JanetH13@aol.com on mon 10 feb 97
At the end of March I will be travelling to Washington, DC, for the first
time. Can any of you suggest any places I should visit which relate to
ceramics? I'd be interested in museums, galleries, bookstores, etc. I will
have a rental car, so I can get to sites on the outskirts of the city.
If any of you have any tips on visiting Washington which don't relate to
ceramics, I'd still like to hear them--please just email me directly.
Thanks very much!
Janet
Dannon Rhudy on tue 11 feb 97
----------------------------Original
..... travelling to Washington, DC, for the first
time. .. suggest any places ... which relate to
ceramics?
Don't miss the Renwick. There'll be lots of others, too, but
the Renwick is absolutely don't-miss.
Dannon Rhudy
potter@koyote.com
Kirk Morrison on tue 11 feb 97
On 10 Feb 97 at 9:34, JanetH13@aol.com wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> At the end of March I will be travelling to Washington, DC, for the first
> time. Can any of you suggest any places I should visit which relate to
> ceramics? I'd be interested in museums, galleries, bookstores, etc. I will
> have a rental car, so I can get to sites on the outskirts of the city.
>
> If any of you have any tips on visiting Washington which don't relate to
> ceramics, I'd still like to hear them--please just email me directly.
>
> Thanks very much!
The National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian are a must, I live in
the D.C. area more or less I look around email me if you need a search
Kirk
> Janet
>
>
Hertz Pottery on tue 11 feb 97
Dont miss the Torpedo Factory in old town Alexandria!!
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>At the end of March I will be travelling to Washington, DC, for the first
>time. Can any of you suggest any places I should visit which relate to
>ceramics? I'd be interested in museums, galleries, bookstores, etc. I will
>have a rental car, so I can get to sites on the outskirts of the city.
>
>If any of you have any tips on visiting Washington which don't relate to
>ceramics, I'd still like to hear them--please just email me directly.
>
>Thanks very much!
>
>Janet
>
>
erik hertz
Evan Dresel on tue 11 feb 97
At 09:34 AM 2-10-97 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>At the end of March I will be travelling to Washington, DC, for the first
>time. Can any of you suggest any places I should visit which relate to
>ceramics? I'd be interested in museums, galleries, bookstores, etc. I will
>have a rental car, so I can get to sites on the outskirts of the city.
>
>If any of you have any tips on visiting Washington which don't relate to
>ceramics, I'd still like to hear them--please just email me directly.
>
>Thanks very much!
>
>Janet
>
I say start at the Freer Gallery on the Mall. One of the world's great
museums IMO. The japanese and chinese ceramics are superb as are most
everything else they have. Ponder the relationship between Far East art and
Whistler. The Sackler gallery of Asian Art is connected underground to the
Freer, but the gardens on the surface are very nice too. After that, for a
first visit, I would do the rest of the Mall and not worry too much about
clay in particular. There is too much good stuff in other media (not to
mention the science & history stuff. If I remember, I stumbled on some nice
pots in the Museum of American History, and on my first visit there was an
Arneson retrospective at the Hirschorn (also on the mall). I do appreciate
seeing his stuff before I knew more about him (and I appreciate finding out
more about him after I saw his stuff. The Renwick, off the mall near the
Whitehouse) sometimes has interesting pottery (it's allegedly a craft
museum). For "fine art" off the Mall, the Phillips collection near DuPont
Circle is small and fine. The textile museum is near there too, if you can
find it.
Have fun and wear comfortable shoes.
-- Evan Dresel who of course seldom made it to the museums when he lived in
the Maryland suburbs.
Margaret Arial on wed 12 feb 97
Janet,
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is an excellent srart with gallery/working
studios of artists and potters and a teaching studio it also is near
bookstores et al.The next place is Georgetown for the American Hand (see
phone book for address) , the DuPont Circle area has an excellent museum of
Impressionism something "collection"(SEE PHONE BOOK).The Sansar Gallery has
great wood fine furniture and beyond it is a collection of bookstores(USED
VARIETY).The Smithsonian is certainly worthwhile.The national galllery of
Art is nice,too.The Renwick is not to be missed by craftspeople(always see
the bookstores at these places-some have cafeterias)there are lots of
visitors guides available on these places and the yellow pages are a big help
a good map is the first thing I always get because the barricades changed
routing lately.
