Mixing Cooking and Civil Rights

Where: National Portrait Gallery

When: closing June 30, 2019

Leah Chase was not only the "Queen of Creole Cuisine."  She was also the owner of a gathering place for leaders of the civil right movement.  Martin Luther King and other activists ate and planned strategy in her restaurant.

In her later years, Chase became an advocate for the arts, and the art displayed in her restaurant is considered by many to be the finest collection of African American art in New Orleans.

The portrait on display is by Gustave Blanche III, part of a series of paintings depicting people at work.

Verdict: It's worth a trip all on its own, and if you're in the museum to see a show, be sure to stop by.

An Architect I Grew to Appeciate

Where: National Portrait Gallery

When: closing June 16, 2019 (although I have my doubts)

Something I've noticed about the "In Memoriam" space at the NPG is that a portrait is only guaranteed to remain up for its originally allotted time if no one else dies.  Since I see from the Smithsonian website that a portrait of Leah Chase is now on display, I'm not sure this one of I.M. Pei is still up.  Not to be morbid, but perhaps they should have two spaces for the recently deceased?

Pei's work is something I've developed an appreciation for over the years.  The Kennedy Library is phenomenal - the feeling you get when you see the sailboat out on the lawn through the window - I can't really put it into words.  My visit there many years ago taught me that architecture can be emotional.

Those glass pyramids in the courtyard of the Louvre look weird from the outside, but bring in so much light when you're inside.  And as much as I've never been a fan of the National Gallery of Art East Building, it's the best possible home for the modern art collection.  None of it belongs in the West Building.

As for the portrait itself, I like that he's standing in a doorway, as if to welcome the viewer into his world.  And the photographer?  Our old friend, Yousuf Karsh.  And wasn't I filled with self-satisfaction when I saw that name and recognized it!

Verdict: If it's still up, take a few minutes to see it.

Spending a Little Time with Frederick Douglass

Where: National Gallery of Art Library, East Building

When: closing June 14, 2019

Selected items from Frederick Douglass' family are currently on display in the National Gallery's library.  There are photographs, an original typescript of a speech he gave and a variety of letters, many of them with lovely penmanship.

Along with the display is a brochure, but no other notes.  I've seen this before, and it find it less than helpful.  I don't really need a full brochure, but I would like a bit of explanation of what I'm seeing.  A little stand with maybe three paragraphs of text would be ideal.

That having been said, it's a nice display, as all of the library displays are, and if you're interested in Frederick Douglass, I can see that this would be something you wouldn't want to miss.

Verdict: Fine for Douglass enthusiasts, but everyone else can probably give this a miss.

Young Man in a Hurry

Where: National Gallery of Art, West Building, Main Floor

When: closing July 7, 2019

To mark the 500th anniversary of Tintoretto's birth, the National Gallery has launched a blockbuster show of his work, spanning his entire career.  Some of the work on display has never been exhibited in North America before, and two of his works (the "Spring" and "Summer" paintings of a cycle of works depicting the seasons) have not been seen together in over 25 years.

It's a busy show, with crowds larger than the usual exhibit.  You don't need tickets and there's no timed entry, but you may have to wait to read the wall notes or get up close to the art.  Still, it's fun to be part of a big show.

Things start off on a promising note with the entry plaque: "In Venice, in the sixteenth century, each day broke abuzz with commerce and creativity."  I'm not interested in time travel, but if I had to go back, I've now decided that 16th century Venice is my destination.  The dominant painter of the second half of this artistic century was Tintoretto, who was both a great artist and a great businessman.  No starving artist he!  When he was young and little known, he gave away his works, thus gaining attention he would otherwise not have had.  Later in his career, he focused on portraits of the high and mighty, who had plenty of ready cash to pay for his work.

One of the first paintings you see is a self-portrait of him as a young man.  He looks as if he's been interrupted in his work, and is eager to get back to it.  He's full of energy and life and the desire to prove himself.  At the end of the show, there is another self-portrait, of the artist as an old man.  He looks a bit tired, as if he's ready to rest.  It's a great way to bookend the exhibit, to show Tintoretto's life in his work.

Verdict: This is a terrific show, and an absolute must see.

