We’ve been trying to take an “art date” each month as recommended by Julia Cameron and it serves two purposes – it gets one out of the house, creating new energy and it forces one to look at art one might not normally be attracted to.  For example, in our arts advisory business we see a tremendous number of images each day – some photographs, some art journals, others outsider artists, and we’re always looking at what’s in current news.  That kind of art isn’t always what’s being exhibited in museums and we recently went over to the National Museum of Women in the Arts in DC to see Mary McFadden‘s gowns.  Textiles and fashion design aren’t really our thing, but it’s interesting to see McFadden’s use of drapery, her designs for long and lean (smaller endowed) women (much like herself), and the elegant brocading she’s attracted to.  You can definitely spot a McFadden from a mile or so away.

Anyway, while we were at the museum, we keyed into a few other images we wanted to share and we were thrilled that NMWA has TWO additional Alma Thomas works (you may wish to see the previous post on Red Rose Cantata).  I love the mystery of Thomas and am still trying to understand her inner nature.  The more I look at the work the more I see a naturalist.  But the more I learn about the artist, the more I see a reclusive feminist and you can recognize her works from a mile or so away also, but a for a different reason.  I also took the opportunity to get a really close and very private look (I was the only one in the museum other than the security guards) at Louise Nevelson’s work (and I prefer the piece at the Portrait Gallery on F Street – so get over there to see that too).  I don’t normally look at a lot of wood sculpture and I do believe the graining of the wood in these magnificent pieces lend to their unrepeatability.  So here are some highlights of current exhibits at NMWA.  If you go, plan your visit around 11:30 – lunch in the stunning mezzanine!

NMWA Mezzanine

Louise Nevelson (detail), reflections of a waterfall II, 1982, painted wood

alma thomas, iris, tulips, jonquils & crocuses, 1969, acrylic on canvas

alma woodsey thomas, orion, 1973, oil on canvas

frida kahlo, self portrait dedicated to leon trotsky, 1937, oil on masonite

annie leibovitz of dolly parton in pigeon forge tn 2002, gelatin silver print

Isabel Bishop, Campus Students I, 1972, oil on board