Power/Play: China's Empress Dowager

Where: Sackler Gallery

When: through January 29, 2012

The Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) was the dominant political figure of the Qing Court from the 1860s to her death.  The Qing Court was regarded as corrupt, and Cixi was believed to have ordered the death of foreigners and Chinese Christians during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.

The photographs on display were part of a public relations campaign on Cixi's part to rehabilitate her standing, particularly with foreigners.  These pictures led her to become an enduring symbol of a dying reign and contributed to her being viewed as a "dragon lady."  These photos were given as gifts to foreign heads of state.  One of them was given to Theodore Roosevelt, and was borrowed from Blair House for this exhibit.  Roosevelt's daughter Alice was part of the American delegation that met with Cixi; one does wonder how that meeting went!

Part of the exhibit shows Cixi's eunuchs and female attendants in various poses.  She had them dress up in costumes to appear in tableaux.  She herself would also participate, dressed as the Goddess of Mercy.  Although I'm sure Cixi enjoying herself, I noticed that no one else in the photos looks particularly happy.

Verdict: This show is well worth seeing.  It gives a rather different view of the Qing dynasty than the "Family Matters" show, also on display at the Sackler.

Momentum: A National Juried Exhibition for Emerging Artists with Disabilities, Ages 16-25

Where: Ripley Center

When: through January 22, 2012

I'm pretty sure this is the third time I've seen this annual exhibit.  It's meant to encourage artists with disabilities at a time when they are deciding whether or not to make the arts their career.  I'm impressed by their talents, and when you read about what they struggle with on a daily basis, their work is just that much more impressive.

This year's theme is the creative spark, the force that drives their artistic interest.  I'm not entirely sure that each piece necessarily conveyed the answer to that question ("What is it that drives you to create?"), but I enjoyed myself nonetheless.

The piece that most caught my attention was "Skateboarding Geisha" by Jansen Smith.  Really, how could you not want to look at a piece called Skateboarding Geisha?  Smith suffers from cerebral palsy that affects his right hand.  He makes prints, and he makes them first with his left hand and then with his right, to show the difference the disease makes on his coordination.  I didn't see a vast deal of difference between the two prints, but I was greatly taken with the idea and the picture.

Another artist, Xi Nan, who works with ceramics, was quoted, “I have learned to be strong and perseverant in the journey of making my art works; no risk, no miracle.”  I love that sentiment: no risk, no miracle.  I'm going to make it my  motto for 2012.

Verdict: This small show is great for a lunchtime excursion.

The Bright Beneath: The Luminous Art of Shih Chieh Huang

Where: National Museum of Natural History

When: through January 8, 2012

Huang was a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow (I didn't even know such a program existed) who was inspired by the bioluminescense of deep sea creatures to create his art.  In the deep sea, light cannot penetrate, so creatures that live there must produce their own light.  Basically, they're glow in the dark creatures.

Huang's art is in a darkened room just off the Ocean Hall, and his "creatures" glow there in brilliant bright colors.  It's great fun to watch them moving and lighting up, assisted by bulbs and fans.  I was reminded of Andy Warhol's description of his Shadows as disco decor - this would have been a fine addition to the 1970s dance venues.  There are small objects floating around, as well as the large ones, so if you go, pay close attention to everything.

Verdict: This show is closing on Sunday (much to the staff's chagrin - apparently it works wonders as a tantrum soother), so it would have to be a weekend trip.  Great fun if you have the time!

Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories

Where: National Portrait Gallery

When: through January 22, 2012

I didn't know much about Gertrude Stein before I went to see this exhibit, so I found it very informative.  I had no idea, for instance, that she was the person to coin the phrase "Lost Generation."  Nor did I know that she and her partner, Alice B. Toklas, are both buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.  I knew that famous people other than Jim Morrisson were buried there, but didn't realize they were among them.

Stein used clothing as a tool to create her identity, and she dressed unconventionally from the time she was in college.  Her clothes were mannish, but interestingly enough, she never wore pants, but always long skirts.  She and Toklas had blue wallpaper with a dove pattern in their Paris apartment at 5, rue Christine, and it is recreated in one of the exhibit rooms.  The apartment seems to have been a combination of  home and salon, as they had artwork displayed in the public rooms and entertained many artists.  Stein took credit for discovering Picasso and was often photographed with his portrait of her, which she bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in her will.

She created "word portraits" of artists; they were designed to evoke, but not describe a person.  A recording of her reading two of her portraits plays in one of the rooms.

