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Yayoi Kusama at the Hirshhorn with Romey, Bill, Em, John, and Joan

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There were circles. Which is my favorite part.

Romey and Joan arrive

We waited for our timed entry.

And finally it was time.

Then more waiting.

And it was time again.

And then, you guessed it, more waiting!

And it was the last time.

Well worth the wait.  Wow.

Our reality is not quite as…

Only an Expert: Laurie Anderson, The Weather

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Very Small Laurie Anderson

Oh boy, oh boy did we want to go to this one the second we heard about it.  Laurie Anderson has overtaken the second floor at the Hirshhorn with an installation that is a bit of a retrospective and a living piece of art at the same time at the same time art at the same time living piece of art at the same time.

Just go.  I mean, you’ve been already right?

The Hirshhorn is under construction.  Just like the exhibit.

So lets go see…  But before we start, I just have to mention in passing that my artistic son was psyched to see the exhibit spontaneously well before I did (beat dad by two weeks in fact), but failed to connect the art he was experiencing to Laurie Anderson’s music (especially Big Science which he has heard a zillion times).  I think hooking in some of the great music would be a treat.

I guess this counts. Kinda. Only an expert drum machine.

Flags in unison, except for one flag that was on strike or experiencing technical difficulties, or maybe it is just an iconoclast.

 

The striking flag. You can tell it is a communist since it is red.

 

This picture makes the song play in my head.

Anyway, here.  This song was only alluded to through text in the exhibit.  Have a listen.

This picture will play the song in your head, through your earholes.

Then there was the crow room (actually probably a raven, but I am calling it a crow anyway).  For me, this is all about Emily Shepardson.  I think Laurie owes Emily some royalties.  Or maybe just a make up concert in the living room.

This room is striking, fun, quirky, disturbing, and classic overload all at the same time same time all at the same time classic overload all at the same time.

The raven crow

 

The crow raven

 

The craven row

 

Romey and the crow

 

Did I mention that my dear friend Spool was along?

 

The golden canoe looks as seaworthy as some of its NH counterparts

 

A picture for emily of a picture of the picture, but not this picture, the one IN this picture.

 

 

Color!

Kind of a shock after all of that black and white. Big paintings.

 

Color too!

 

The tape loop violins

 

Then it was back to Fall in the beautiful gardens next door.

My art compatriots

 

I mean who gets to see art like this with two beautiful women? Oh, its me.

 

Fin.

 

DC Art Therapy: Hirshhorn, Phillips, Renwick, Plus

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The best layover ever is just about right. We made plenty of time for art on Wednesday. First stop after breakfast was the Hirshhorn. This museum is really going places. The new director has it popping. If you already did that once or twice and you have not been under the new regime, go.

Smithsonian in winter

The color wheel is the first use of the second floor circle that has perfect sensibility.

Downstairs had some cool stuff too.

 

 

 

The highlight of this Hirshhorn visit was the fact that Manifesto was playing. I saw this in Stuttgart in 2017 and was utterly blown away. This is a must see video installation, even if you don’t do video art (generally speaking, I don’t).

 

 

Here is the official trailer. Absolutely stunning masterpiece.

 

 

 

I now love Cate Blanchett. Watching her work in such a close stunning cinematic set of visuals is life changing.

 

After lunch, which may or may not have included a bottle of Gigondas, we headed to the Phillips.

 

Finally, parking karma still intact, we headed to the Renwick. Sadly, Jacob missed it.

 

 

 

 

Three museums was not enough to satisfy the art goddess. Fortunately, Richard rode to the rescue. His collection is world class.

 

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