Why You Shouldn’t Miss the Renwick Gallery in DC
In my recent post, I shared “11 Reasons to Visit Washington DC Museums“. I included much more than just museums, and since I was covering so much ground, I didn’t even mention specific Smithsonian Museum locations. If you follow me on Instagram though, you’ve probably seen me mention one of my absolute favorites, the Renwick Gallery, which is one of the lesser-known venues that’s part of the Smithsonian Institution.
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I’m Celebrating
I have some other fun news that ties into the Renwick, so I thought this would be the perfect time to tell you all about both. So…my big personal news is that this image is being used in the January issue of the UK Lonely Planet Magazine! (above – taken at the Renwick) Yay!
Below is the page where it appears (click to enlarge). It doesn’t look huge, I know, but it’s fun just to have a photo of mine selected out of the many that were submitted. This was a Lonely Planet Instagram Challenge about Shapes and I think the image captures the theme quite well (if I say so myself).
The photo is from one of my favorite exhibitions at the Renwick Gallery. “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man”. Here’s how the curators described the installation.
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man
“No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man brings the large-scale, participatory work from this desert gathering to the nation’s capital for the first time. The exhibition takes over the entire Renwick Gallery building and surrounding Golden Triangle neighborhood, bringing alive the maker culture and creative spirit of this cultural movement.”
The exhibit is no longer at the Renwick, but it will be at the Oakland Museum of California through February 16, 2020. If you love larger-than-life and interactive art, you’ll find some wonderful works in this exhibition. And if you can’t get to Oakland, you’ll find a beautiful online gallery here.
Here are just a few of the exhibits that I fell in love with on my many visits to the Renwick Gallery. I try to stop in every time we’re in Washington DC.
HYBYCOZO
The sculpture in my Lonely Planet photo is one of several intricate designs of various sizes by Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu. They are the artists behind the art and design studio HYBYCOZO. Their collaboration focuses on installations that reflect patterns drawn from mathematics, science, nature, and culture.
FoldHaus Art Collective’s Shrumen Lumen
The “Shrumen Lumen” exhibit made me feel like I was in the world of Alice in Wonderland. These mushroom shapes grow and colors change when someone steps on the circle at its base at just the right time. You can see videos if how they move and more at the FoldHaus Art Collective website here.
“The elements of this sophisticated, interactive cluster of fungi each has its own particular character and all delightfully respond to human interaction. As participants step on the footpads located beneath each cap, the mushrooms gently grow and “breathe.”
Marco Cochrane’s Truth is Beauty
“Haunted by the abduction and sexual assault of a childhood friend, Cochrane intends the project to bring attention to the issue of violence against women, demystifying the female body and portraying the “feminine energy and power that results when women feel free and safe.” Around the base of the “Truth is Beauty” installation this question appears in multiple languages: “What Would The World Be Like If Women Were Safe?”
Artist Marco Cochrane with his wife and artistic partner, Julia Whitelaw’s first trip to “Burning Man” inspired them to create this thought-provoking work. The Renwick’s version of “Truth Is Beauty” in the gallery is one-third the size of the fifty-five-foot tall figure that appeared at Burning Man in 2013. Can you imagine how captivating the full-size version would be? See images of that one and more on his website here.
Discovering The Renwick Gallery
Way back in 2016, not long after we moved to the East Coast, we visited our nation’s capital for the first of many DC getaways. As we walked down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House, we passed an ordinary building (for DC) with a line of people outside wrapped halfway around the block. I was intrigued, to say the least. We passed by again a few hours later and the line was still there.
Suffering from a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out) I couldn’t stand not knowing. I boldly asked a young 20-something what was going on. He said the Renwick Gallery had recently re-opened after a 2-year renovation and their first exhibition was so amazing that he had to bring his mom to see it. It was called, “Wonder”.
The “Wonder” Exhibit
Thankfully we still had more time in DC, so we went back to the Renwick just after the gallery opened the next day. This was my first exposure to this spectacular place. Do you think that art museums and galleries are stuffy static places filled with lifeless paintings and stoic sculptures? The Renwick is nothing of the sort. Here are a few shots of some of my favorite exhibits (so far) in this vibrant and magical place.
