all. One of the guards and another visitor and I stood in front of the piece for several minutes, watching her - it's not for the impatient, that's for sure.<br />
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In the next room, Hengameh Golestan gives us photographs of the last days before the imposition of the chador. Seeing pictures of Iranian women outside without their heads covered made me view them as less "alien," less "other." They seemed like anyone I would see walking down the street here in the US. A reminder that underneath the chador, they are still like me.<br />
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A very interesting artist is Shadi Ghadirian. She constructs portraits of modern-day Iranian women taken in the style of the 19h century Qajar pictures, examples of which are also on display. You see them covered (again, the alienness) but with a Pepsi can, or a bicycle or a newspaper. Part ancient and part 21st century.<br />
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Malekeh Nayiny, who has lived in the West since 1979, explores the loss of her family and home by "updating" her family photos. The idea of not feeling at home either in Iran or outside of it is also the theme of Mitra Tabrizian's monumental photos. Those who stay idealize the West and those who leave feel disconnected. Both groups have a will to survive, but neither option seems comfortable.<br />
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Gohar Dashti's photographs of buildings overtaken by vegetation and devoid of people, and her Slow Decay series, which features expressionless people and uses blood as an accent in her photographs, show an alienation in contemporary Iranian society.<br />
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There's much more to Iran than what you see either in history books or on the news. This show gives you a glimpse of it.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> This isn't a huge show, so you get only a taste of each artist's work. Even that small encounter makes you realize there's more going on in Iran than you might think.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-13446731992614153582020-01-16T15:09:00.000-05:002020-01-16T15:09:04.242-05:00How Times Have Changed for Elephants<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw8gvlKDtcTHxTMpYKmXwb8fnmIsi95bGaq1m90crQAboeJhKxW5EA7kDyRipFSG7bynrifhLd2m51cKqAQWs5GxnwNfZvXe3vs-QLrnhz95BFzHMyLxnxXrGNg7ZAs4ccKve-uFy3JI/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw8gvlKDtcTHxTMpYKmXwb8fnmIsi95bGaq1m90crQAboeJhKxW5EA7kDyRipFSG7bynrifhLd2m51cKqAQWs5GxnwNfZvXe3vs-QLrnhz95BFzHMyLxnxXrGNg7ZAs4ccKve-uFy3JI/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="180" /></a><b>Where: </b>Natural History Museum<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing February 1, 2020<br />
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This display is housed in the two glass cases on the ground floor of the museum, not far from the Constitution Avenue entrance. I can remember class trips from my elementary school days when most of the museum was housed in similar cases.<br />
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These materials show the change in society's view of elephants. They used to be considered fair game (no pun intended) for hunters, nothing more than giant beasts to be slaughtered for adventure or entertainment or umbrella stands.<br />
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Although hunting and ill-treatment still exists, and there's a debate about the morality of allowing hunting to further conservation, most people are more likely to shoot elephants with a camera than with a gun. Scientists bring back samples and data in order to further study elephants, rather than specimens to be displayed.<br />
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Theodore Roosevelt, a complicated figure in the history of conservation, gets a mention - his hunting expeditions provided over 23,000 animal specimens to the Smithsonian, as well as live animals for the National Zoo. The most famous elephant at the Museum was not obtained by Roosevelt. Henry has been on display in the main rotunda since 1959, and when he was installed, he was the largest land mammal on display in any museum in the world.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> An interesting display - a great way to complement a visit to see Henry.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-22770034074322796742020-01-13T14:35:00.000-05:002020-01-13T14:35:06.648-05:00Nothing Better on a Winter Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1Qhv8VrRqg_SrkFuVvseyNi5csjHD0MWX7XajnFap9oOL6GI1SJb8km1eMQXxKL8Uy1xo3EUAAiXjyfQvM53BiZf_7ry8QMVIwSD7p9qQbAh9unSV7YcDenFfld20M1-xhVsqlICLK8/s1600/thumbnail-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1Qhv8VrRqg_SrkFuVvseyNi5csjHD0MWX7XajnFap9oOL6GI1SJb8km1eMQXxKL8Uy1xo3EUAAiXjyfQvM53BiZf_7ry8QMVIwSD7p9qQbAh9unSV7YcDenFfld20M1-xhVsqlICLK8/s320/thumbnail-7.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b><span id="goog_199537312"></span><span id="goog_199537313"></span>Where:</b> American History Museum<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing January 20, 2020<br />
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From the 1870s through the 1920s, silk manufacturing increased, while silk prices fell, and American women made a lot of quilts. It was a way for them to express their individual imagination - to be artists in a way that was permissible in a society that frowned upon female expression. And it was a way for them to decorate their parlors.<br />
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In case you don't know, silk is a filament extruded by a silkworm as it creates the cocoon where it will mature from a caterpillar to a moth. Fun fact!<br />
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Quilts were made with pieces of silk left over from the dress-making process. Early on, women made quilts in elaborate patterns. Of those on display, I thought they were the nicest. As time passed, crazy quilts came into fashion - no pattern necessary, which allowed for more artistic license.<br />
