Washington D.C. 4

This morning I walked down to the fish market and waterfront . Thanks C. for recommending that as it was not on my radar or on any other lists of recommendations. A fish market and marina is always a rich source of images and I spent a good hour exploring the area. The waterfront is nicely developed and has a bunch of different eateries and recreational pier. If I lived in D.C., this is the neighborhood that I would choose, based on what I have experienced so far.

I then proceeded to the Smithsonian Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture . This is a bit confusing as it is different that the National Art Gallery which is also under the Smithsonian umbrella and located nearby.

Nevertheless, I spent about two and a half hours in the center and did not even get to everything. I concentrated on the portraits, which were very interesting. Each portrait was accompanied by a description of the historical significance, so I got yet another review of American history. Prominently displayed both on their website and in the museum is the following statement:

We recognize that since this nation’s founding, who is represented—and how one is represented—reflects the country’s flaws as well as its strengths. The National Portrait Gallery strives to present a more complete narrative, one that acknowledges the history of slavery, racism, and inequality in the United States. Our research and scholarship is ongoing, and historical perspectives evolve with time.

I did make sure to go through the president’s gallery and was reminded of some presidents whose names I had completely forgotten. The most interesting were JFK (by Elaine de Kooning), Michelle Obama (by Amy Sherald), Barak Obama (by Kehinde Wiley) and Bill Clinton (by Chuck Close) as they were non-standard portraits. Also interesting was the Richard Nixon portrait by Normal Rockwell. I also viewed some of the other art, including an incredible Thomas Hart Benton mural entitled Achelous and Hercules.

I then made the requisite pilgrimage to Jaleo (just around the corner) for a late lunch before heading back to my hotel for my last night in Washington D.C. I will spend most of the day in D.C. tomorrow to see what I can accomplish before driving the short distance to Baltimore.