Girl Power

Where: Sackler Gallery

When: closing June 23, 2019

It's not just the National Gallery that has a big show up now.  The Sackler has pulled out all the stops for its display of objects belonging to China's Empress Dowagers.  Pictured is the most powerful Empress Dowager in Chinese history, Empress Cixi.  Cixi was the power behind the throne for fifty years; she ruled for her son and for her nephew after him.

Although the position of women in Chinese society was far below the position of men, the Empress Dowagers lived pretty well.  Their beautiful gowns demonstrated their high position.  They were not subject to foot binding, so they could move about as they wished, even riding horseback.  They had very valuable jewelry and other household items.  Because the property was left to the imperial family at the death of an empress, there is a record of how they lived, and the status afforded them during their lives.

Although emperors had many consorts, there was only one empress.  The only woman senior to an empress, was the empress dowager.  So, it's good to be the ruler's wife, but it's even better to be his mother.  Amazingly enough, one of the empress dowagers, Empress Xiaoxian, came to the royal household as a maid, and was elevated to empress when she gave birth to a son.

This fabulous portrait of Empress Cixi was painted by Katharine Carl and given to Theodore Roosevelt.  He, in turn, gave it to the Smithsonian.  The enormous frame is of camphor wood.

Verdict: This is a don't miss!

Tintoretto-Adjacent Exhibits

Where: National Gallery of Art, West Building, Ground Floor

When: closing June 9, 2019

The big show of the season at the National Gallery is the Tintoretto retrospective (about which more presently), but there are two other, smaller shows that are also concerned with the artist and his times.  Of course, they are not the blockbuster that the main show is, but they're also less crowded, and if you're a fan of prints and drawings, they have much to offer.

There's a misconception that Tintoretto just slapped the paint on the canvas, with little preparation.  I gather this is due to his style of painting, which shows lots of hasty brushwork.  Tintoretto was called an "impetuous genius"; the genius part is true, but the impetuosity is not.

Although Tintoretto had a lifelong engagement with drawing, his works are not well-known.  This show sets out to remedy that situation, by showing the range of drawings he made, in preparation for his paintings.  He worked out the positions of his figures; he copied great sculptures; he taught his pupils - all by drawing.

In addition to pen and ink works, there's also a one-room examination of prints in the period of Tintoretto's career.  It's a little "add on" to the drawing show - just keep walking through, and you'll get to it.  Although Tintoretto never did any printmaking himself, he did take inspiration from prints especially those of the mannerists, who were starting to emerge in the 1500s.  And, of course, prints were made of Tintoretto's work.

Verdict: If you just can't get enough of Tintoretto, or if the history of drawing and printmaking is your interest, check out these shows.

All About Oprah

Where:  National Museum of African American History and Culture

When: closing June 30, 2019

This show is a biography of Oprah Winfrey.  I'm going to assume that everyone reading this blog knows who Oprah is, and has at least some familiarity with her life story.  She came from a very modest background, had no connections and made herself into one of the richest, most famous people in America by dint of hard work and talent.

It's an inspiring story, and I understand why the museum would tell it.
The question I have is, does the fact that Oprah has donated so much money to the museum create a conflict of interest?  It seems wrong to say that if you give money to an incredibly worthy cause that the money should preclude your story being told, and there's no doubt that Oprah is one of the most influential African Americans in history.  I just wondered what the ethics of the museum world are surrounding displays concerning their own donors.

Verdict: It's a well done display, and I'm sure even those who are big fans will learn something.

Fifty Years of Daguerreotypes

Where: National Portrait Gallery

When: closing June 2, 2019

The National Portrait Galley collects daguerreotypes, and since they've been in existence for 50 years, they have a lot of them.  When they were first made available, they were a way of democratizing portraiture, as they were much less expensive than paying an artist to paint a picture.  Think of them as the selfies of the 19th century.  Although it was a Frenchman, Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre who invented them, it was Americans who saw their potential and made them a commercial success.

The daguerreotypes on display in this small display are of famous people of the day.  P.T. Barnum makes an appearance, so that makes twice I've seen him lately - he was also featured in the "Lincoln's Contemporaries" show.  In addition, Robert Dale Owen is represented.  He was elected to Congress in 1842 and is known for introducing the legislation that established the Smithsonian.  So thanks very much Robert!

Verdict: If you are interested in 19th century portraiture, have a look.