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The Museum houses the National Quilt Collection (I didn't even know there was such a thing until this week), with over 500 examples of American handmade quilts and quilt-related items. Only a fraction of those items are on display in this show, in part because they are fragile.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> If you're a fan of needlework, this is a must see.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-5461581982155316552020-01-10T13:38:00.000-05:002020-01-10T13:38:14.943-05:00It's Amazing What a Little Chalk Will Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHubAByo_7xgXhFZNrXxQ0aamI1_gfczfQaoVRwe2IYn8IL91ZJ_tCi0F7RqmAMDIuu-k2hyphenhyphenYZfemLA6gIx4onSy1epHfWcrprqvKFwrRfO71nLZqgsJDvtowXBWjrCL_mrKYu25nPj_M/s1600/thumbnail-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHubAByo_7xgXhFZNrXxQ0aamI1_gfczfQaoVRwe2IYn8IL91ZJ_tCi0F7RqmAMDIuu-k2hyphenhyphenYZfemLA6gIx4onSy1epHfWcrprqvKFwrRfO71nLZqgsJDvtowXBWjrCL_mrKYu25nPj_M/s320/thumbnail-5.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> National Gallery of Art, West Building<br />
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<b>When: </b> closing January 26, 2020<br />
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This display of pastels is not getting the publicity of the Verrocchio exhibit upstairs on the Main Floor, but if you're at the National Gallery before the end of the month, it's well worth a visit. The introductory wall notes tell me that pastel is one of the most versatile and beautiful materials in the history of art, and I cannot disagree. Plus, these fragile works are almost never on display, so if you don't see them now, you may never get another opportunity!<br />
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Pastel is a sort of artificial chalk - it's made of pigment, white opaque filler and binder, then shaped into sticks and dried. A case of pastels given by Mary Cassatt (one of my favorite artists) to a friend is on display, so you can see exactly what a pastel is.<br />
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The show is arranged chronologically; the first room is full of 18th century French portraits that look very much like painting. Everything's very ornate and formal and exquisite. One expects Louis XIV to stroll in at any moment.<br />
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In the second room, we move onto 19th century England, where the pastels are more like drawings. We see landscapes, and the verdure of the English countryside. We're not completely done with the French, however, as there are a large number of Degas dancers.<br />
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In the final room (this is not a terribly large show), we move into the 20th century and modern art. There's a Roy Lichtenstein and a Jasper Johns on display. Some of the works are more like painting and some are more like drawing. The piece I liked the best was William Merritt Chase's "Study of Flesh Color and Gold." It's a beautiful combination of fine, precise drawing of a model, with a blurred, painting-like background. Captivating.<br />
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<b>Verdict: </b>This is a very interesting show, that's small enough to see easily in a lunch hour. The interactive screens in the first two rooms allow for much closer examination of the pastel techniques. One hopes the National Gallery is planning to do more of this in future.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-65901162010552045712020-01-08T12:57:00.000-05:002020-01-08T12:57:01.536-05:00The Reality Behind the Legend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtvLhGCnRKs8Riq2Y8uLhw4WT86HlqAlJF8sxnSI-R-6Dww1w7odncMPLxNPsvXfgqlDZs6jZ5iVNY87EBOMRe1XRIVnMg2_R6PnCBKsqF7gb6KlkY_zdLvSZyebMd7qbJu6i60bnqM0/s1600/thumbnail-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtvLhGCnRKs8Riq2Y8uLhw4WT86HlqAlJF8sxnSI-R-6Dww1w7odncMPLxNPsvXfgqlDZs6jZ5iVNY87EBOMRe1XRIVnMg2_R6PnCBKsqF7gb6KlkY_zdLvSZyebMd7qbJu6i60bnqM0/s320/thumbnail-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Where: </b>National Postal Museum<br />
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<b>When:</b> closing January 26, 2020<br />
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This is the second of two shows I saw last week at the Postal Museum. I find it a bit difficult to believe that something about the Pony Express won't always be part of their display, since it is really the most exciting part of postal history. Perhaps they're closing it to refresh it?<br />
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The legend of the Pony Express is a romanticization of a far less glamorous reality. The service ran between St. Joseph, MO and Sacramento, CA for not quite two years, in 1860 and 1861. It was a way to guarantee Union control over communications between California and the eastern part of the United States, as it did not travel through the South. A dangerous and uncomfortable job was made into the stuff of adventure in Wild West shows in the last 19th century.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> It's an interesting small show that would appeal to kids - a Q&A section is geared to them, and the family I saw there was enjoying themselves.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-28256559333975015452020-01-06T12:45:00.000-05:002020-01-06T12:45:05.576-05:00Diplomacy Behind the Scenes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcJ4-vu3Wgev6k0KudaxF-_bggnojM-rO0KPd-4zvzxIvkTGEu50v-huNbIC5Lk4U3-tsa2jjXxi0XDDpjfsFf1AUxTObOR79wTMea9ctGha0rQqi_Rnhdri47cr2b8755ZzelKMVACw/s1600/thumbnail-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcJ4-vu3Wgev6k0KudaxF-_bggnojM-rO0KPd-4zvzxIvkTGEu50v-huNbIC5Lk4U3-tsa2jjXxi0XDDpjfsFf1AUxTObOR79wTMea9ctGha0rQqi_Rnhdri47cr2b8755ZzelKMVACw/s320/thumbnail-4.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> National Postal Museum<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing January 26, 2020<br />
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I'm writing this on January 1, 2020, so I'll wish all my readers a Happy New Year and a happy new decade. It's odd to think we're now living in the Twenties; let's hope there's just as much fun, but not so much depression, as in the 20th century version.<br />
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I went over to the Postal Museum this week, and saw two shows. The first was this one on diplomatic couriers. It's typical of their displays - full of information and well laid out, but I'm not sure that it's worth a trip over to Union Station to see. Every so often, I toy with the idea of dropping this venue from my list of places to visit, and then I feel bad - who else will go if I don't? And, every once in a great while, there's something really terrific, so it stays on the list.<br />