The piece with which I was most taken was one by Devorah Sperber, who replicates masterpieces using spools of thread (just the sort of crazy, over-the-top thing I find appealing).  Here, she has recreated Picasso's portrait of Stein.  You have to view it through an acrylic sphere (more over-the-top yet!) in order to see it properly.  It sounds ridiculous, but when you look at it through the little globe - it's amazing.

Verdict: Go see this show; it takes a bit of time to go through all the rooms, but is very interesting and well worth a lunch hour.

Seasons: Japanese Screens

Where: Freer Gallery of Art

When: through January 22, 2012

If the Sackler is my favorite of the Smithsonian museums, then the Freer is a close second.  It was also quiet during this busy holiday week, a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle which is the National Mall at the end of December.

This exhibit is another in the Freer's year-long examination of the role of the seasons in Chinese and Japanese decorative arts.  Japanese screens have both a practical and an aesthetic value - I am reminded of William Morris' idea that one's home should contain nothing except that which is beautiful or useful.  This is a way to have something that meets both criteria.  Screens were imported from China and Korea originally, but the Japanese soon learned to make screens themselves.  They served two purposes: as partitions to define space and as a format to display art.

I most liked Cherry & Willow Trees with Poem Slips.  This represented the 17th century equivalent of a poetry slam - people would gather to drink tea and sake, and tie poems to the trees as an offering to the gods.

Verdict: This is well worth the small amount of time it takes to see - there are only a few screens on display as each one is quite large.  A trip to the Freer is always lovely, and this show is no exception to that rule.

Family Matters: Portraits from the Qing Court

Where: Sackler Gallery

When: through January 16, 2012

Yet again, I'm reminded of why the Sackler is my favorite of the Smithsonian museums.  Even though I visited this show during the week between Christmas and New Year's, when the museums are filled with tourists, the Sackler was mercifully quiet.

This exhibit showcases portraits of members of the Qing dynasty court, both men and women.  The Qing dynasty ruled in China from the mid-1600s until 1912.  The portraits of women were commissioned by male descendants, who used the paintings for ancestor worship.  The portraits of men were commissioned by themselves during their lifetime to serve more secular purposes.  Although the women are always depicted in formal court attire, reflecting the status of their husbands, the men are depicted both formally and informally.

I was struck by a portrait of Hongyan, Prince Guo, who was shown reading in a spring garden.  If there's any truth to reincarnation (and I don't think there is), I want to come back as a Chinese gentleman scholar.  Reading, writing, talking about what you've read and written with friends - now that's the life.

The paintings themselves are quite impressive - huge pieces that tower over the viewer.

Verdict: Go see this show - it's not terribly large, so a lunch hour is plenty of time to see everything.

Andy Warhol: Shadows

Where: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden

When: through January 15, 2012

This is an interesting exhibit - it's one work of art by Andy Warhol.  It consists of 102 panels displayed one next to the other and it takes up almost the entire second floor of the Hirshhorn.  The rounded space is ideal for this show.

This is the first time the entire work has been displayed; I can understand why, it's enormous.  Surprisingly enough, it doesn't take that long to walk through it, as the panels are repetitive.  Warhol painted the screens (apparently applying the paint with a mop) in a variety of different colors.  Then, he silkscreened one of two shadow patterns from his studio on each panel.  I won't say that when you've seen one panel, you've seen them all, but it's close.  I do wonder how they decided to order the panels - how do you know which one is first? Which one comes next?

Warhol was asked by someone if this was art, and he responded, "No.  Disco music was playing at the opening party, so this is disco decor."  Far be it from me to disagree.

Verdict: Provided you have a strong stomach for repetition, go see this piece.  It probably won't be on display in its entirely again, and it won't take that long to stroll through.

Collecting History: 125 Years of the National Philatelic Collection

Where: National Postal Museum

When: through January 9, 2012

The National Philatelic Collection is the oldest intact national stamp collection in the world.  Early on in the collection's existence, philately was not considered a discipline, and stamps were collected in a haphazard way.  That changed when, in the early 1900s, the Smithsonian received gifts of two very large collections of stamps.  In 1913, they hired a Government Philatelist, who had an office in the Arts and Industries Building.  Catherine Manning, the longest serving curator of the collection, broadened the collection to include foreign stamps.

Also on display are stamps indicating payment of the tax on marijuana.  Yes, pot used to be legal in this country (you  learn something new every day), but it was heavily taxed in order to discourage use.

