If you were unfortunate enough to run into David Brook's requisite faux-folksy pomposity* on the subject last Thurday, ignore it. I've heard from several corners that the Smithsonian's American Art Museum-cum-National Portrait Gallery complex, re-opening this weekend after a 6-year remodel, is a soup-to-nuts marvel.
We've been soooo looking forward to viewing its collection, we're willing to brave the holiday weekend crowds and check it out later this afternoon. If you can't, be sure to click on over to Eye Level --the official blog of the Smithsonian's American Art Museum-- where they'll be live-blogging the grand re-opening throughout the day.
A .pdf listing today's activities may be downloaded here.
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*Shorter Brooks: "The new museums are Tony-the-Tiger grrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat! Or would be, if it weren't for the self-centered 60's."
I haven't been there in years. I'd love to go; but I think I'll wait till after '08. The sight of all that history against a backdrop of destruction is too damn depressing.
Posted by: The Fat Lady Sings | 01 July 2006 at 21:20
was just in nyc for the weekend, and everyone said i should check out moma because they had just re-opened after a remodeling.
so i picked up one of those tourist mags about what to do in town, and read what was going on at the musee of modern art.
damn it! it was the showing of dada, a show put together by the george pompedieu center in paris, which i had just been to last thanksgiving, and had seen the entire show.
which would have been alright, but i had just seen the gustav klimt piece that mark lauder of estee makeup fortune had recently purchased in los angeles...and i had already seen that piece, once again, last november in paris at the grand palaise.
i already see reruns on tv everyday, do i have to see reruns in great art masterpieces, too?
j/k, i'm just amused that within a space of a week i am close to great art that i had seen on two different continents...trust me, it's not something that happens to me on a regular basis.
if anyone's interested i blog about the klimt experience here.
Posted by: skippy | 02 July 2006 at 02:00
Maybe Brooks is onto something - does the new museum convey an Imperial mood - like the war museum in London? Or is it 'art for art's sake' without redeeming martial motivational qualities? Incidentally - the Nat. Port Gallery was great when it was slightly out of favor and not very crowded -
Posted by: Gotham Image | 03 July 2006 at 09:04