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Diplomatic couriers have been around in their current form for 100 years, hence the exhibit. The service was established in Paris in 1918, to support the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, although couriers for sensitive materials have been used since the Revolutionary War. There are now 100 badged couriers who send pouches, large and small, to over 275 diplomatic missions worldwide.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> I enjoyed looking at the "then and now" photos that show how the service has changed over a century, but I'm not sure I can recommend a special trip to see this, unless you're a great fan of postal history.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-31808499288203993512020-01-04T15:18:00.000-05:002020-01-04T15:18:00.949-05:00A New Favorite Artist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8nsto-7jEUiwHkPxEG7dRchfiNVIYJLX7dwHqojl1JBJBgAt0PUh13IHdhSIupDxsCYwr5oXZrRc_-JcWfM9Q063w0awa1N3W6TCCLs0GjzQQBgOCj1WyIXQcuwLsruuegndg_SGFfA/s1600/thumbnail-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8nsto-7jEUiwHkPxEG7dRchfiNVIYJLX7dwHqojl1JBJBgAt0PUh13IHdhSIupDxsCYwr5oXZrRc_-JcWfM9Q063w0awa1N3W6TCCLs0GjzQQBgOCj1WyIXQcuwLsruuegndg_SGFfA/s320/thumbnail-2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where: </b>Renwick Gallery<br />
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<b>When:</b> closing January 5, 2020<br />
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I feel as if I've seen Michael Sherrill's work before, probably at the Renwick, and I really like it. It's colorful, and whimsical, and (somewhat) practical, and even when it's oddly shaped, it feels fun and accessible, sort of like the kind of objects a Dr. Seuss character would have in his house.<br />
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The first room of the show that I entered was full of teapots. As a tea drinker, I'm always interested in seeing any display of tea accouterments, and these range from the lovely if mundane to the wild gold extravagance pictured here.<br />
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Just as the Ginny Ruffner show left me with a question, this exhibit did as well. If the object in question is not functional, is it still craft? Or is it then art? Not that a functional craft can't be art, because it certainly can be, but if it has no function other than to exist, is it still a craft? I feel as if the answer is no, but I'm quite willing to be persuaded otherwise.<br />
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The one quibble I have with this show, which overall I liked very much, is that it's set up oddly. I entered directly from the Ruffner exhibit, and discovered later that this was the second room. I walked through the whole display, and only then saw the first room at the very end. Some signage directing me to the start would have been helpful.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> Go see this exhibit and then head to the Teaism close by for lunch or an afternoon snack!Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-9544833879158979442020-01-02T15:04:00.000-05:002020-01-02T15:05:08.214-05:00Is Virtual Reality Art?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZghhYWEuvUN0vASplxrfnHQesgQw8JEsV2a9ZcL83O_0hyNJ-5ogGxo_AiORQZjip1IB0_OeEa_7zGvr5SXhpcu_xHZdMszpe-awSUwF6cQTVcafOz8bx5FMSMVvlstmn5vL7K0VvdI/s1600/thumbnail-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZghhYWEuvUN0vASplxrfnHQesgQw8JEsV2a9ZcL83O_0hyNJ-5ogGxo_AiORQZjip1IB0_OeEa_7zGvr5SXhpcu_xHZdMszpe-awSUwF6cQTVcafOz8bx5FMSMVvlstmn5vL7K0VvdI/s320/thumbnail-1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where: </b>Renwick Gallery<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing January 5, 2020<br />
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I've been running around to shows recently, trying to make up for the many days these past few months that I went to none. I'm vowing to do better in 2020!<br />
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The Renwick has two exhibits now on their first floor that close very shortly; the Ginny Ruffner display of virtual reality sculptures is just off the entryway. Basically, these are glass sculptures of logs, some with glass fungi. When you look at specific spots on the logs with the provided iPads (or with an app on your own phone), animated plants emerge.<br />
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The idea is that this depicts a future world in which the nature we know has been destroyed, and this is a depiction of how it will re-emerge. There are also pictures of botanical objects on the walls - I'm assuming these are also imaginings of future flora, but I'm not sure.<br />
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The question I kept asking myself is, "Where does art leave off and stunt begin?" I realize I should have been contemplating the end of the natural world as I know it, and I do view that as a serious problem, but between the iPad not always working quite right, and dodging so many other people pointing at the same thing, I found it hard to keep my mind on the larger message.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> I appreciate the fact that this show uses new technology along with the traditional art of sculpture, but I'm not sure the execution always comes off.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-28709770889070773212019-12-31T14:58:00.000-05:002019-12-31T14:58:10.238-05:00By the Light...<b>Where:</b> National Gallery of Art, West Building, Ground Floor<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing January 5, 2020<br />
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In the first room of this two-room exhibit of lunar photographs, there are pictures of the moon dating from as far back as the 1800s. I confess, I was more amazed at the age of the images than by the images themselves. The moon is just not that photogenic, I'm afraid.<br />
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The second room focuses on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. A film of the historic event, "Live from the Surface of the Moon," runs on a loop, and there are viewers available, so you can see the moon in 3-D. I'll admit, that was pretty cool. Still not terribly photogenic, but cool nonetheless.<br />