The collection moved in 1969 from Arts & Industries to American History (or History & Technology, as it was called then).  In 1993, the Postal Museum was opened, and the collection has resided there ever since.

Verdict: If you are interested in stamp collecting, by all means check out this exhibit.  Otherwise, there are numerous shows closing in January, and you may want to spend your time seeing other things.

Three exhibits at American History

I use a page at the Smithsonian website to keep me informed of when exhibits are closing, and every so often, I'll discover that a show is closing very soon that I haven't seen posted before.  Whether this is because I don't check the page every day and miss postings from time to time, or because the museums decide to close things without much notice, it's always a bit disconcerting to find out that something's leaving in just a few days, and I have to fit in a trip pronto.

This happened recently with three exhibits at the American History Museum, and I set out to see them all in one lunch hour.  This worked because two of the exhibits were fairly small and the other was something I'd seen before.  Not my favorite way to see things, but at least I didn't miss them entirely.  All three of these exhibits are closing on January 8, 2012.

Robots on the Road: Stanley

 
The vehicle pictured here can navigate for itself, without any human intervention whatsoever.  It isn't remote controlled by a remote person - it's not controlled at all.  It's a Volkswagen Touareg that was modified for participation in the DARPA Grand Challenge in 2005.  This contest took place in the desert near Las Vegas.  The purpose was to test the feasibility of automatic driving.  Although we're not quite ready to give the controls over to robots,  I've seen commercials for cars that can parallel park themselves, so perhaps the days of truly "smart" cars are not so far away.

HIV and AIDS Thirty Years Ago

Yet another exhibit at the American History Museum about HIV/AIDS, and again, no reference to the other items on display.  At this point, the other exhibits may well have been taken down, but I'm still shaking my head over the lack of coordination here.  Surely, anyone interested in one of these displays would be interested in all of them?  Why make it so difficult for visitors to find things?

This exhibit highlights the early years of the AIDS crisis, 1981-1987.  There was not only prejudice against gay people during that time; there was also a lack of interest or concern about the fact that so many people were dying.  Of course, that all changed when HIV/AIDS started to make its way into the straight population.  Just as with the other exhibits I've seen lately, it brings at all back: the fear, the horrible treatment of gay people, the religious bigotry.  Things are far from perfect today, but they're so much better than they used to be.

Bon Appetit! Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian

Have no fear; Julia's kitchen is not closing permanently.  It will only be off view temporarily while the west wing of the Museum's first floor is renovated.  It's a tremendously popular exhibit - any time I walk past, there are always people watching the video that plays continuously, peering in to see the kitchen itself, or comparing her cookbook collection with their own.

It's not possible to overstate Julia's influence on 20th century American cooking - if you have your choice of fresh mushrooms at the grocery store - thank her.

I'll be eager to see what the new and improved 1st floor west wing looks like when it reopens in late summer 2012, in time, one hopes for Julia's 100th birthday on August 15th.

Verdict: All of these are well worth seeing before they close next Sunday - you can even do them all at once!

Race: Are We So Different?

Where: National Museum of Natural History

When: through January 8, 2012

"Human diversity is the end result of two complex, interrelated and fascinating processes: evolution and history." - Alan Goodman, biological anthropologist, Hampshire College

This is a fantastic exhibit and one I would urge everyone to go see.  It's very large, and to see it properly requires much longer than a lunch hour.  Even in a limited period of time, however, you can learn quite a bit about race, and unlearn quite a bit more.

First of all, there is no such thing as race, viewed scientifically or biologically.  The traits that most people think of as making up race: skin color, eye color, hair color and texture are all inherited individually, and so actually have no relationship to one another.  Skin color is simply a function of how intense the sun's rays are in the area of the planet where the people whose genes you inherited lived.  If they were from Kenya, where the sun's rays are quite intense, you will have darker skin, as protection from the sun.  If  they were from Norway (like some of my ancestors) you will have light skin, as you need to soak up every bit of Vitamin D you can get in a sun-starved place.

Secondly, when people think of race, they think of black, white and Asian, but in fact, the world is far more diverse than this division would imply.  If you looked at a person from Kenya, one from Egypt and one from Norway, they would appear very different from one another.  If however, you walked from Kenya, through Egypt to Norway, you would find that the changes in the appearance of people you met along the way were far more gradual.  Each person looks much like the people living around them, and the changes that are so apparent when you take people from different places and put them together are far less obvious if you see them in their native place.  The question of how to draw the line between races may seem simple, but in fact, is quite difficult, and has been fraught with power struggles over time, not least here in the United States.