John Grade’s Middle Fork
The curators describe John Grade’s Middle Fork like this:
For Renwick’s “Wonder” Exhibit “the artist selected a hemlock tree in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle that is approximately 150 years old–the same age as this building. His team created a full plaster cast of the tree (without harming it). The team then used the cast as a mold to build a new tree out of a half-million segments of reclaimed cedar. Hundreds of volunteers assisted Grade, hand carving each piece to match the contours of the original tree. After the exhibition closes, Middle Fork (Cascades) will be carried back to the hemlock’s location and left on the forest floor. There it will gradually return to the earth.”
Gabriel Dawe’s Plexus A1
This mesmerizing rainbow is made of nothing more than painted wood, hooks and embroidery thread. He masterfully weaved it into a delicate, but awe-inspiring creation that measures 25′ x 12′ x 40 feet. What a perfect example of what human creativity can do with a few simple components.
“When you see a rainbow in nature you get a glimpse of the order that exists behind nature,” says Dawe.”
Janet Echelman’s 1.8
This 4,000 square foot weaving is one of my all-time favorites. It’s a massive example of immersive art and best-experienced laying on the floor. Find out more at the artist’s website here. Janet Echelman’s work was so popular that the gallery purchased it for its permanent collection. It will be returning soon, so make plans to visit between April 3, 2020 – August 14, 2022. This is how the Renwick curators described the installation.
“Echelman’s woven sculpture corresponds to a map of the energy released across the Pacific Ocean during the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history. The event was so powerful it shifted the earth on its axis and shortened the day, March 11, 2011, by 1.8 millionths of a second, lending this work its title. Waves taller than the 100-foot length of this gallery ravaged the east coast of Japan, reminding us that what is wondrous can equally be dangerous.“
Wendell Castle’s Ghost Clock
Many of the works I’ve shared about are created on a massive, often room-sized scale to immerse you in art. There are other pieces that are more human-sized and intricate. I would have walked right past Wendell Castle’s Ghost Clock if the security guard hadn’t pointed it out. It looks like an “upcoming exhibit” of a grandfather clock that’s covered in a sheet, waiting for a big reveal. In reality, the entire piece, including the “sheet” is carved from a single piece of mahogany wood. Wow!
The photo below shows a closer shot with the natural wood grain. Everything you see here is carved of wood! The clock, the fabric, the string. When you look really close, you can even see the hem stitches in the sheet in some places. This masterpiece is so understated, yet spectacular.
There are many more that I could share. Let’s just say you need to visit the next time you’re in Washington DC. Even if you’re not a fan of art galleries or museums I guarantee there will be something there that you WILL fall in love with.
Renwick Building Architecture and History
The Renwick was the first building in America designed exclusively to be an art museum. In the 1850s Wilson Corcoran, an art collector, and philanthropist, believed that showcasing works by American artists would “encourage American genius”. He also wanted to demonstrate that American art could compete with that of Europe.
Congress proposed that the now-vacant building be demolished in the 1950’s to make way for more government buildings. Thankfully, visionary First Lady, Jackie Kennedy campaigned and succeeded in saving it from the wrecking ball. Later President Lyndon Johnson turned it over to the ever-expanding Smithsonian Institution for their use. I’m so glad he did. Find out more about the building’s history here.
Which of these pieces was your favorite? Have you ever been to Burning Man? Have you ever been to the Renwick Gallery? I’d love to hear your insights on all of it.
Category: Washington DC, Destinations, Mid-Atlantic States, United States
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What a fascinating museum! I’ve never been to the Renwick, so I’ll be sure to check it out on our next visit to DC. Not sure when that is, but it will happen, as the nation’s capital is my favorite city in the US. Since The Renwick belongs to the Smithsonian, I assume entrance is free?
Congratulations with having your incredible art photo selected for the Lonely Planet Magazine of January. That is a feather in your cap and well done!
And, no, I haven’t been to Burning Man either. Have you? I think I’ve missed my chance as it’ has become unaffordable these years…
It is well worth as much time as you can spend there. A hidden gem for sure!
Isn’t D.C. an amazing city? So much to see and do there. But I was not famliar with the Renwick Gallery and it looks like a place I would love. Thank you for sharing this. I will definitely see this place the next time I’m in D.C.
Oh Wendy, if you love art and creativity you will love it. It’s surprising that so many people aren’t aware of it and it’s on the same street as the White House. Thanks for stopping by.