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There's also a picture of "Earthrise," one of the 20th century's most famous photographs, on display. Sometimes, you need to take a step back to see just how beautiful our planet is.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> This small show is worth a glance, especially for fans of space travel.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-23774622082272203922019-12-29T14:44:00.001-05:002019-12-29T14:44:38.078-05:00More on Verrocchio<b>Where: </b>National Gallery of Art Library, East Building<br />
<br />
<b>When: </b>closing January 10, 2020<br />
<br />
If you've seen the National Gallery's Verrocchio show and would like to see more of his work, take a few moments to visit the Library in the East Building. On display are a few photographs by Clarence Kennedy, an art photographer who made a study of his sculpture. You get another look at Verrocchio's art and the hard work that went into creating it. A photograph of Kennedy opens the exhibit; it's by Ansel Adams.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> Great if you haven't had enough of Verrocchio!Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-13687207620251922852019-12-28T15:17:00.000-05:002019-12-28T15:17:04.133-05:00More Than Just Leonardo's Teacher<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzl7AYDn_XCaPgBjo2a0ebHhN7HfPyd5C4YhfQ5JKFS9UPmjEmC84n8CnS6HJf6wzVCon1taWSn9IwKnBR3vymEYRSoTY9aNc91RGZ9tHD6IWycCBh8pYNEpg-8DxXr2R84GlJLsdMX4/s1600/thumbnail+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzl7AYDn_XCaPgBjo2a0ebHhN7HfPyd5C4YhfQ5JKFS9UPmjEmC84n8CnS6HJf6wzVCon1taWSn9IwKnBR3vymEYRSoTY9aNc91RGZ9tHD6IWycCBh8pYNEpg-8DxXr2R84GlJLsdMX4/s320/thumbnail+%25281%2529.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
<b>Where: </b>National Gallery of Art, West Building<br />
<br />
<b>When: </b> closing January 12, 2020<br />
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The big show at the National Gallery right now is the first exhibit in the United States devoted entirely to Andrea del Verrocchio, an Italian artist and teacher who lived in Florence in the 1400s. Best known for his pupils, among them Leonardo da Vinci, and his patrons, the Medici family, Verrocchio deserves to be honored in his own right, for his enormous talent.<br />
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His sculpture of a boy David, victorious over Goliath, dominates the first room, but I was drawn to a portrait of Alexander the Great that pops out of its frame. It's the sort of technique one expects to see in a show of modern art; truly there's nothing new under the sun. Other sculptures, with the paint still intact, seem almost alive - as if they're about to come down off the walls and stride about the room.<br />
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But it's not just human forms on display; there's a gorgeous small vase with a lid in the second room that's lovely, both for the agate used and for its shape. It's a reddish-orange color that I've seen only very rarely, and it looks as if it were crafted quite recently.<br />
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Verrocchio was an innovator - his work is hundreds of years old, but is fresh and modern and accessible to a 21st century audience. It's a great shame he's overshadowed by da Vinci, which happens even in this show. The National Gallery owns a da Vinci, a portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, and it's on display in the 3rd room of the Verrocchio exhibit. And where were the crowds and phones all pointed in this room? At the da Vinci, of course. A sort of microcosm of what goes on all day every day at the Louvre. The painting is lovely, but there's so much else to see!<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> This show is wonderful, and well worth your time to see. Don't get caught up in who else is in the show; go to see Verrocchio.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-47344339978710621752019-12-21T16:36:00.000-05:002019-12-21T16:36:05.751-05:00Another Show on Women's Suffrage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmklMExSq3zcq5eio7GGE7ARmsApG7a2Lb3hKtSD8-IiE4UXnyq_k0tlany_XKKh5d9sW2d-teHLQDEk1_GILjWEn8v2ug5daxDWj7_Jps1bhorH-Mmnx88yFK2aOxvOPz7Iz-phq1O58/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmklMExSq3zcq5eio7GGE7ARmsApG7a2Lb3hKtSD8-IiE4UXnyq_k0tlany_XKKh5d9sW2d-teHLQDEk1_GILjWEn8v2ug5daxDWj7_Jps1bhorH-Mmnx88yFK2aOxvOPz7Iz-phq1O58/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> National Portrait Gallery<br />
<br />
<b>When: </b> closing January 5, 2020<br />
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Unlike so many other examinations of the women's suffrage movement in the United States, this show confronts the exclusion of non-white women from the struggle. It's a stain on the fight for equality that white women were so willing to cast aside the rights of their non-white sisters.<br />
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The show tells the story of women's suffrage from the earliest years in the anti-slavery movement of the 1800s through to final victory in 1920. It was a long fight - one of the longest existing social reform movements in US history.<br />
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One thing I learned in this show: suffragette is the name for British women advocating for the right to vote; the word is the US is suffragist. Who knew?<br />
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In 1913, suffragists went to Washington in the first non-violent protest to march on the Capitol. They then began protesting outside the White House, in Lafayette Park, where people continue to this day to bring attention to causes they believe in. Among those protestors were students from the Washington College of Law, a law school for women, which is now part of American University and co-ed. My husband works at WCL, so it was nice to see the school get a mention.<br />
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I was very pleased to see a code you can scan to register to vote at the end of the show. All the work that all those women put in over all those decades will be for naught if people don't exercise their right to vote.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> An excellent, and compete, look at the women's suffrage movement, warts and all.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-56012107939484105762019-12-18T16:22:00.000-05:002019-12-18T16:22:07.726-05:00Unicorn of the Sea?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN-wNpBFyYHatnHpM6FSvCf5kpOVXoFjUw5XVgidFSkDrRpzYOdEWa5DRUubnNawXhTWVk2Ax5ObntLmY_APhskINoSlrrTVsmbGTDnI1k2hcQrBq5Msgxuk_OlF7me4isanoNpvSfqk/s1600/thumbnail-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN-wNpBFyYHatnHpM6FSvCf5kpOVXoFjUw5XVgidFSkDrRpzYOdEWa5DRUubnNawXhTWVk2Ax5ObntLmY_APhskINoSlrrTVsmbGTDnI1k2hcQrBq5Msgxuk_OlF7me4isanoNpvSfqk/s320/thumbnail-1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> Natural History Museum<br />