I found out that sickle cell anemia is not related to race, so much as place.  In areas where malaria is prevalent (such as Africa, but also parts of the Middle East), sickle cell anemia is also prevalent.  This is because the same gene that causes sickle cell also protects you from malaria.  The exhibit showed a man, of Middle Eastern descent, who has sickle cell, as does his daughter, who looks as if she just stepped off the boat from Ireland.  He was undiagnosed for years, as the doctors thought he couldn't have sickle cell because he's not of African descent.

Race is not found in nature; it's created by people who wish to dominate others and find appearance an easy way to do that.  One can only hope that as people migrate even more around the globe and intermarry with those who look different from themselves, this rigid view of race will give way to an acknowledgment that we are all human, and have much more in common than outward appearance would indicate.

Verdict: Go see this exhibit!

Seasons: Chinese Flowers

Where: Freer Gallery of Art

When: through January 8, 2012

This is another in the Freer's year-long series of exhibits on the portrayal of the seasons in Chinese and Japanese visual art.  Most of the flowers depicted in Chinese art are grown in gardens, not in the wild.  The meanings ascribed to them influence the art, rather than scientific study.  I've often noticed the relationship in Western art between scientists and artists.  In these paintings, that's not what's on view.

Seemingly realistic paintings are actually puzzles where each element has a meaning.  Putting certain elements together makes a message for the recipient, perhaps good wishes on a birthday, or marriage.  For example, the painting Hollyhocks and Ducks is actually meant as a wish for a long marriage with many sons.

This is not the most colorful exhibit I've seen, although there are bits of red here and there, if you look for them.  One of my favorite pieces featured large red peonies, which, I found out, are originally from China.  I also discovered that a narcissus is what I've always called a daffodil.  I really never fail to learn something in each exhibit I attend.

Verdict: I love going to the Freer, if for nothing else than the tranquility.  This exhibit would be worth seeing, even if it were in one of the busier museums.

The Great American Hall of Wonders

Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum

When: through January 8, 2012

This exhibit showcases the accomplishments of the American people of the 19th century.  If the Founding Fathers saw the United States as a "great experiment," then subsequent generations saw themselves as an inventive people.  They invented many things that we still use, in some form or fashion, today; they explored the North American continent, and we live with the consequences of their views of themselves as masters of their environment to this day.

The exhibit covers many aspects of 19th century invention and exploration, beginning with the hunting of the buffalo.  I came away thinking that technology can be a wonderful thing, as it increases efficiency, but that sometimes a little inefficiency is not a bad thing.  Buffalo used to exist in such enormous numbers that it seemed incredible that they would ever be endangered.  They were no match for rifles, however, and now their numbers are considerably diminished.  It reminded me of the book Cod, which details the same story as regards that fish.

In the room dealing with railroads, there is a painting entitled Two Artists in a Landscape by Harrell.  It is on loan from the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY, which I visited when on a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Also in the room is the last spike of the transcontinental railroad.

In the botany room, I was struck by Rubens Peale with Geranium, by Rembrandt Peale.  Apparently, this was one of the first geraniums in the United States, and was described as a finicky, exotic plant.  That has not been my experience - I've found they'll put up with even my neglectful watering, so I'm guessing they've gotten hardier over time.

Verdict: This is a large show, difficult to take in if you have only an hour.  It also feels a bit disjointed, as if there are so many things to cram in, that you only get a bit of each one.  It might be worth choosing only two or three rooms to visit, in order to get a better sense of what's contained in each one.

Artists in Dialogue 2: Sandile Zulu and Henrique Oliveira

Where: National Museum of African Art

When:  through January 8, 2012

This is the second in a series of exhibits in which two artists (one of whom is African) are invited to exchange ideas with one another.  Zulu is from South Africa and Oliveira is from Brazil.

Zulu uses fire to create his works, patterns on canvas, and they are very interesting.  Most of his pieces are similar to the one displayed here, and they are quite large.

Oliveira's works are abstracts - paintings of color that are psychedelic.  I liked his work; you could look at it for hours and not see every element contained in it.

I also liked the videos that were playing, showing the artists creating their work.  It's something you usually don't see in an exhibit.  You have the sense of being "behind the scenes."

