I have returned!

Posted on | October 16, 2006 | No Comments

I’m back from a week in Washington, DC. It was a great week in many ways. I had spent a summer in DC as an intern for the National Women’s Health Network 18 years ago, so I got to know and love the city while I was there. We stayed at the Marriott Wardman Park. A very nice hotel, since my husband had a conference there and was teaching some classes. I love to travel with him because I get to go and visit museums and galleries and explore the cities while he works!

We arrived on Tuesday after a day of travel (it takes forever to get to the East Coast from Phoenix these days!). I worked in the journal we started last week in Teesha Moore’s class. I’ll post photos later!

Since we were out on the East Coast, I decided I should visit my aunt, who lives in Philadelpia. I took the train down and, while I was on the train, I did some work for my consulting business. It’s amazing how much you can get done when it’s quiet and there’s no one around! My Aunt Millie is in her 80′s. She has been a constant in my life forever. She was my grandmother Miriam’s best friend and we have become her family. She was there at my birth, I am told. I last saw Aunt Millie last year at Rosh Hashanah, which we all used to spend together, but this year she was too ill to attend services. She looks quite good for someone who has a recurrance of breast cancer, advanced COPD, and is on oxygen 24-hours. I thought she’d be in much worse shape. The day went quickly, but we enjoyed our time together catching up. I will be back on the East Coast in May and I think I’ll visit her again then.

On Friday I spent the day going to the art galleries. It was incredibly inspiring. I started at the Hirshorn, which had the second level closed for an installation, but there was still plenty to see. I love to look at sculputure, though I have never taken a stab at it myself. The closest I’ve come is mini assemblage, but I might be inspired to try something now! I don’t see myself with a blow torch, though! I got to see some realy interesting collections, though, that made me think about color differently. I had seen some of this work before on the Internet, or in books, but there truly is nothing like actually seeing the works up close!

Then I went to the National Museum of African Art and was blown away! They had an exhibition on from the New Orleans Art Museum, called Resonance from the Past and an exhibit called, “Body of Evidence”. I was most impressed by a piece of work by Kay Hassan. He was commemorating the first free elections in South Africa in an amazing mural made up completely of posters he found on the street near his home. The detail in these images is incredible, especially considering that all of this is from torn up posters! I think that part of what inspired me is the found art aspect, but also the incredible feeling and dedication it took to create this work. Such an important piece of history that he has captured!

From there, I went to The Freer and Sakler Galleries, where I discovered the artwork of Simryn Gill. I have to say, I was absolutely blown away by her artwork and how she looks at the world. Her altered book work is unbelievable. It’s not your usual altered books. She actually creates entire necklaces out of books, tearing up the paper to create the beads. She also placed paper in the landscape so that the words appear to pop up out of the plants. It’s incredible.

And the Asian art I saw was inspiring, as well. As I am really looking at my art journaling and the doodling I’m doing in a different manner, I found it interesting to see that there were many shapes that I create in my journals that are similar to those in both Asian and African art.

I was completely exhausted after the four galleries, but I was energized. I returned to the hotel where I met up with my husband. We were to meet friends for dinner who we hadn’t seen in about 10 years. Rob and Laura were friends from when we were stationed in San Antonio. Rob is a year ahead of Dave and trained him his first year of residency. The most amazing part of this was that there seemed to have really been no time wasted or lost among us. There is something about that military connection that really brings people together. It was quite a lovely evening.

Saturday we went to see our niece, Eliana, who is five and adorable. She started kindergarten in September and showed off her reading skills by reading Cinderella to me. She’s very good and even comprehends what she reads. I’m amazed at how much she has grown up since last year when we saw her at Thanksgiving.

Then yesterday it was time to take the LONG trek home. We left the hotel at noon and traveled for the rest of the day, arriving in Phoenix at 7:15 pm local time. A long day, but it was great to be home.

I will post some pictures of my journaling pages later, but I just wanted to share my excitement from my Smithsonian adventure. I was so inspired that I did not hesitate to join as a member of the Smithsonian. This adventure has really re-inspired me to take the time to go visit the art museums wherever I am. I hope you’ll do the same!

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