<br />
<b>When: </b>closing January 5, 2020<br />
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As usual, lots of shows are closing in January. I think they leave them up for the holiday crowds, which is why very little closes in December. So that means I'm rushing around to see things as fast as I can; press of work this fall meant there were several weeks I didn't get out at all, and I'm trying to catch up now. Wish me luck!<br />
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The Natural History Museum has a show up about narwhals. It's not as flashy as the new dinosaur hall, but it's nicely done and has some great photography. The model of a narwhal is also interesting - it just seems like such an unlikely creature.<br />
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The thing coming out of its head is a tooth, not a horn, and it's a mammal, not a fish. It lives only in the Arctic, so climate change is doing them no favors. It may well have inspired the unicorn legend - I was happy to see a unicorn tapestry photograph used as a background for part of the exhibit - I remember seeing the original in Paris many years ago. There's also some Inuit art in the show, and I love Inuit art - so I was very happy I caught this before it closed. And I didn't have to come during Christmas week - which is a mad house.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> See this soon; it's not very large, so you could combine it with another exhibit with no problem.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-24227538889067405232019-12-15T16:10:00.000-05:002019-12-15T16:10:41.893-05:00Any Day Featuring the Swedish Chef is a Good Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD22EHwiR-Mhh5brVs1S4jtxGyeTx8EMNnZvxgge0NuVHSPvEI_ohgdlf_QApfia6CUe-K1mT_07itV0e4Gsu-ssk7pPZXpWpK38nCAgV6Bfzy7oTnzYrpURsu_eLc8S5wtvouLPx1G4/s1600/thumbnail-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD22EHwiR-Mhh5brVs1S4jtxGyeTx8EMNnZvxgge0NuVHSPvEI_ohgdlf_QApfia6CUe-K1mT_07itV0e4Gsu-ssk7pPZXpWpK38nCAgV6Bfzy7oTnzYrpURsu_eLc8S5wtvouLPx1G4/s320/thumbnail-2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where: </b>American History Museum<br />
<br />
<b>When:</b> closing January 1, 2020<br />
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I went over to American History this week to have a stroll around the "American Stories" space. I think they're going to swap out some of the older pieces for new acquisitions, so keep your eye out for a new and improved display in 2020.<br />
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I took with me a list of "highlights," as I was pressed for time and needed to get in and get out. Happily, I didn't limit myself to what was on the list, as there's a lot there that I would have described as a highlight that didn't make the list.<br />
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There were baseball items, including Willie Mays' hat, glove and shoes, and a baseball from the 1937 All-Star Game, signed by that year's Yankee lineup. Joe DiMaggio's signature is front and center.<br />
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They also have a piece of Plymouth Rock, which might be nothing more than legend. The Pilgrims landed in 1620, but there's no mention of this specific spot until the 1700s. Fake news is clearly not a new phenomenon.<br />
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But the best thing of all was the original Swedish Chef. My favorite of the Muppets, then and now, Jim Henson and Frank Oz had to work together to bring him to life. His culinary chaos never fails to entertain.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> No show that includes the Swedish Chef will get anything less than an enthusiastic two thumbs up from me!Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-13127420570854478402019-12-11T15:15:00.000-05:002019-12-11T15:15:05.153-05:00Ella Fitzgerald's Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yWH6HtvE1RBelY4zzh8OF-_mVrZRGQWB6Rs9_YALHv0ODFz6DzP6lM5YW5W9ro60TLUqdg6ZjanCVm-n16A8kuTmeu6pzU8g2K-kWvwDnSJvonYYy22HrMKmyFeuqgI_UY-8gY1oOBo/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yWH6HtvE1RBelY4zzh8OF-_mVrZRGQWB6Rs9_YALHv0ODFz6DzP6lM5YW5W9ro60TLUqdg6ZjanCVm-n16A8kuTmeu6pzU8g2K-kWvwDnSJvonYYy22HrMKmyFeuqgI_UY-8gY1oOBo/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> National Museum of African-American History and Culture<br />
<br />
<b>When:</b> closing December 31, 2019<br />
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This small display on the 2nd floor of the museum features several of Ella Fitzgerald's books. It's brought to you by the good people of the Smithsonian Libraries. As the librarian who put together this display noted, you can "read" people by looking at their books - I do the same thing when I visit someone's house.<br />
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We see that Fitzgerald was interested in cooking, music, culture and language, and that many of her books were inscribed by the authors. Even this small sample shows her taste and her influence on other creative people.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> Worth a few moments' look when you're next at the museum.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-72557031385411531152019-12-08T15:10:00.000-05:002019-12-08T15:10:04.085-05:00Photography at the National Gallery<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK4OmJMS4l3YG4s9mm48Xw0_rNH_6lWdWrnosSvRZEgdjb12QhnFZ8EG5V8A_2NWMopoz0iWOSrHPL1LPyWQrcmPNJXYH78N5TC_O2XMo0TcRkc7lUFfjhPu8OHG0lqkkINb_LNkZ79I/s1600/thumbnail-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK4OmJMS4l3YG4s9mm48Xw0_rNH_6lWdWrnosSvRZEgdjb12QhnFZ8EG5V8A_2NWMopoz0iWOSrHPL1LPyWQrcmPNJXYH78N5TC_O2XMo0TcRkc7lUFfjhPu8OHG0lqkkINb_LNkZ79I/s320/thumbnail-1.jpg" width="180" /></a><b>Where:</b> National Gallery of Art, West Building<br />
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<b>When:</b> closing December 8, 2019 (today!)<br />
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Yikes, I didn't realize how quickly this show was closing - glad I didn't put off going until next week, or I would have been out of luck. If you want to see it for yourself, head on out right now.<br />
