We all drew when we were children. The quality of the image didn’t matter. What mattered was the joy that came with the process of making art. Whether the art was good or bad, positive feedback and compliments were received from family members.
For most, the flow of compliments about the art created when we were young dried up and became nothing more than a memory; a series of childish drawings saved by our parents. However, for those who no longer view themselves as artists, yet still enjoy art visit art museums. Going to these museums provides a way for these child artists to continue engaging with art. Washington, D.C. is home to an abundance of art museums that display contemporary, classical, and modern art in the form of paintings, photographs, sculptures, and art installations. Here is a quick overview of a few that are really worth your time.
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: Located next to National Mall the cylindrical shaped Hirshhorn Museum is surrounded a sculpture garden with an ongoing exhibit that display contemporary sculptures primarily made of steel, bronze, and aluminum. The newest exhibition inside the museum feature the artists Sean Scully and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Landline by Scully, includes oil and watercolor paintings, as well as sculptures of solid colors comprised of horizontal lines that reveal the connection between the land, sea, and sky. Pulse by Lozano-Hemmer merges art, science, and technology to present an exhibit composed of three interactive pieces where the participant’s heartbeat creates an effect that becomes the art.
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery: Home to the portraits of the American presidents, activists and artists, the National Portrait Gallery holds a large collection of of paintings, photographs, and sculptures from some of America’s finest artists. Two of the most popular portraits added to the gallery were the paintings of the 44th U.S. president Barack Obama, painted by Kehinde Wiley, and that of the former first lady Michelle Obama created by Amy Sherald. The special thing about these portraits is that they were both created by black artists who became the first African American artists to paint portraits for the President and First Lady. Another exhibit that should would appeal to artists is the Eye to I exhibit, which showcases the self-portraits of artists that come from different racial backgrounds in paintings, sketches, photographs, and sculptures.
Smithsonian American Art Museum: SAAM offers a wide variety paintings, drawings, photos, and sculptures from classic American art to modern art. A popular attraction is Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii by Nam June Paik. The piece is a neon sign of the U.S. where each state has televisions inside of each state. The televisions display images that are representative of that specific state; for example California has images of the Golden Gate Bridge. In an exhibit the museum also dedicates an entire gallery to self-taught artists entitled Galleries For Folk and Self-Taught Art who weren’t classically trained, but skilled conveying imaginative narratives and reveal personal visions.