Well, I Liked the Painting on the NGA Website

Where: National Gallery of Art, East Building, Mezzanine Level

When: closing September 15, 2019

When I saw the notice about this show on the National Gallery's website, I was drawn to the painting they showed, and had been looking forward to seeing more of Jackson's work.  Turns out, the painting on the website is the pick of the show's litter.

There are lots of works entitled "Painting" with a date.  If I've taken the time and effort to come see your stuff, the least you can do is give it a name.  Some of his work reminded me of Jackson Pollack, and since I don't care for Pollack, that's not a good thing.

I did like the quote from the wall notes: Painting far exceeds the things that were used to make it.  Okay, I agree with that.  The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Verdict: All in all, not my bag.  If you like Jackson, this is a nice presentation of his works.  It's a small show with plenty of room to walk around.  Well done, curators.  I just don't like the art.

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

When: closing July 21, 2019

It was a slow museum week for me; between lunch plans, bad weather and press of work, I only made it to one show.  I'm hoping to do better next week.

The exhibit I saw was on American pre-Raphaelites at the National Gallery.  I was, of course, reminded of the major pre-Raphaelite show I saw there several years ago - this is much smaller.

American pre-Raphaelites were strongly influenced by the English artist, John Ruskin.  They ventured out to record the natural world as they saw it - blemishes and all.  Their work was highly detailed and brightly colored and working outdoors was a laborious process.

They were also quite progressive in their thinking; they were abolitionists at a time when not everyone thought slavery was wrong.  The idea of painting nature without "improving" upon it was a radical notion, but one to which they were dedicated.

I thought the nature pieces in the show were lovely and the colors were stunning.  Once people make their way into the scene, however, I found the works a bit maudlin.  Perhaps this is merely Victorian sensibility, but I find it wearying.  My favorite piece was "Path in the Woods" by William Trost Richards, which reminded me of an illustration of the Hundred Acre Wood, from the Winnie the Pooh books.

Verdict: If you are a fan of pre-Raphaelites, make time for this show.

The Forgotten Voices of the Vietnam War

Where: American Art Museum

When: closing September 2, 2019

There are two main narratives of the Vietnam War: that of the triumphant North and that of the vanquished United States.  The people left out of both of these stories are the people of South Vietnam, who fought beside the Americans, and then were dispersed around the globe after the defeat.

Tiffany Chung, the artist behind this show, is the daughter of a man who served as a helicopter pilot in the war and was held prisoner for 14 years by the North Vietnamese.  After his release, he moved his family to the United States, so Chung herself is part of the group whose story she is documenting.

There are three rooms in this display; the first concentrates on her father's story of serving and being captured.  The second room is devoted to videos of South Vietnamese refugees who tell their stories: both what they witnessed in Vietnam and their lives since the war ended.  When you walk into the room, it's quite a cacophony of voices, but there is closed captioning on all the monitors, so you can focus on each person individually.  There's also a video in the room about people who remained in Vietnam, and the life they've made for themselves there.

The third room is the Vietnam Exodus Project.  It maps the journeys of people from Vietnam, as they were forced to migrate from their homes.  There are watercolors done by young artists and based on photographs of migrants, and there's a large map showing the exodus from Vietnam to other places in the world.

Verdict: An important show that concentrates on a story that has been ignored by history.

Bloom Where You're Planted

Where: Archives of American Art

When: closing September 2, 2019

Spring has sprung in Washington, DC, and that's especially clear at the National Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum.  In addition to the lovely display of orchids in the central courtyard, there's also this exhibit of flowers in artists' correspondence and other writings from the Archives of American Art, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Gardens.

And it's the collaboration that makes this exhibit special.  In addition to the notes explaining the importance of each item as it relates to American art, there's also an explanation of the flowers depicted in the artists' work, written by the horticultural staff.  So there's additional information about the lovely purple flowers in Julia Santos Solomon's "Tropical Orchid," to give just one example.  I also noted a piece of "Mail Art" in the display and was reminded of the show on that topic I saw in this room a couple of years ago.

The only thing that detracted from my visit was a large group of quite noisy young people.  I'm guessing this was part of a school trip that wandered into the room, perhaps (like bees) attracted to the large colorful flowers on the wall (see picture).  I had to remind myself that more visitors are good for the museum, but I've become spoiled by these displays.  The room is usually almost empty, so I can look at whatever I like in peace and quiet.  Not so, this time.

Verdict: Another interesting show by the staff of the Archives, and the collaboration with Smithsonian Gardens makes it all the better.