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This is a survey of the Gallery's photography collection from the first 50 years' worth of material they own. So you see pieces from the very beginning of the medium through the late 1900s. William Henry Fox Talbot called photography a "little bit of magic realized," and it would certainly have seemed magical when the technology first debuted.<br />
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Although I'm not wild about very early photography or black and white photography generally, I did wander around the show with a great sense of self-satisfaction. Very bad for my character, no doubt, but quite fun in the moment.<br />
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I was puffed up because I saw several pieces I recognized from earlier shows, including the works of Charles Marville, the photographer who documented the changes in Paris in the 1800s. I also saw the photo "Scourged Back," a photograph of a former slave named Gordon. And the photographs of the American West (from a show at American Art) that made me want to go and see the grandeur for myself are on display as well. And the Alexander Gardner pictures of the dead of the American Civil War, which brought the horror into American homes and featured rearranged corpses - perhaps a forerunner of deepfake videos?<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> There's a lot to like in this show - if you're a fan of photography, hope you got a chance to see it.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-31617129390143002672019-10-26T14:59:00.000-04:002019-10-26T14:59:54.482-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjammIkwsIqkQuTBZNx3DMVUQvDvi3v1PQDFDPAer7Rp9SA6U9rW2d-mKgyrW0IjMQALMBECXLdm0ONCY5kzABx9d6mr3NKo9lDrC1Z5zpml6FaQKs4zEvHW034Ed55mfloWdl-yFIu3Rg/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjammIkwsIqkQuTBZNx3DMVUQvDvi3v1PQDFDPAer7Rp9SA6U9rW2d-mKgyrW0IjMQALMBECXLdm0ONCY5kzABx9d6mr3NKo9lDrC1Z5zpml6FaQKs4zEvHW034Ed55mfloWdl-yFIu3Rg/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> Freer Gallery of Art<br />
<br />
<b>When: </b>closing November 3, 2019<br />
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When one thinks of Whistler and the Freer, the first thing that comes to mind is the Peacock Room. And rightly so; it's an amazing achievement, to make art out of a room. And those peacocks - telling the story of Whistler's falling out with Leyland, under the watchful eye of The Princess from the Land of Porcelain. If you can see all this when the shutters are open (the 3rd Thursday of each month, in the afternoon), do so - it's a great treat.<br />
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But, Whistler is more than the Peacock Room, and Charles Lang Freer was a great admirer of Whistler's, so we get to enjoy his many, many talents. In fact, Freer amassed the world's largest collection of Whistler watercolors, some of which are on display in the <i>Whistler in Watercolor</i> exhibit on now. These pieces never travel (due to the conditions of the deed of gift establishing the museum) and are very fragile, so they're rarely seen. Happily, we have an opportunity to look at them for the next couple of weeks.<br />
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These watercolors came about when Whistler was seeking to reinvent himself as an artist. He'd lost Leyland as a patron and was involved in a lawsuit with John Ruskin, so he needed to make some money. Off he went to Venice, in search of inspiration. What he produced were many seascapes, composed of three parts: sky, sea and shore; bustling street scenes, and quiet domestic interiors. He also began to paint nocturnes (the Sackler had a big show of these not too long ago, so they can travel across the street), those moody, atmospheric night paintings. And we get to see the fruits of those labors in this show.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> If you like Whistler or watercolors or paintings of the night, this is a show for you.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-33809898362347177052019-10-06T12:55:00.002-04:002019-10-06T12:55:21.515-04:00Strike While It's Hot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaNjnNOvKCUQbe_sV-SIuWdgWJeZcETZ_XxS8YB_R_2nvt_RFmqOMB_tQkT8Jm7OYSzp9pKVuvAaOX4-lp7KK1FqGlAxyl42x7aWK9pFd3f6N-d29nXIfkkAXDrMT-c3vCFlpQCdutno/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaNjnNOvKCUQbe_sV-SIuWdgWJeZcETZ_XxS8YB_R_2nvt_RFmqOMB_tQkT8Jm7OYSzp9pKVuvAaOX4-lp7KK1FqGlAxyl42x7aWK9pFd3f6N-d29nXIfkkAXDrMT-c3vCFlpQCdutno/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> African Art Museum<br />
<br />
<b>When:</b> closing October 20, 2019<br />
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First of all, know that this is a huge show that starts in the African Art Museum (on the lowest level) and continues into the International Gallery of the Ripley. I went to see it on a free afternoon, and after a full hour, I was skimming at the end.<br />
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The show opens with a discussion of how iron arrived here - it comes from the core of meteorites that were destroyed in impacts in space and eventually fell to Earth. The Smithsonian has one of the world's largest and most complete collection of meteorites, some of which are on display in the show. Iron has become such a part of the human experience that it is what makes our blood red.<br />
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So on to the African blacksmiths. They held a very high place in society, as they were able to use fire to transform iron into objects that were practical, beautiful and signifiers of status. They made tools for everyday use; they made jewelry and they made objects used in important rituals.<br />
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When one thinks of iron, one thinks of strong, heavy, powerful items. But that's not the totality of what iron can be. A piece called "Rain Wand" was lovely and delicate - something I did not anticipate when I came to the exhibit. As impressive as the tools and knives were, the ability to transform iron into something elegant was even more arresting.<br />
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Iron was also used to create objects to honor the dead; it became a symbol of divinity and of fidelity. As members of the community left this existence, their loved ones celebrated their lives and remembered them after their death. Iron was eventually so important in society, and such an indication of wealth, that it was actually used as currency.<br />
