I have been to just about every Gallery or Museum in D.C the past few days, and my feet hurt. *laughing* I have walked from here to.. seemingly eternity (I hate taking any of the three million cabs) in the 40 degree heat and the 200% humidity to sweat in awe at many, many paintings. Yesterday I went to the Freer, Sackler and African Art Galleries on the other side of town. I really need to better interpret the "scale" portion of the maps, because apparently, one inch is like, 5 miles. Damn it. By the time I got to the Freer I had sweat coming off my pigtail braids, and the gaurd immediately directed me to the washroom, instead of the exhibits. *laughing* But they were all worth it, and here's why....
Freer
Freer gallery holds a really impressive group of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Persian, Islamic and Buddhist art, as well as a huge holding of Whistler's works. Charles Freer, the founder, was a patron of Whistler, as well as Dewing and Thayer. Each artist, though very American, each imbibed their works with instances of oriental style craft, which Freer enjoyed.
Highlights
- Thayers "A Virgin"
- Whistler's "Caprice in Purple and Gold - The Golden Screen"
- Dewing's "The Garland"
Sackler
While the pottery and glass and ceramic work are impressive, unless you find it fascinating.. it's a little much. I can look at a lot of teacups and buddha sculptures.. but it wore on me. The Egyptian works are really interesting, some of it is so detailed and intricate that it really is worth a stop. Otherwise.. well.. a teacup is a teacup.
There is an intersting exhibit right now based on Portraiture through the ages, from early Chinese actors to contemporary portraits in the Muslim world - it's very interesting. Modern and ancient works are all thrown together, and though I felt they were a little hodgepodge, the unifying fact that they were all portraits really brought the exhibit together. I couldn't help wondering what it was that makes humans so desperate to be witnessed, to pass marked somewhere, to make a record of ourselves. What are we so afraid of?
Highlights
- Empress Dowager Cixi Posing as Guanyin
-Jannane al-Ani's dual portraits of veiled family members
African Art Gallery
I have to say, because I've never visited anything like this gallery, I really enjoyed it. The exhibits range from textiles and printmaking, masks and musical instruments from long ago, to contemporary paintings, sculpture and mixed media. I did find, however, that unlike most exhibits in Smithsonians, the exhibits were not very well marked with appropriate tribes or locations, most were very vague or "unknown" - very strange.
Entitled "Body of Evidence" there are definately some beautiful pieces within the contemporary gallery, definately very interesting, and featured a number of up and coming African artists. Rarely have I been exposed to the proverbs and symbolism contained in African art, and really enjoyed finding both in older, and more contemporary art.
Highlights
-Kwesi Owusu-Ankomah's "Off My Back"
-Jeremy Wafer's "African Form I-VIII".
Freer
Freer gallery holds a really impressive group of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Persian, Islamic and Buddhist art, as well as a huge holding of Whistler's works. Charles Freer, the founder, was a patron of Whistler, as well as Dewing and Thayer. Each artist, though very American, each imbibed their works with instances of oriental style craft, which Freer enjoyed.
Highlights
- Thayers "A Virgin"
- Whistler's "Caprice in Purple and Gold - The Golden Screen"
- Dewing's "The Garland"
Sackler
While the pottery and glass and ceramic work are impressive, unless you find it fascinating.. it's a little much. I can look at a lot of teacups and buddha sculptures.. but it wore on me. The Egyptian works are really interesting, some of it is so detailed and intricate that it really is worth a stop. Otherwise.. well.. a teacup is a teacup.
There is an intersting exhibit right now based on Portraiture through the ages, from early Chinese actors to contemporary portraits in the Muslim world - it's very interesting. Modern and ancient works are all thrown together, and though I felt they were a little hodgepodge, the unifying fact that they were all portraits really brought the exhibit together. I couldn't help wondering what it was that makes humans so desperate to be witnessed, to pass marked somewhere, to make a record of ourselves. What are we so afraid of?
Highlights
- Empress Dowager Cixi Posing as Guanyin
-Jannane al-Ani's dual portraits of veiled family members
African Art Gallery
I have to say, because I've never visited anything like this gallery, I really enjoyed it. The exhibits range from textiles and printmaking, masks and musical instruments from long ago, to contemporary paintings, sculpture and mixed media. I did find, however, that unlike most exhibits in Smithsonians, the exhibits were not very well marked with appropriate tribes or locations, most were very vague or "unknown" - very strange.
Entitled "Body of Evidence" there are definately some beautiful pieces within the contemporary gallery, definately very interesting, and featured a number of up and coming African artists. Rarely have I been exposed to the proverbs and symbolism contained in African art, and really enjoyed finding both in older, and more contemporary art.
Highlights
-Kwesi Owusu-Ankomah's "Off My Back"
-Jeremy Wafer's "African Form I-VIII".
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