SBA, Day 4 - We went to church, saw indescribable art (but I tried) and took a trip to Africa +

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

–P.J. O’Rourke

Books and Beads:

DuPont Circle is an amazing area.  We knew we must make a pilgrimage to the independent bookstore and bead shop. And it is within walking distance of a number of embassies. We thought we had enough time to do all our wandering before lunch, but only managed to buy books and beads* before we needed to head downtown to MT's office.

Look at this place - isn't this what a bookshop should be?

I started taking photos of titles that made me laugh and books I might want to read. I could only buy one as we are traveling. I think "How to Raise a Jewish Dog" is the title that grabbed me here.

This photo satisfies two things...my love of neat stacks...my interest in this book...

This is one I probably should read (since I really don't know much about economics).

I am not really sure why we stopped for coffee. Maybe that is what one does on vacation.

Or perhaps one stops for hot chocolate.

I knew the bead shop was nearby. Then I looked up and saw the sign as I enjoyed my coffee.

No photos in the bead shop, but I did love the cast metal bird skull on the lower left.

We continued to travel by Metro. In spite of issues on a number of lines (those serving McPherson Station), we have traveled well and timely.  MT expressed some surprise that our Metro experience has been so good. For me it is a matter of negotiating this strange transportation. For DH, I suppose it is a matter of honor since he grew up on the Subway. For JRF it is something new - and he is a easy traveler. He is ready to go and a quick study. He could probably manage it on his own now.** [Not long after writing this the Metro announced the ENTIRE SYSTEM will be closed tomorrow. That means transportation chaos in DC. But we will work this out.]

"The churches are needed as never before for divine services." ~ Abraham Lincoln

MT suggested we take a look at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.*** "It was Lincoln's church," he said. "The President used to walk over from the White House so he could have a little peace and quiet. He would get work done in a small study there. You can sit in Lincoln's pew. You can see the desk where he wrote a first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation," he added.

 We walked a few blocks to the NYAPC to find a plaque relating the history, a hitching post (also reputed to have been used by Lincoln, and a number of homeless folks. The church has a special mission to Washington's poor and homeless.

We entered the church and MT requested the opportunity to see the study. We were allowed in and eagerly viewed the framed "rough draft" as well as the famous furniture. Then we walked upstairs to the sanctuary and saw (and sat in) Lincoln's pew.

The church has been renovated over the years and hangs with art and stunning stained glass. Our trip was additionally blessed as a pianist came in to the sanctuary and began to play.

Looking up at the church spire

Draft of a document in Lincoln's handwriting - a precursor to the Emancipation Proclamation.

The desk used by President Abraham Lincoln.

A Lincoln anniversary memento.

What do you think? Lincoln and his cabinet?

The bench/settee used by President Lincoln. Yes, we sat down.

Now to the sanctuary:

The pipes from the organ

The choir loft.

The President's pew.

It's marked in case you forget.

It's also marked B-14.

Another view of the pew. Yes, we sat here too.

This is the "government" window. We recognized buildings, Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. We aren't sure who is in the lower left-hand corner.

DH, MT, and JRF in the sanctuary.

DH examined the hitching post claimed to have been used by Lincoln.

Our trip in Lincoln's footsteps more than made up for our frustrating search for a spot for lunch. Apparently everyone took a late lunch today. We finally found a sandwich stop. And it was prefect. the food was good and company better. We sat and discussed things we must see and transportation options [and in light of the just announced Metro shut down, it is a good thing we have thought about transportation - more on that tomorrow, I guess].

After lunch we had to let MT go back to work (his next career should be tour guide) and headed to the Renwick Museum, just across from the White House. The current show "Wonder" is wonderful. We saw it all and then looked again...Chihuly, Maya Lin, and then some artists we had never heard of, but we know now.

All the days of my life I have seen nothing that rejoiced my heart so much as these things for I saw amongst them wonderful works of art, and I marveled at the subtle Ingenia of men in foreign lands. Indeed I cannot express all that I thought there. 

~ Albrecht Durer, 1520

The Renwick Museum invited us to "wonder."

Even the carpet on the stair indicates we are going to be thrown "off kilter" - that we will be seeing something different.

We were invited to walk around and sometimes within the work. There was no "touching," but photos were welcomed.


Untitled - Tara Donovan - 2014

In the first room we immediately have a "what is it?" moment (that was repeated over and over in this show). Mounds of what? Cards - stacks and stacks of white cards create these almost geologic spires. There is space between and one can walk among them. Like seeing images in the clouds, I saw images in these stacks...humans trying to break free or "big foot" walking away. As a person who loves stacks and piles - but usually "neat" stacks, this challenged me a bit as the cards are "purposefully" stacked and in a desired "order." But there is also a brilliant madness here.

Plexus A1 - Gabriel Dawe - 2015

This installation is described as "architectural weaving." It reflects the weavings and sunsets he knew growing up in Mexico and West Texas. I love the simplicity yet sophistication of the work - colored string, cup hooks, and imagination.

1.8  - Janet Echelman - 2015

Okay. I missed the point of this entirely. There were thirty or so people lounging on pillows or talking underneath this work. Just not there for me.

