| DC: State of the Art |
| Other News | |||
| Posted: November 26, 2009 | |||
 The National Gallery of Art, East Building - photos by Ken Hamel/DenverArts.org There really is no place like DC for art: a strong set of legs plus a few hours can bring you in touch with some of the greatest names in the history of painting and sculpture. Here's a quick cheat sheet to the must see institutions for modern and contemporary art on and around the National Mall. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden - Joseph Hirshhorn had an eye for art, and his namesake museum is pretty much perfection: the floorplan of levels 2 and 3 are giant circles, meandering through rooms dedicated to abstract expressionist masters including Clyfford Still and Willem de Kooning as well as rotating exhibits and a diverse collection of modern masters. Of note was an hypnotic trio of videos by Irish artist John Gerrard that defy categorization; they are moving still lifes of the American prairie and his 2007 "Dust Storm (Dalhart Texas)" is a computer generated 360 degree motion study of a swirling dust cloud subtly emerging and disappearing from the horizon creating a slow motion narrative that was for me as engrossing as any Hollywood suspense picture. Also do not miss the out of the way basement level which typically displays contemporary work from the last 30 years on a rotating basis, as well as the outdoor sculpture garden. The Hirschhorn is an ideal place to start the day as it's simply the highlight of any DC art trip and might as well take it all in on a fresh visual palette. (recommended detour: if you have the stamina, sneak in to the nearby Sackler (Asian) and Freer (19th century painting) galleries, but not at the expense of the agenda below...) The National Gallery of Art, East Building - The I.M. Pei designed East Building is as much an attraction in itself, with the structure playing graceful, spacious host to an outstanding permanent collection focused on 20th Century art. The building features an unusual "tower gallery" that when I visited was host to a Phillip Guston retrospective. The East Building is connected via an underground tunnel to the historic and grand West Building, which while impressive, is easily skipped if you're short on time. Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery - both these museums are basically linked together and to give them justice would take the greater part of a full day, so put on the blinders and march directly to the 3rd floor of the American Art Museum to take in the Lincoln Gallery which is not only a wonderful space, but plays host to an eye-popping collection including epic works by Duane Hanson, Nam June Paik and David Hockney. Everywhere you look is a treat, I was thrilled to see a work by artist and filmmaker Bruce Conner (his 1959 "Arachne"). The 3rd floor also has a large space dedicated to rotating exhibits and I was fortunate to see "What's It All Mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect," a very thorough look into the artist's work. As time allows, take in the rest of the American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery collections but be warned, there seems to be an endless supply of sub-galleries as well as "stacks" of paintings much like a library, so budget your legs wisely. If you have the time and stamina after the American Art Museum, it's a short walk over to the White House which is an international perennial favorite, and if you make it that far, absolutely do not miss the wonderful Renwick Gallery which features a "Grand Salon" that is itself a spectacle up and above the hundreds of paintings adorning the walls. - KLH Click here for pictures from the various museums...
photos by Ken Hamel/DenverArts.org
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