This week I will be sharing some of my favorite new pieces on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery.
Up first is "World's Tallest Disaster" by Roger Brown.
I mostly chose this work due to the stylized colors and shapes of the flames and building. Half of this skyscraper is on fire with the upper floors ravaged in flames and people panicking. In the lower half, we see residents carrying on on with their lives, unaware (?) of the horrific chaos happening above in the very same building. Is the painting allegorical? Probably. But I really appreciate how accessible it is. Roger Brown’s art feels so accessible in part because much of his work was inspired by works of self-trained artists and comic book art. I love this one.
Stay tuned for more observations this week!
Capitol Hill Tours Return!
Capitol Hill walking tours are back! We have revamped itinerary — adding new elements, updating others, and we’re so happy to be offering it again to those interested in history, government, and examining the peaks (and valleys) of our democratic process.
Capitol Hill Morning is a three hour experience featuring visits to the United States Capitol Building, Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court. We are offering this tour in the morning hours on Tuesday - Thursday to accommodate open hours of all the institutions on the Hill and to match the busiest times on the Hill.
This tour is meant to convey the busy and occasionally chaotic environment on the Hill, while offering historical narrative about why, how, and by whom Capitol Hill was established as an entity and how it still manages to change and adapt after every election cycle.
Sample Itinerary:
9:00am: Walk the the west front of the Capitol. See, up close, where the President is inaugurated every four years!
9:30am: Explore the labyrinth of tunnels beneath the House Office buildings. See an actual Hearing Room where Congressional Committees meet to discuss bills.
10:30am: Go inside the Library of Congress and Supreme Court. If the Court is in session, we will view it from the outside.
11:30am: Discuss the role of Congress and see timely artifacts in the newly renovated Capitol Visitor Center and museum.
12:00pm: Photo op on the steps of the Capitol!
And so much more along the way.
Capitol Hill Mornings are $300 for up to 5 participants.
OK, I know what you’re thinking (FAQs):
Where do we meet?
We will meet in front of the U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW. The tour will end on the east steps of the Capitol.
Is the same as the CVC/Red Coat Capitol Building tour?
Our tour is an excellent companion to --but not the same as— the Red Coat Capitol Building tour run by the Capitol Visitor Center. They have official access to places we will not go on tour, including the Rotunda and Statuary Hall. Please contact your Senator/Representative for assistance with a Red Coat tour or visit the CVC website.
What about government shutdowns?
Occasionally Congress can not agree on passage of spending bills to continuously fund government operations. The end result is a “government shutdown,” until a new funding is passed into law. Essential government functions are preserved, but spaces like the Library of Congress, Capitol Visitors Center, and Congressional office buildings would close. We will still proceed with the tour! Typically we will spend more time on the grounds and time permitting, see additional memorials including the Disabled American Veterans Memorial and Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II.
What about security on tour?
We will we be entering secure buildings on tour, including the U.S. Capitol. We will pass through magnetometers and your bags will travel through x-ray machines. Please travel as light as possible. Obviously, don’t bring weapons or sharp objects. No liquids, including water, are allowed in the Capitol. If you follow the rules of this list provided by the Capitol (linked), you will be good to go!
What should I wear?
There are no restrictions on dress, but consider that the tour takes place half indoors and half outdoors. Please were comfortable walking shoes and dress weather appropriate.
We’re so excited to be doing these tours once again!
Video: Beyond Granite Reflections
With the Beyond Granite exhibition closing a few weeks ago, I wanted to take a moment to delve into the meaning of commemoration here in Washington, DC. This video offers notes on the specific elements of each of the six installations, but also delves into the motivations behind the artists' design choices.
What truly struck me was the profound way in which these installations connected with the existing commemorative landscape of the Mall. It was fascinating to witness the powerful intersections between history, art, and remembrance, and how they all intertwine to create a tapestry of meaning that —in theory— transcends time. Even if the exhibition was but one month in duration, the reflection on commemoration will continue.
Thanks to all Patrons whose support make videos like this possible. For more video blogs, photos, behind the scenes in tour creation, tour previews, or just to support my work, check out tiers of membership here.
Rain, or Shine
As long as it's safe, I strive to honor all scheduled tours, even through the rain. For the most part, everyone has been pretty good about the policy over the past six years.
It can get tricky thuough! DC wether changes so quickly. Even though it may be raining at 10 am, it may not be raining at our tour time of noon. And while I have a generally high tolerance, not everyone is enjoys or is able to tour in wet weather.
When the participants are game, for the most part, so am I! I was grateful for these Danish television producers for being enthusiastic about touring last month, even through the raindrops.
This was a four hour tour and they were engaged the whole time! Amazing. And yes, we took a mid-tour coffee and warm-up break about 2 hours in 😄.
They had lots of interesting questions including wanting to know if I thought any states would attempt to leave the union anytime soon! (I don't). They were also perplexed about the idea of federalism especially regarding the issue of gun violence. The session almost became Civics & U.S. Government 101.
The group wasn't shy about sharing their critical thoughts about what is happening in the U.S. right now and we had some fulfilling discussions interspersed with lots of learning about American history and government. In this way, the content overtook the weather as the defining element of the tour.
In their post-tour comments/review to me, they all mentioned the elements of learning and no one mentioned the weather. Of course, not ever rainy day tour goes off this well, but that is the ultimate goal.
Exhibition Spotlight: Afrofuturism
Surprisingly, one of the more intriguing parts of my recent visit to the Afrofuturism exhibition was the exhibition booklet. Typically, the exhibitors booklet --if there even is one-- is a mostly ephemeral folded pamphlet with obligatory, but duplicate information. I will usually pick one up whenever I first enter a new exhibition, but if it looks like I won't get anything out to it, I put it back in the rack for the next person.
Not so with Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures. Just as the NMAAHC has done with their exhibition websites, they have created a booklet that compliments and extends your experience beyond exhibition. It is deemed a "Cosmic Companion" and that rings true.
The booklet helps you plan your walk through the exhibitors with "Discover Treks," offers prompts and questions to enhance your visit beyond the objects, and even offers tips on how to interact with the museum itself; from defining the word "object" wo helping you manage the time you have to see it all. I really loved the booklet and have been flipping through it the past few days admiring the work that went into it.
As for the exhibition itself, it is a vast, but also focused on the evolving concept of Afrofuturism. Yes, it does concern the future, but also the past. It posits past and present struggles for freedom as afrofuturist in nature; reimagining a future of freedom and autonomy.
The exhibition delves into multiple disciplines such as music, movies, television shows, literature, comics, commentary, and poetry.
The objects and displays are broken up into three "Zones" -- 1) The History of Black Futures 2) New Black Futures 3) Infinite Possibilites. In between the Zones are "Portals," a tiny transitional story to the next section. There is even a looping replay of Gil Scott-Heron's "Whitey on the Moon" looping in one of the portals. Love it.
It's a vast exhibition that explores multiple aspects of what "future" has meant, and could mean as concept. This is a great follow up to the Smithsonian's FUTURES exhibition last summer at the Arts & Industries Building.
Afrofuturism will be open for exactly one year: March 24, 2023 - March 24, 2024. It's located on Concourse Level C1, the first thing you see on the left after talking the escalator from the ground level down to the lower level exhibitions.
Reserve tickets to the Museum here (link).