Zulu's influence on Oliveira was to encourage him to use fire in his work.  He created two enormous wood sculptures: one, which is slightly charred, appears to be bulging out of the wall, and the other is a gigantic sculpture of wood entangled and attached to the walls.  I could not help but wonder: how did they get this in and how will they uninstall it?

Verdict: Go see this exhibit.  It's not terribly large, in terms of number of pieces, so it's manageable in a lunch hour.  It does, however, feature some wild, large art.

50th Anniversary of JFK’s Inauguration: 1961 – 2011

Where: Portrait Gallery

When: through January 8, 2012

This small collection of pictures is in the stairway in the Portrait Gallery/American Art building, on the second floor.  It's easy to combine with a trip to another exhibit in either of the collections.

The painting shown here is by Elaine de Kooning, who was so taken with the president that after his death, she didn't paint for a year.   The painting has a tremendous energy to it, in keeping with Kennedy's personality, well worth seeing on its own.  Interestingly enough, it was adopted by the Mondales.

The inauguration took place in a snowstorm, where streets were unplowed and cars abandoned.  The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Verdict: If you're here in the building to see another exhibit, and there's lots going on now to see, take a few minutes to look at this little show.

Frank Kameny

Where: National Museum of American History

When: through January 16, 2012

Frank Kameny, who died recently, was a gay rights activist.  He was fired from his government position in 1957 because he was gay, and this led him to speak out against discrimination towards gays and lesbians.  Three of the posters he carried in demonstrations during the 1960s are on display in the cases close to the Mall Entrance.

Again, I was struck as I looked at these posters that there were no references to the AIDS quilt panel in the Constitution Avenue cases or to the Archives exhibition.  Puzzled, I thought that someone interested in one item would be interested in all three, and it would make a good lunchtime trip.  Then, I happened to read an article in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hideseek-smithsonian-officials-look-back-at-what-went-wrong/2011/11/16/gIQAVkp8oN_story.html, which explained that, in an effort to avoid the unpleasantness surrounding last year's Portrait Gallery exhibit, Hide/Seek, the museum deliberately divided the exhibits, putting the AIDS quilt panel in a more prominent place, and the archives exhibit, which has some material that some might find objectionable (gasp, a condom) in what the article describes as a "less trafficked area." Of course, any child too young to be told about condoms would have zero interest in the archives exhibit, as it contains no bells or whistles, but I guess that's beside the point.

I also found out that the Hide/Seek exhibit is now in a museum in Brooklyn.  If you live in that area, do check this out.  The controversial video has been restored to the show, so you can actually see more than what was available to us in DC.  It will be traveling to Tacoma, Washington, so those of you on the West Coast have that to anticipate.

Verdict: Go see these posters, and check out the AIDS quilt and archives exhibit - easily manageable in a lunch hour.

Text as Inspiration: Artists' Books and Literature

Where: National Gallery of Art, West Building

When: January 29, 2012


This is a small exhibit of books transformed by artists.  The artists don't merely illustrate the book, they use the text as inspiration to create a work of art.  They bring the book to life, but also use the book itself as part of the artwork.  Some of the works retain the shape and look of the book, others move beyond that and take the book apart to make an entirely new work.

Verdict: Go see this lovely little show.  It's tucked away in the National Gallery on the ground floor, so it may take a few minutes to find it.  It's easily managed in a lunch hour, so you might combine it with a visit to another show.

The Invention of Glory: Afonso V and the Pastrana Tapestries

Where: National Gallery of Art, East Building

When: through January 8, 2012

These are tapestries commemorating Alfonso the V's campaign in Morocco.  What is interesting about them, is that they portray contemporary events, rather than the usual mythology or biblical history.  They are among the finest Gothic tapestries in existence; they date from the late 1400s.

Alfonso used them to invent a glorious image for himself, without worrying too much about pesky details that might get in the way.  In the Landing at Asilah, the weavers were unfamiliar with Moroccan architecture, so it appears that Afonso's army is landing in a Northern European city.  You can see that some of the soldiers are drowning, as the king and his son come to the city, but the focus is on the royalty, not on the common man.

In the Siege of Asilah, Afonso's army used wooden screens to shield themselves from Moroccan horsemen, a clever strategy.  In the Assault on Asilah, the troops are storming the city in hand-to-hand combat.  The conditions were actually much worse than the tapestries depict; there was a lot of rain, and many Portuguese ships were lost.  In the pictures, however, there is only glory.


