Friday, June 3, 2011

The National Portrait Gallery: A DC Must See!

Abe's Photo 1865
Shelly and I are taking advantage of living in Washington to see some great museums and galleries.  Obviously, the Smithsonian is probably the best set of museums on the planet.  We have been particularly smitten by the National Portrait Gallery, and been back for repeat visits already.  There's a collection of portraits of all the American Presidents, a great exhibit of contemporary Americans, and (our favorite) the Alexander Calder exhibit featuring amazing 3-D wire caricatures.  
Alexander Calder 3-D Wire
Sculpture
In addition to its beautiful exhibits, the museum also has a clever way of displaying a part of its warehoused collection.  In the mezzanine above the 3rd floor, there are display cases packed with paintings, folk art, and sculpture for viewing.  
A person can get a great history lesson just reading about the various persons displayed, from sports heroes to warriors and writers.  An added benefit is the calm, covered plaza in the center of the museum---a translucent roof allows in natural light while keeping out the elements.  A great place to have lunch or type a blog . . .
MM augmented by Warhol
The Gallery is easy to get to, just adjacent to the Gallery Place Metro stop.  You can spend an hour or days there, and leave feeling inspired and uplifted. Check it out at http://www.npg.si.edu/ 

No comments:

Post a Comment