This is Why You Don't Want to be Too Holy

Where: National Gallery of Art, West Building

When: closing on July 8, 2018

I think even people who are not Christian, or not religious at all, know something about St. Francis of Assisi.  If nothing else, I think many people know of his association with animals.  If I remember correctly, he was part of a wealthy family, who gave up his worldly possessions (of which there were many), in order to become a monk.  What I had forgotten about is the fact that he received the stigmata, which means that the recipient bears the wounds suffered by Jesus on the cross. 

Only very true believers receive these marks, so I always made sure to be at least a little bit bad growing up, just to be on the safe side.  Now that I'm an adult, my skeptic-o-meter is turned up to 11 when it comes to stigmata, so I will make no statement about if or how St. Francis received these wounds.  True or not, the story has been the focus of artistic renditions for centuries, and some examples are currently on display at the National Gallery.

St. Francis is said to have received his stigmata after a 40-day fast at a place called La Verna.  He was accompanied by Brother Leo, who seems to have been a sort of "Sancho Panza" equivalent.  The depiction of the actual event usually involves a floating cross with rays that come down and pierce St. Francis' skin.  There are a variety of different media in use: woodcuts, paintings, drawings, and the works span several hundred years.  One common feature I noticed was the presence of a skull - a memento mori, apparently.

Verdict: i can't advise a trip solely to see these works, but if you are interested in St. Francis or depictions of religious events generally, it's worth a look if you're in the National Gallery for another show.

Painting with a Trowel

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

When: closing July 1, 2018

In the first Cezanne show to focus on his portraiture, one cannot help but wonder how much money he spent on paint, as he applies it with such a liberal hand.  In his early career especially (which is the subject of the show's first room), one has a sense of the painter building his pieces by slathering on coat after coat.

These are by no means flattering depictions, either.  Either his subjects were singularly devoid of vanity, or they were less than happy with the end result.  Sour expressions are the order of the day.

As Cezanne progressed in his career, the brutal techniques soften a bit, but these are still not delicate pieces.  The wall notes indicate that he had "intense perceptions of the world."  The paintings seem to support that view, assuming that he was painting what he saw.

Verdict: If you like Cezanne, you should absolutely check this out.  Otherwise, I didn't dislike the show, but it didn't "wow" me either.

He Had a Dream

Where: National Portrait Gallery

When: closing April 30, 2018

It's always a good idea to see the photographs in the Honoring/Remembering space as quickly as possible, as they can change without warning.

Right now, this photograph of the Rev. Martin Luther King is on display.  It's one I've seen many times in reproduction, but I've never seen "live."  It was taken by a history teacher named James Lewis Hiller, at a meeting of high school teachers.  The meetings were segregated, and Hiller, who was white, went over to the meeting of African-American teachers, as he wanted to hear Dr. King speak.

The photograph shows Dr. King in a pensive mood, as if listening carefully to another speaker. I often think that one of the things we are sorely lacking today is an ability to listen to others.

Verdict: A great photograph - if you're in the museum for a show, take a moment to stop by and see it.

Ikats with a Friend

Where: Sackler Gallery

When: closing July 29, 2018

Usually, I go by myself to see exhibits.  I'm an introvert, so I can make my own fun just fine.  I get a nice walk to and from the venue, and I can take as long as I like in the show.  Plus, it gives me a break from work, where I spend a lot of time communicating with others.

This week, however, I took a friend with me to see the Ikats display at the Sackler.  She's a great fan of these textiles; she even wore an Ikat shirt in honor of our trip!  It was a lot of fun to go with her, and I realized I might be missing out on the insights that others bring to shows by always going alone.

Ikats are textiles made in Central Asia; they date back to the time of the Silk Road, yet are still wildly popular today.   I'd describe them as a sort of tie-dye, but this reflects my 1970s childhood and is a gross simplification.

This particular exhibit brings together some historical ikats and some ikat inspired creations by Oscar de la Renta.  The fabrics are quite large, so each room only contains a few examples, but you can get up quite close to them, to better appreciate the artistry involved.  I think my favorite pieces were a lovely de la Renta dress in a floral pattern (perfect for a summer wedding) and a carpet made of several pieces sewn together.  The notes about the carpet indicate that, "Perfection was obviously not a high priority."

Verdict: A fun show, especially if you like ikats or are interested in textiles.