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The show ends with examples of the lamellophone. An instrument made of iron, it mimics the sound of the forge - which is more musical than you might expect.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> If you've got lots of time, this is an interesting examination of both art and the society that creates it.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-2471045389694859472019-09-22T12:38:00.000-04:002019-09-22T12:38:55.676-04:00Choose Your Own Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNJdpvuaB1_vXfYcDPMByxf5uoxHSIsekXZtMEi38pe1XX0zoj5DUeWxNT_8NwMnhjkTNIWCEmr1UZIhevkyX0cH5VPD4CmLiPavHUV6wjkvKOMAW5gFV3wziA-cR42MkSH6BXBZ8mqk/s1600/thumbnail-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNJdpvuaB1_vXfYcDPMByxf5uoxHSIsekXZtMEi38pe1XX0zoj5DUeWxNT_8NwMnhjkTNIWCEmr1UZIhevkyX0cH5VPD4CmLiPavHUV6wjkvKOMAW5gFV3wziA-cR42MkSH6BXBZ8mqk/s320/thumbnail-1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> Smithsonian American Art Museum<br />
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<b>When:</b> closing October 14, 2019<br />
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David Levinthal photographs toy figurines. It's as simple as that. He photographs sports figures (like Eddie Matthews of the Milwaukee Braves, pictured here), Wild West figures, Barbie dolls and figures from American history. He constructs tableaux with them and then photographs them, blurring the images to make them more lifelike.<br />
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Describing the show this way makes it seem silly; who want to see pictures of someone's toys? Levinthal himself said, "There's less in my work than meets the eye." And that's where you, the viewer, come in. You construct the narrative around the photographs, just as children do with their own toys.<br />
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There's something both odd and appealing about this show; it's an invitation to remember the past and stories about the past and also to examine how much truth there is in those memories and stories.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> This large show is a sample of a gift of Levinthal's works that were recently donated to the museum; one hopes this is not the last display of his work we will see.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-10955482154440653242019-09-15T12:23:00.000-04:002019-09-15T12:23:25.100-04:00Dinosaurs Outside the new Fossil Hall<b>Where:</b> Natural History Museum<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing September 29, 2019<br />
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True confession: I've not yet been to the new Fossil Hall at the Natural History Museum; I go to see things that have impending closing dates, and presumably the new hall will be with us for quite some time. Maybe that's something my niece and I could go see when she has a day off from school...<br />
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I did get to see some dinosaurs at Natural History this week though. The exhibit that served as a "dinosaur place holder" while the new Hall was under construction is now closing, so I went to see that. Called "The Last American Dinosaur," it's quite well done. It provides lots of information, presented in an easy-to-understand style. I especially liked the explanation of the difference between an actual fossil, a scientifically accurate cast, and a fake.<br />
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I also enjoyed the information about the digs that yield the fossils and the way that scientists preserve what they find and transport it back to the museum. The Hell Creek Formation, which covers parts of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, is full of fossils - sort of a paleontologist's playground. It's a lot of work to travel out there, find useful specimens, wrap them up so they don't get damaged and get everything and everyone back to DC.<br />
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The exhibit also included information on the 5th great extinction - the one that killed the dinosaurs. An asteroid hit the earth, which set off a chain reaction of terrible events that resulted in the death of all non-avian dinosaurs. So, every time you see a bird, you're actually seeing a dinosaur. And mass extinctions are bad for the species that die off, obviously, but they're good for new species that can arise from the ashes. Like mammals.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> The new fossil hall is getting all the press, but this exhibit is worth a look. And I really wish the museum would have returned to the original name for the dinosaur display: the Hall of Extinct Monsters.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-43792934657790465962019-09-11T13:38:00.000-04:002019-09-11T13:38:13.673-04:00Fireworks in the Library<b>Where:</b> National Gallery of Art Library, East Building<br />
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<b>When: </b> closed September 6, 2019<br />
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This library show is a tribute to fireworks and festivals throughout Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Although all the books are in black and white, one feels as if one can see the vibrant pyrotechnics and feel the excitement as one looks at the display. I particularly enjoyed seeing John Bate's instructions for how to make a flying dragon.<br />
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<b>Verdict: </b>Hope you had a chance to see this small exhibit - more fun than the usual offering.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-27683811888179860292019-09-07T13:28:00.001-04:002019-09-07T13:28:52.178-04:00Architects' Greatest Crime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhtG9oJaje1Ot42BIOguHFjI6qgrE_9hIK05UBvvmRKrodEY97gNQyeAqqoQ5cl0ZBkx22ukZXpQnyznPJ6pdCAlIbmjEdX9-h7DMFwdEoLAyK4BDuZzN-cKCxq1YPNKibhIcjBQ300Q/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhtG9oJaje1Ot42BIOguHFjI6qgrE_9hIK05UBvvmRKrodEY97gNQyeAqqoQ5cl0ZBkx22ukZXpQnyznPJ6pdCAlIbmjEdX9-h7DMFwdEoLAyK4BDuZzN-cKCxq1YPNKibhIcjBQ300Q/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> Hirshhorn Museum<br />
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<b>When:</b> closing September 8, 2019<br />
