Dinosaurs Outside the new Fossil Hall

Where: Natural History Museum

When: closing September 29, 2019

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...

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.

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.

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.

Verdict: 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.

Fireworks in the Library

Where: National Gallery of Art Library, East Building

When:  closed September 6, 2019

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.

Verdict: Hope you had a chance to see this small exhibit - more fun than the usual offering.

Architects' Greatest Crime

Where: Hirshhorn Museum

When: closing September 8, 2019

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.

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.

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.

Verdict: In a time when Holocaust denial is making a comeback, this is an important statement of facts.

All that Glitters...

Where: Museum of African Art

When: closing on September 29, 2019

The "golden arts" of Senegal are less well known than those of their neighbors, but the country has been a hub of fashion for many years, and continues to be one today.  This show focuses on jewelry, which in Senegalese culture (and in most countries, probably) is a signifier of power and prestige.  If you can afford to wear lots of gold jewelry, you obviously have money beyond what's needed for basic subsistence.

Marion Ashby Johnson was a collector and scholar of jewelry, and she donated her collection to the Smithsonian.  Most of what's on display here is from her gift.  Although many works in the museum's collection are very old, jewelry dating before the middle of the 20th century is actually quite rare.  The oldest item on display is from the early 20th century.  Usually, older pieces were melted down to create new, more fashionable pieces.  I suppose that's similar to people having a family ring reset.

There is a word used in Senegal, sanse, which comes from the French word changer (to change).  It has a variety of meanings,  but generally refers to dressing for success, a sign of money, status and importance.  It's different from and more complex than fashion, as it also involves ethical choices, as well as outer appearance.  Jewelry is a big part of sanse.

I confess, it was difficult for me to relate to this idea, as I don't really care that much about fashion or style.  I own jewelry and buy it from time to time, but it's mostly pendants that I switch out on a few chains.  I don't even have pierced ears, let alone anything else.  Fancy clothes are something I've arranged my life to avoid. Not that some of the pieces weren't lovely.  I saw a butterfly necklace and bracelet set that I liked very much, for example.

Verdict: If you're fascinated by fashion, give this a look.

Whole Lot of Groaning Going On

Where: Hirshhorn Museum

When: closing September 2, 2019

This is one of those weird Hirshhorn exhibits that I just don't understand.  According to the wall notes, Enrico David's work is an exploration of the human form through a variety of techniques.  And I suppose that's true.  The figures are generally human or human-like, and he does use a variety of different methods in his work.  So far, so good.  My problem is that I'm just not feeling anything when I look at this stuff, and (again, according to the wall notes) I'm meant to feel empathy.

Many of the works are of people grimacing, as if in physical pain or in some sort of horrible existential angst.  And that would move me to pity, if they were actual living beings, but they're not, so it just seems gruesome.

The first piece is a revolving set of wooden figures, and they reminded me of the Beatles (their hair is moptop-ish, and I'm guessing that's why).  As I stood there, others came into the space and also mentioned the Beatles, so it wasn't just me.  They just turn around on a small platform, so they're not awful.  The woman pictured here in the pink and black twist doesn't appear miserable either, so again, not awful.

Most of the rest of it is a big silent wail.  Yeesh, the best thing I can say is that it's in the inner ring of the 2nd floor, so it's smaller than an outer ring show.  Oh, and did I mention that most of the works are "Untitled" - sigh.

Verdict: If you like looking at misery, run right over.  Otherwise, feel free to walk on by.

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.

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.

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.