Saturday, June 26, 2010

Smithsonian Museums - Portrait Gallery and American Art

Three brilliant Missourians

Smithsonian American Art Museum
National Portrait Gallery

American Art and the Portrait Gallery share one building - a museum twofer. The content alternates wings throughout the three story building.

Observations
  • It's fun to see some of the more famous presidential portraits, as well as some quirky ones.
  • The portrait gallery also features some amazing rotating exhibits. Right now there is a bunch of photo-realist portraits that are pretty outstanding.
  • The American Art portion is much better than I anticipated. You can see great works by Americans Georgia O'Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, Thomas Hart Benton (big up Missouri!), and Andy Warhol.
  • Andy Warhol screen printed a bunch of stuff.
  • In short this a museum that is better than expected. It's several blocks off of the mall, but it's just far enough that the crowds are more manageable.

Electronic Superhighway - one of the museum's iconic pieces.

George H. W. Bush playing horseshoes.

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