In the Conquest of Tangier, the army walks into an empty city, as the inhabitants surrendered and fled, rather than suffer the fate of Asilah.  Clearly, one's existence was pretty miserable if one was a peasant.

The tapestries had been in Spain, and had been much damaged.  Recently, they were returned to Belgium, where they were originally woven, for restoration, and are now in such good condition that they can travel.

Verdcit: Make time for this show - when else are you likely to see the finest Gothic tapestries in existence?  There aren't very many pieces, so you can spend plenty of time looking at each one.

Conversations with the Earth: Indigenous Voices on Climate Change

Where: National Museum of the American Indian

When: through January 2, 2012

This exhibit is a result of a collaboration between 15 indigenous communities in 13 different countries.  These people are the first to deal with the momentous results of climate change.  Each community is facing a different challenge, but all of them may be harbingers of what is to come for the rest of the world's population.

One of the communities is the People of the Caribou.  They have noticed that the caribou herds are declining; the permafrost is melting and the foods they eat are disappearing.  It used to reach -70 degrees in the winter (sounds dreadful frankly, but I realize this is how they live and my notions of what constitutes pleasant winter weather do not apply), but now it is no longer that cold.

Peoples in Peru and Ethiopia are working together, across an ocean, to promote indigenous agriculture.  The hope is that they will be able to find new crops to grow, as old ones are no longer feasible.  In Zanskari, India, they are moving the entire village from their 1000 year location to a new place.  Obviously, there are many people who are opposed to the move, but there are others who realize they can no longer live there, and are eager to move somewhere more hospitable.

In South America, the environmental efforts to save the forests are preventing the Guarani from living as they have traditionally done.  The conflict between saving the trees and saving the people's way of life is real, and it seems as if the Guarani are paying the price for others' pillaging of the landscape.

Verdict: Go and see this exhibit.  I was unaware of the devastation that climate change is already causing in various parts of the world.  As people are forced to leave their native areas, one fears that culture clash may be the result.  One hopes for better. 

Made in Chicago: The Koffler Collection

Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum

When: through January 2, 2012

The Kofflers were Chicagoans who collected art by Chicago artists.  Eventually, they had amassed a large enough collection to warrant starting a foundation, and the collection was made part of the Smithsonian in 1979.

Several pieces caught my eye:

• Alligator Spring by Bill Benway - this reminded me of the exhibit (also at American Art) on the decaying of the earth
• Mytystic Pairanoiya by Gladys Nilsson - I liked the colors - there is something comical about it
• Homage to Archimboldo by Theodore Halkin - not quite as easy to see the larger picture in this, as in a real Archimboldo, but I was happy to be reminded of that very fun show

Verdict: Well worth a look; it's not an enormous exhibit, so it fits easily into a lunchtime excursion.  I had never heard of the Kofflers before, so yet again, I've increased my score of knowledge!

Warhol: Headlines

Where: National Gallery of Art, East Building

When: through January 2, 2012

Andy Warhol is the subject of two current shows on the Mall, this one at the National Gallery and another at the Hirshhorn.  I'll be reviewing the Hirshhorn show once I've seen it.  There are so many shows closing in January, that it's all I can do to see them all - a great problem to have!

This Warhol exhibition focuses on his paintings of headlines.  A great quote opens the show: "If your name's in the paper, then the news should be paying you."  I guess these paintings were his way of extracting some payment from the media that made so much money reporting on him.  The first room contains huge paintings of newspaper front pages, including the one pictured here.  I find it these an interesting commentary on our society's focus more on "infotainment" than on actual hard news.  Sad to think this is not a recent phenomenon.

Further along in the show are screen tests, videos of people (who probably didn't know they were being taped - hate to think of the legal ramifications of this) being themselves, just chatting.  Apparently, he made hundreds of these - what's on display are merely a small sample.  In the same room are some drawings of newspaper front pages - the Wall Street Journal is pretty drab, even if Warhol is painting it.  One of the paintings he created was of the reporting on the marine attack in Lebanon in the early 1980s - this is something I remember (I was in college at the time); very sad, and a chapter in our nation's history that I think is probably forgotten.

You can also watch clips from Andy Warhol's TV, a New York cable show, including an interview with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, talking about Afghanistan - makes you realize how long we've been involved in that country, one way and another.

Verdict: Do go see this show - it's quite interesting, especially if you're a fan of Warhol, or are interested in portrayals of popular culture in the news media.