| Smithsonian’s American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery Showcase - American Treasures |
 |
| Written by |
| DATE_FORMAT_LC2 |
|
WASHINGTON The many museums of the Smithsonian Institution are national treasures and in fact the Smithsonian Institution houses the largest collection of artifacts, artwork and national treasures in the world. One of the highlights for art lovers in Washington, D.C. is the Smithsonian Institution’s American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery. The American Art Museum contains artwork by more than 7,000 artists, includes such famous artists as Georgia O’Keefe and Mary Cassatt and is one of the most extensive chronicles of the American experience.  The museum features several revolving exhibits at both the main location in the Smithsonian complex as well as the satellite location, the Renwick Gallery, located near the White House a few blocks away. The exhibitions can range from single artist exhibits to exhibits with multiple artists that explore common themes or mediums. There is always something to see at The American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery. The Smithsonian Institution’s American Art Museum, or SAAM for short, has a number of exhibitions ongoing now, and some are on exhibit through 2010. They feature a variety of mediums so there is something for everyone. On display now through June 7, 2009 at the Renwick Gallery is an exhibit called The Art and Craft of Greene & Greene. The Greene brothers, Charles and Henry designed some of the most beautiful and architecturally interesting buildings in southern California. What would be cutting edge design today, these brothers created a century ago, considering carefully every element of every building or object that they ever designed. There style of design incorporated elements from several cultures, including Native American, European and Asian, and they blended all of the elements beautifully in art that transcended any single cultural style. There influence is still seen in southern California architecture and style today. This exhibit features 127 items designed by the brothers, from photographs and drawings to beautiful stained glass pieces and inlaid wood furniture. If you are a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, this exhibit is for you. Another exhibit going on now at SAAM is called 1934: A New Deal for Artists. During the early 1940’s America was in the cold grip of the great depression following the stock market crash of 1929. In 1933, recognizing how important the arts are to the country’s morale, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Public Works of Art Program, though the program was short lived, only lasting until June of 1934. The purpose of the program was to encourage artists to capture the climate of the time on public buildings, and they were paid for their work by the program. The exhibit celebrates the 75th anniversary of the program and is comprised of work created for the program from SAAM’s collection. The exhibit is open now and runs through January 3, 2010. One exhibit that is wrapping up its run at the end of May is called Graphic Masters I: Highlights from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Such artistic geniuses as Georgia O’Keefe, Man Ray, John La Farge and others are featured in this exhibit that highlights the importance of artworks on paper. All of the pieces in this collection were created from the early 18th Century to the early 20th Century and the collection features watercolors, pastels and drawings. As mentioned above, this is the end of this exhibit, it will close on May 26, 2009, however it is the first in a series of exhibits that examines the roots of American art, so more will follow at a later date. The fourth and final exhibit is just one of many exhibits around our nation’s capital to commemorate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. This year would have been his 200th birthday, and as such many exhibits in the Smithsonian Institution’s complex of museums will feature something about President Lincoln and the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum is one of those locations. Located in the main SAAM location, the exhibit entitled The Honor of Your Company is Requested: President Lincoln’s Inaugural Ball. This collection showcases President Lincoln’s second inaugural ball, held just as the Civil War was coming to an end, a few short weeks before he was assassinated at Ford’s theater by John Wilkes Booth. This exhibit displays a small collection of artifacts from the ball, which took place 143 years ago in the same building that now houses SAAM. In 1865, the building housed the National Portrait Gallery was it one heck of a party! This exhibit features such items as the invitation to the ball and original menu as well as other pieces that illustrate all of the revelry of the evening. This exhibit is open now and will run through January 18, 2010. Perhaps one of the best things about Washington, D.C. and the Smithsonian Institution is that there is absolutely no charge to visit any of the museums in the complex. The Smithsonian Institution has a unique history of its own, but its mission as the world’s largest museum complex is to increase the knowledge of man, as stipulated in the last will and testament of Mr. James Smithson, the English scientist who bequeathed his substantial wealth to the United States for that purpose. Mr. Smithson had never visited the US, nor did he know anyone who lived here, but he believed that his wealth would best serve man in the creation of this institution, and he was so right. So whether you are a D.C. resident or you are visiting on vacation be sure to visit the wonderful art museums on the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution isn’t just one museum. It is actually comprised of 19 museums, 159 affiliate museums, 9 research centers, and houses more than 136 million artifacts and works of art. Most of the 19 museums and 9 research centers are located in our nation’s capital and each year the Smithsonian Institution welcomes more than 25 million visitors from around the world. One could visit Washington, D.C., stay for a week, and not see all of the beautiful museums that the Smithsonian has to offer. Bookmark us: 
|
| LAST_UPDATED2 |