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| RODIN |
I spent a couple of morning hours at the “Hirshhorn” a few
Sundays ago. The “Museum and Sculptor Garden”
located
on Independence Ave. in Washington DC is in many ways my favorite place
to view great art in it's diversive forms and incarnations. It was the museum’s extensive
collection of sculpture that became my main focus of attention on that particular June Sunday. Castings from
the great Rodin to moderns like Zúñiga and Moore are featured in their regal
grandeur and authority. Kusama, Calder, Cave and Mueck are also on
view for study, enjoyment and Zen reflection…whatever way you choose to relate
with these masters is available for locals and world travelers.
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| RODIN |
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| RODIN |
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| RODIN |
I have casually run into many great contemporary artists of
the day and others at this Washington, DC site. Julian Schnabel, John Currin and his
spouse; sculptor Rachel Feinstein. Historian and lecturer Simon Schama is
another art world luminary I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at one of his Hirshhorn
seminars. The Hirshhorn is a fabulous place and always new serving as both contemporary
collectors of new pieces while possessing a unique and expansive permanent collection
that is displayed in rotation. The Hirshhorn is always fresh and exciting.
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| Zúñiga |
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| Zúñiga |
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| Moore |
There is ever a sense of discovery associated with walking
around the sculpture garden that surrounds the physical building and extends to
a lower level across Madison Dr. This can be both relaxing and comforting for
the soul and spirit. Walk ways that lead to hidden treasures are many and you
must be sure to explore them all.
The Hirshhorn opened in early 1974. I was actually one of
the first visitors to this “museum in the round.” It was even still under partial construction at
the time. It has grown into a world class destination and is remarkable in it’s
reach and depth of character and understanding with a distinct and unique
perspective of the purpose of art. Currently artist Mark Bradford has the first
continuous single artistic creation that encircles the entirety of the third
floor’s interior walk way. The outer
walls became a 360’ projection surface in 2012 for artist Doug Aitken's
"SONG 1” that was especially memorable for my personal mid-night viewing
and experiencing that "shock of the new.”
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| Enrico David |
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| Enrico David |
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| Enrico David |
So much to see; so much to review, that I’m just including a
sampling of what I saw during my morning visit. I’ve selected and presented here
some historic, some new and all spectacular. I’m hoping that this is enough
to wet any appetite for more and a visit of your own. Of special interest and featured as illustrations are the works of Enrico David (above.) This was my first exposure to his art and it had a tendency to jump out perhaps for that very reason. For those who haven’t
already visited themselves; please for all purposes do visit the Hirshhorn when
you can and I would love to compare notes with you on it’s many exhilarating
wonders.
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| POMODORO |
