The Hirshhorn INSIDE & OUT

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.

RODIN

RODIN

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.

Zúñiga

Zúñiga

                               

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.”

Enrico David

Enrico David

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. 

POMODORO

SCHNABEL

               

Mark Bradford

SONG 1

JAMES VAN DER ZEE His Photographic Legacy

If there is one luminary among the greats of African-American photography (including the likes of; Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems and Moneta Sleet Jr) it is James Van Der Zee that could be considered the “Father of the Form.” Van Der Zee was a major and respected force truly in all of American photography for the entirety of his professional career. He was part of and centered the Harlem Renaissance as he chronicled events and personal moments. The black & white images he captured and created are rich and rewarding. 

                                                                                                                     
         


















Van Der Zee was primarily a portrait photographer. His subjects included the wealthy and famous along with local residents of New York’s Harlem. He showcased beauty, elegance and confidence in his subjects. He also; when he deemed necessary, used dark room techniques to enhance his pieces giving an artistic and many times haunting quality to the works. Van Der Zee was dedicated and wholly committed in the best traditions that he helped invent.

His subjects were always given his best accompanied with a sense of joy that remains evident in the work. Van Der Zee loved what he did with his life and work; it was his gift and we his beneficiaries; the recipient of those gifts. These things we treasure are the result of much work and calculation. Van Der Zee as all great artists’ made the results look easy but they come of course with the calculated effort of his eye and technical skill. Vander Zee is; the brilliant artist of “The Ages” of the eternal.

                                     

                                    

                                                                            

The Cosby Family Collection @ The Smithsonian

Homage to Langston Hughes (c) Charles White

Art collector Don Rubell has said “…it is; I believe, deeply rooted in my genes.” Don and Mera Rubell are among the world’s fore-most collectors of contemporary art. You might even imagine the couple as having “Rock Star” status among the finest of the collectors breed. The same can certainly be said for Bill and Camille Cosby. The Cosby’s have been collecting passionately since the nineteen sixties. Early on their interest revolved around the great works of Charles White. They have expanded extensively in the decades since. The Cosby Family Collection is comprehensive and deeply ingrained historically with the work of the African-American. It is massive, monumentally engaging and a thing of true beauty. 

The Thankful Poor (c) Henry O Tanner                                             

The National Museum of African Art is currently exhibiting the Bill and Camille Cosby Family Collection along with their permanent collection of African art from the continent. The Cosby collected works will be on view into early 2016. The works and artist included range from portraits by the early American Joshua Johnston to contemporary pieces by Whitfield Lovell. Henry O. Tanner’s “The Thankful Poor” is a work of creative and artistic importance that hasn’t been on public view for decades is featured within the exhibit. It is a work of strength and character; a national treasure unto itself. Elizabeth Catlett’s sculpture along with Alma Thomas’ color-field semi abstractions are high lights. Legendary artists Edward Bannister, Arron Douglas, Archibald Motley Jr. and Romare Bearden all represented on display and in grand style.  This is a rare opportunity as it is a journey through time and centuries of art that are very much unique to a private collection. 

Maternity  (c)  Elizabeth Cattlett

Artist and Art Historian David Driskell became a consultant to the Cosby’s in the nineteen eighties. He has lovingly and accurately since guided and assisted on the acquisition decisions of the Cosby couple. Driskell curated an exhibition in 1976 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that opened the eyes of the world to the depth, quality and richness of African-American Art. The catalogue of the exhibition “Two Centuries of Black American Art” was published nationally and became a “Bible” of sort and guide for researchers, enthusiast and collectors for years after. Driskell went on to author and edit other fabulous books including the treasured volume; “The Other Side of Color.” It high-lights the now historic Cosby Collection and features the Cosby’s thoughts and comments on their collecting philosophy and tastes. Erica Cosby; the daughter of Bill and Camille, who is now an art scholar and artist  gives an interesting dialogue on the perspective of growing up with one of the nation’s premier art collections. An example of Erica’s painterly artistic talent is on display in the exhibit as well.

Portrait of Bill and Camille Cosby (c) Simmie Knox

Bill Cosby is well known to the world as comedian, actor, philanthropist and humanitarian. He has contributed much to world culture in various personas. It is the best that a person has offered that we celebrate. Cosby is a giant among his peers and a friend to the many. We are now able to see Bill Cosby; Art Collector as he offers his contribution to the dialogue on great art. It is the spirit and love of the height of world culture as expressed in the mysterious, marvelous things we see and cherish that we join him in joy; in admiration. The collection within it’s glory is a thing sublime.

            At the National Museum of African Art                  

 

The Cosbys briefly discuss their views on Art.

Roots (c) Walter Williams                     

The Puryear Papers

If you were to look at Martin Puryear as the pains-taking, attention to detail craftsman that he is; that would be fine. You could; in theory, view his work as decorative objects designed to adorn a room or space with a truth of grace and beauty. He can also represent the last of the artist as hands on interpreter of the world and the glories of life. Martin Puryear is all of these; he is in every reality many things more. 

              

                                                                 

                     
                   

 Martin  Puryear speaks eloquently through his pieces that seem to be glorious over-sized works that were they created on a smaller scale be some useful hand held thing or tool. His works would be no less beautiful were they smaller; no less engaging.  The scales of the objects are amazing as single pieces adequately consume entire galleries. Walking among the works is to inhabit a place of wonder and artistry in the purest form. His efforts are of world class elegance and he is surely admired around the globe. Wood is the primary material of choice for Martin Puryear. Stone, wire mesh, and rawhide are known by his hands as well. He is adventurous in his choices of materials as well as in his range of creations.

                                                                                   
                                      

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I was first introduction to Mr. Puryear through the pages of Ebony Magazine in a nineteen seventies article noting praise-worthy contemporary African-American Artists. His works do sometimes speak to his heritage as a former resident of Washington DC and a Black American. His piece “Ladder for Booker T. Washington” is a particular and exceptional example of his acknowledgement of the shared American and Black Histories. The ladder (431” x 22” x 3”) is created from a single sapling split in two and joined by rungs. The work is an optical illusion of sorts as it bends and turns from the 22” base to about 1.25” at the piece’s apex. The cultures of many nations have influenced and informed the works of martin Puryear. Sierra Leone, Sweden, Japan and France are among the countries he has lived in, studied and embraced “The Family of Man.” He works reflect the sensibilities of an amazing world citizen.

  

The PBS series   art : 21   chose Martin Puryear as one of their first artist’s to be profiled. He was awarded “The National Medal of Arts” by President Barack Obama. Several great museums including The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC have honored Mr. Puryear with retrospectives. He was recently part of the highest priced auction in history when Christies scored an amazing $745 million in sells. $1.8 million of the total came from the sale of a Puryear piece. Congratulations to Mr. Puryear for all his awards and achievements as he continues in his efforts. He is making a difference for the positive in the world; he is doing very well.  

“At a certain point, I just put the building and the art impulse together. I decided that building was a legitimate way to make sculpture.”

                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                    Martin Puryear