Shindig - Patrick Dougherty - 2015

Dougherty weaves sticks into fantastical nexts and structures. One expects elves and fairies or giant birds/insects to come wandering around a corner. They are brilliant. What can I say? As you view the photos you will want to crawl in one. You will want to look out the "windows." The beauty of this exhibit - you can.

Middle Fork (Cascades) - John Grade - 2015

Grade celebrated the reopening of the Renwick (a building which is 150 years old) by selecting two trees each approximately 150 years old. One is from the Cascades and one from the Arctic. The trees were cast in plaster (without harming the tree) and then rebuilt from millions of pieces of wood to form the shape of the tree. The larger tree is Middle Fork (Cascades). The smaller tree is Middle Fork (Arctic).

These are crazy-mad brilliant and beautiful - Cascades more so. They appear to be enormous baskets until you realize they are made of tiny pieces of wood.

The piece flows as light seeps in the spaces between the wooden pieces.

The limbs are somewhat ungainly compared to the beauty of "base" of the tree.

Middle Fork (Arctic)

The original tree was stunted by the weather of the arctic.

This photo is enlarged to show the method of construction.

Another view of the smaller tree.

Folding the Chesapeake - Maya Lin - 2015

Lin created what appears to be an entire river system with tributaries of fiberglass flowing down the walls and across the floor of the gallery. The glass echoes materials used by her father while she was growing up in Ohio.

The gallery guard said the marbles were glued down. Still - no touching.

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[There should be a big separation here - this is the intermission.]

3-D printed copy of the Greek Slave by Hiram Powers (original 1843).*****

This is not part of the "Wonder" exhibit, but was in the middle second floor gallery which is crowned by a the 1994 Seafoam and Amber-Tipped Chandelier by Dale Chihuly.

The line across the thigh is indicative of some of the other 3-D printed objects I have seen.

Slave crowned by Chihuly

[Okay - Back to "Wonder"]

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Anonomous Doner - Chakaia Booker - 2015

One step into this gallery and the smell of tires overwhelms. Yes, it is made entirely of old tires. The slices are bent and screwed together around a structure to create  this shape.

Close-up.

Walking through.

Another close-up.

In the Midnight Garden - Jennifer Angus - 2015

Initially I thought this was some kind of patterned wallpaper, but then immediately make out the patterns were off - skulls and circles? No, it wasn't wallpaper. It was a carefully placed collection of insects.

These are not insects we see in our gardens, but from Malaysia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea. Don't worry, there are more where these come from. This is almost a "nightmare of insects" - unless you like insects.

The pink walls are stained with crushed cochineal. Then the insects are applied.

I know I saw a review of this work some time ago, but I had no idea of its impact, its presence "in person."

I cannot describe the impact of an entire room covered in decorations made from exotic insects. It was incredible!

Around the room beneath the chair rail.

Different circles and patterns.

More circles of insects.

Large skull patterns were each slightly different.

A wasp nest crowned an old hardware store nut/bolt container. [one was pictured a few weeks ago in the post about Hye, Tx]

This once held nuts and bolts, screws and nails in a hardware store.

Now it holds varieties of insects.

Another skull, eyes are made of different insects.

The same skull with surrounding circles (almost snowflake shapes) of insects.

Fly away, fly away!

It is like our 9th grade insect collection (on steroids).

Yet another skull - check the eyes again.

And another.

High on the walls the insects flutter in no pattern.

Wonder where this idea began...maybe 9th grade.

Volume (Renwick), Leo Villareal, 2015

Computer code lights LED lights in various patterns. Some are like waves. I mistook this work as a chandelier until I stood in the hall and watched it for a while. It is beautiful. And I - technophobe of the highest degree - am always impressed with folks who write co

The location above the stairs was perfect. (The Greek Slave and Chihuly work seen through the arch)

We are now planning supper and our "fall back" plan for tomorrow. Supper will be easy. We have lots of options in the area. It seems the plan is to take a cab to the zoo.


NOTES:

*Kramerbooks and Beadazzled are almost next door to each other on Connecticut Avenue, N.W. We do have a few things to haul back home.
**But I am not about to allow that...always a fretful aunt.
***http://www.nyapc.org/history/
****http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/wonder/ [READ THE EXPLANATIONS OF THE ART - REALLY!]
*****The Smithsonian American Art Museum had a larger exhibit regarding the history of Greek Slave by Hiram Powers - http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2015/powers/   [We saw this on Friday]

Final note:

On our way to the Renwick we walked in Lafayette Park, took some tourist photos and watched a woman feed the birds and squirrels. We also wondered what kind of party the Irish were having that required a large area of the pedestrian area to be blocked off.

Loads of birds and 4 or 5 squirrels were glad to see this woman in the park.

The pigeons love this statue of President Andrew Jackson. One rides his head while another sits atop the head of Jackson's horse.

The boys and the White House.

Someone is having a party without us. Street blocked off - many police cars at the end of the street - guys in dark suits with communications wiring hanging out of their ears.

Wait! That wasn't the final note! The last thing we did (other than supper) was to take JRF to step foot in multiple countries. Embassies are sovereign over their footprint, no?  So we took photos on the property of multiple embassies including: Ireland, India, Togo, and Turkey. There were a couple of others, but I like the alliteration here.