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This somber display closes tomorrow, so if you want to see it, you'll need to hurry. It's contained inside the "What Absence is Made Of" show on the 2nd floor, so you'll need to walk through some nonsense to see it, I'm afraid. It's worth it, though, so make the effort.<br />
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It's a visual installation that presents the evidence collected to prove that Auschwitz was a mechanism for mass murder. This was not merely a camp to hold people against their will (although that would be bad enough); this was a place designed by architects to end people's lives in as efficient a way as possible.<br />
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The entire installation is white, which I found made it hard to understand the documents that line the room. What really made the piece real to me was the video at the end that explains the decisions the architects made to ensure as many people were killed in as short a time as possible.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> In a time when Holocaust denial is making a comeback, this is an important statement of facts.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-29350253699791801112019-07-20T14:22:00.000-04:002019-07-20T14:22:52.062-04:00Japanese Animal Art - It's Not Just Hello Kitty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQVrkMeJ3TuIETNZKdA3A6VukZLtn3KrFySldKVoOD78sBdRr5nLR-itCfhJ2VZaRE6nTMTrLGH2GdqlbLxtrSDgTS_nw5eNfRmSpT279qnhNjKaF8yFOnTfx1QEpJ-JyGhdoVHcZidw/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQVrkMeJ3TuIETNZKdA3A6VukZLtn3KrFySldKVoOD78sBdRr5nLR-itCfhJ2VZaRE6nTMTrLGH2GdqlbLxtrSDgTS_nw5eNfRmSpT279qnhNjKaF8yFOnTfx1QEpJ-JyGhdoVHcZidw/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> National Gallery of Art, East Building<br />
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<b>When:</b> closing on August 18, 2019<br />
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First of all, this is a far larger show than you can see in a lunch hour. I suppose you could get through it if you ran from end to end, but that's not really any way to appreciate the terrific pieces. So, I'm advising you to take an extra-long lunch hour, or go on a weekend or day off.<br />
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This is a survey of animals in Japanese art from ancient times to the present day, so we're covering a lot of ground. This series of screens is right at the entrance to the show and sets the tone nicely. It's colorful and fun and features lots of animals. And that's largely what the rest of the show does. The first room includes several ancient representations of dogs and horses, along with Kusama Yayoi (she of the polka dots, pumpkins and mirror rooms) dog sculptures. The thing I thought about all of these works was how friendly the animals were. They all seem to be smiling at you, and you just can't help but smile back. I couldn't anyway, and I was feeling irritable and stressed out when I went over there, so a cheerful welcome was just what I needed.<br />
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I also learned that the Japanese have a zodiac, very similar to the Chinese one. I'm the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac, and the same is true of the Japanese version. Large banners, one for each year were displayed on one of the walls, and the picture on my year was of the Japanese god of seas and storms, whose name happens to be Susano'o. How appropriate is that? The god slayed a dragon and removed a sword from its tail. I've decided the next time I get frustrated at work, I'll remember I'm really the god of seas and storms, slayer of dragons.<br />
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There's painting; there's sculpture (some of it massive); there's kimonos - really, something for everyone. This would be a good show to see with kids, since a lot of the art is accessible and fun. It's long, but you wouldn't have to see everything.<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> This big show has lots of great stuff and is worth making time to see.Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8974324533482667563.post-85476965417375710082019-06-29T14:33:00.000-04:002019-06-29T14:33:35.526-04:00Have No Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bwJHLKsShC1LSkRfisUfAmMXk8p_t6fiCbCT59cc2O0u2CcrSR9TxuBWj_Kcp9UaLcBkMkrdmSCFwu-C2nAadC-unIZXERiv7GBgKiYfwDuV_t6dzkdGoZtFfdcKN6RN2MKLhoU7tQI/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bwJHLKsShC1LSkRfisUfAmMXk8p_t6fiCbCT59cc2O0u2CcrSR9TxuBWj_Kcp9UaLcBkMkrdmSCFwu-C2nAadC-unIZXERiv7GBgKiYfwDuV_t6dzkdGoZtFfdcKN6RN2MKLhoU7tQI/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Where:</b> Hirshhorn Museum<br />
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<b>When: </b>closing July 24, 2019<br />
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This show is a combination of Thai cooking (the title is a reference both to Thai political groups and to types of curry) and protest art. Since this would have been the first food/art combination I've visited, I was disappointed that the food part wasn't in operation when I turned up. Perhaps I was there too early; I went at noon. It's also possible the food portion isn't operating every day. Whatever the timing issues, I was left with only the art.<br />
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The first room, the one with the cooking stations, have drawings of protesters and political situations on the walls. And when I say "on the walls," I mean directly painted on the walls - not hung in frames. In fact, two people were working on more drawings as I walked around. I noticed lots of U.S. imagery, as well as pictures that I am assuming were from Thai news stories. So, if you go, don't worry that you won't understand any of the art.<br />
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The second and third rooms contained videos - a series of documentary shorts that I believe are shown on a rotating basis. I didn't have a very strong reaction to either of them, as I can't remember much about them now...<br />
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<b>Verdict:</b> Since the point of this exhibit is to combine food and art, I feel as if I missed a lot by not scheduling my visit for the curry service. Check the website to see when the food will be available!Susan Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245710936090789821noreply@blogger.com0