We had the train by ourselves. :)
We were suppose to go to the Spy Museum but OMG! Look at that line.
So, we decided to go to The National Portrait Gallery instead which is located just across from the Spy Museum.
No photography? What to do?
So I took photos from the hallway. hehehehe.
This is the Americans Now Exhibition located at the first floor and runs from July 10, 2010 to July 2011.
Hi, Mr. George Lucas!
This is called The Late Night Triad (2003) by Jason Salavon.
Part 1: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Part 2: Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Part 3: Late Show with David Letterman
This is a 3 synchronized digital video and audio files.
This is a current exhibition: One Life: Katharine Graham
"Newspaper publisher Katharine Graham (1917–2001) led an extraordinary life in extraordinary times. Born into privilege, she was catapulted onto the international stage as publisher of The Washington Post during the Watergate scandal." (-Source)
These 2 side chairs (1795-1805; curly maple; birch) are based on the design from George Hepplewhite's 1794 pattern book. The middle furniture is a Linen press (1795-1820; mahogany, mahogany veneer, satinwood, brass). This was inspired by a plate in The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, a pattern book first published in 1788 by the English cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite. Because of the expense of importing English and European furniture, American cabinetmakers relied on such books for designs.
A library bookcase (with wings and secretary drawer), made around 1790 - 1815. This is all mahogany. This cabinet is fitted with a long "secretary" drawer in the middle that pulls out for writing purposes. This type of drawer incorporated into a bookcase was an innovation introduced in the late 18th century. The upper section was intended for books, and could be fitted with pleated silk behind the glass. Presidential china is in the central section.
The Dying Tecumseh (modeled about 1837 - 1846; carved 1856; marble with painted copper alloy tomahawk) This is by Ferdinand Pettrich (born Dresden, Germany 1798 and died in Rome, Italy 1872).
The Last of the Tribes (modeled 1867 -1872; carved 1876 -1877; marble). This is by Hiram Powers , an American Neoclassical sculptor.
Unbelievable details on the fringe and the skirt.
...and even the shoe and the base as well.
The Falling Gladiator (1861; plaster) by William Rimmer, an American artist born in Liverpool, England. The artist based this sculpture of a mortally wounded man on works from ancient Greece and Rome. But its subject echoed the suffering of the United States on the eve of the war. When the artist began work in January of 1861, six states had seceded from the Union, and the attack on Fort Sumter was just 3 months away. Rimmer worked as a doctor, and his critics at first accused him of casting the sculpture on a real human body. As the conflict wore on, however, they praised his representation of torment and suffering, relating it to the grim fate of Americans at war with one another.
a 1903 piano (oil, lacquer, and gold leaf on wood). America Receiving the Nine Muses, lid painting and is done by Thomas Wilmer Dewing. The case was designed by R.H. Hunt and J.H. Hunt and was manufactured by Steinway and Sons (NYC). Hoping to initiate a more active musical life at the White House, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned Steinway and Sons to produce this piano. The instrument's decoration, according to Roosevelt's wish, expressed patriotic pride through eagles, garlands, and shields, along with the seals of the first thirteen states. This collaboration of craftsman and artist was intended for the East Room of the White House.
Steinway and Sons commissioned the American painter Thomas Wilmer Dewing to oversee the painted portion of this elaborate design. On the inside of the lid, he depicted a circle of women in colonial revival gowns who represent the muses of art, music, poetry and learning. They are paying homage to a seated figure representing America, the new steward of Western culture.
Even the window view looked like a monochromatic painting.
The enormous painting on the left is called The Chasm of the Colorado (1874 -1874; oil on canvas mounted on aluminum). It is by Thomas Moran. These are really beautiful!
This is a painting of President John F. Kennedy by Elaine de Kooning, an Abstract Expressionist, Figurative Expressionist painted in the post-WWll era.
This is a miniature representation of the Smithsonian museum.
The Kogod Courtyard.
This is considered as one of the seven architectural wonders by Conde Nast Traveler.
The enclosed courtyard with its elegant glass canopy designed by world–renowned architects Foster + Partners provides a distinctive, contemporary accent to the museums' Greek Revival building. Foster + Partners was assisted by internationally acclaimed landscape designer Kathryn Gustafson of Seattle–based Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd. in the creation of the courtyard's interior design, with a variety of trees and plantings, as well as a unique water feature. The courtyard is named for major donors Robert and Arlene Kogod, Washington philanthropists and art collectors.
Free internet access (Wi-Fi) in the Courtyard. There's also a cafe that offers casual dining during museum hours.
We were hungry but by this time our tummies are craving for anything with rice.
I saw the poster on the left near the first floor restroom. I thought Jay would love to check it out.
Close to Home: Photographers and their Families presents photographs made during the past three decades by both established and emerging artists. It features 32 color and black-and-white photographs from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's permanent collection of 89 contemporary photographers: Tina Barney, Virginia Beahan, Christopher Dawson, Muriel Hasburn, Martina Lopez, Elaine O'Neil, Larry Sultan, Margaret Strickland and Carrie Will. Toby Jurovics, formerly the museum's curator of photography, selected the photographs in the installation. (-Source)
By the way, the museum uses 100% recycled paper...
... in their restrooms. They think green! :)
We wanted to explore more but we were too hungry to enjoy the rest of the museum exhibits.
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