When They Say Glimpse, They Mean Glimpse

Where: Sackler Gallery

When: closing August 18, 2019

There's a small exhibit space at the back of the Sackler, next to the gift shop.  It's easy to overlook, especially if you're there for one of the big shows that open right off the main staircase.  I've seen several nice things tucked away back here, but never anything quite so small as the display of Yemeni artifacts there now.

In a recent issue of Smithsonian magazine, I read a piece on Wendell Phillips and his trips to South Arabia (what is now Yemen).  So this display was quite timely for me.  He traveled to the area in 1950 and 1951 and discovered quite a few objects; literally three of them are on display.  There's also a video, which is informative.

Yemen was a center of the incense trade, as it was a major sources of frankincense and myrrh (and, yes, I thought of the Three Wise Men).  Sadly, the current war threatens the nation's cultural heritage, in addition to causing such human suffering and loss of life.  The metalwork in these pieces is quite sophisticated; it's a reminder that ancient people may not have had our technology, but they were every bit as artistically gifted as we are.

Verdict: This is a small show, but each item is lovely and worth seeing.  If you're stopping by the gift shop, don't miss this!  And if you're not stopping by the gift shop, don't miss it either.

Up, Up and Away

Where: American History Museum, First Floor East display cases

When: closing September 2, 2019

If you're a fan of superheroes, make sure to see this display on their history.  What started in comic books in the 1930s has become a major entertainment industry, including TV shows, movies, graphic novels, merchandise, etc.

Superheroes are now more diverse than ever; it's not just white he-men who are saving the "good people of [wherever]," now women and people of color are getting in on the act.  Did you know that Wonder Woman is also known as Princess Diana?  I'm sure this is common knowledge among superhero fans, but since I'm on the outside looking in (for the purposes of this blog) at that community, this was new information for me.

On display is the costume that George Reeves wore on the "Superman" TV show in the 1950s.  Although it originally aired before I was born, I remember watching old reruns of it when I was a kid.  It seemed a little hokey, and the special effects were nothing in comparison to today's movies, but the basic premise of good triumphing over evil was the same.

Verdict: Worth a look, if you're in the museum to see a larger show.

The Women of World War I

Where: American History Museum, Third Floor East exhibit case

When: closing April 28, 2019

When one thinks of Americans serving in WWI, the image of a fresh-faced doughboy comes to mind, or, more realistically, the image of a young man with a thousand-yard stare, covered in mud from the trenches.  What both of these pictures leaves out is the large number of women who also served during the "Great War."

Even before the U.S. entered the war, women volunteered with social service and religious organizations.  Over 20,000 volunteered for the Navy Nurse Corps, and 13,000 filed the ranks of the Navy and Marine Corps, doing office jobs that freed up the men to fight.  In the Army Signal Corps, there were 450 female telephone operators.

Of course, as women were nursing and administrating and signaling in the military, they were also fighting for the right to vote at home.  I'm assuming that the work women did during the war, including taking over jobs at home that there were no men to do, helped lawmakers to see that they could be entrusted with the vote.

This display includes the uniforms of several women who worked, either at home or abroad, during WWI.  As we head into the 100th anniversary of women having the right to vote, I'm hoping we see more of these informative shows that highlight the role of women in American history.

Verdict: If you're in the museum, be sure to give this a look while you're on the third floor.

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.

Good Morning Vietnam

Where: American Art Museum

When:  closing August 18, 2019

Prior to the 1960s, American art had become detached from modern life and politics.  The Vietnam War forced artists to confront what was going on, and their collective response was one of anger.  This retrospective of the artistic response to Vietnam is a large display of very angry art.

As we all know, Vietnam was the first televised war, and it brought the horrors of armed conflict into American's living rooms.  I was reminded of a show I'd seen a while back on Civil War photography.  That also brought the war "home" to civilians, and made it much harder for them to pretend that war is a noble endeavor - it's a (literal) bloody mess.

The artists protesting the war were a diverse group: women and persons of color, particularly African American and Hispanic artists who focused on the disproportionate burden borne by their communities, spoke out through their art.  I noticed Yayoi Kusama's photographs of anti-war happenings - without the mirror rooms, you don't need to wait in line to see them.

The piece that stuck with me the most was Edward Kienholz's "The Non-War Memorial."  He took surplus army uniforms and filled them with clay.  They are laid out on the floor, like fallen soldiers.  It's not a flashy piece; there's no blood or guts, but you are confronted with the reality of death.

Verdict: This is not an enjoyable or pleasant trip to the art gallery.  But then, the Vietnam War was neither enjoyable nor pleasant for those who fought.

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.