The Vietnam Memorial is not to be missed if you have any connection to that
period.I am sure I have misses a lot but when you get there ask anyone in
these places for reccommendations.
Margaret
Jeanne Ormsby on wed 12 feb 97
Also--I really like the Museum of African Art, The Freer (great Oriental
pottery) and the Museum of Asian Art--all three are on Independence Ave near
the Smithsonian "castle."
Jeanne Ormsby
At 08:03 AM 2/11/97 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>----------------------------Original
>
>.... travelling to Washington, DC, for the first
>time. .. suggest any places ... which relate to
>ceramics?
>
>Don't miss the Renwick. There'll be lots of others, too, but
>the Renwick is absolutely don't-miss.
>
>Dannon Rhudy
>potter@koyote.com
>
>
Kenneth D Westfall on wed 12 feb 97
Janet,
I agree that you should probably start with the Freer (part of
Smithsonian) and the Authur M.? Sackler Gallery. If you can ever
arrange to go with an educational group sometime you could probably call
in advance and arrange a personal (10-12 people max) trip to the basement
of the Freer to see the whole collection. These are pretty special
arrangements and they may have discontinued doing this, though Ken and I
were fortunate to be able to do this!! That was a magnificent
experience! We held pots that were centuries old!
To get a taste of some contemporary pots, I'd suggest going to Georgetown
and visiting these two places for sure: American Hand (gallery) and a
shop called Appalachian Spring. They are within walking distance of each
other, though they are a few city blocks apart. There are other galleries
in Georgetown of interest, as well. Since you'll have a car, you may
want to park and walk around Georgetown, since it's just as difficult to
find parking there as in the district. Also, The Torpedo Factory in Old
Towne (Alexandria), VA is a good spot for artists' studios and
contemporary work.
There is more to do than can be done in a few days' visit, so pace
yourself.
And wear confortable shoes and layers of clothing so the "in & out" of
buildings will not be such an impact, since it's winter.
I also make one other suggestion, especially if you're not from the
city,... Purchase a Map & Visitors' Guide for the District of Columbia
which shows all the Metro routes (transit system), the government
bldgs., the museums, monuments & other major points of interest. They
cost about $4.00 and we got ours several years ago at an Exxon station in
the district. Though this may I.D. you as a tourist, it makes finding
your way around a LOT easier! :-) So, good luck and have a great time!
We always do!
Sincerely,
Tracey Westfall
JJHerb@aol.com on fri 14 feb 97
For eastern pottery, the Freer Museum is probably the best collection in the
Smithsonian. This museum also contains the Whistler Peacock room and
paintings by Whistler and Thayer(?). Connected to the Freer by an
underground passage is the Sackler - the underground museum. Several of the
Japanese contemporary porcelain pieces, from the show that toured a few years
ago, are displayed on the bottom level. The Sackler museum store contains
many contemporary and antique pots for sale. The Renwick Gallery is, in my
limited experience, rather variable. There are contemporary pots and that
indefinable thing "ceramic Art" on display but the amount seems variable.
The first time I went, there was a wonderful Brother Thomas covered jar, the
next time it was not to be seen. The shop carries contemporary potter s
work. One thing that is hard to know is the presence of special shows. I
suggest looking through a recent issue of the Smithsonian magazine for the
schedule of special events. For example, the Museum of American History had
an installation about the Hispanic - American Indian culture along the
southwestern border. This installation contains (ed) several pots by pueblo
potters. If you are disappointed with the displays in this museum, remember
that this is were the ice cream parlor is and stop to rest your feet and
fortify your self to go on. If you do like the displays, have an ice cream
to celebrate.
The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA, is an old factory that has been
divided into studio/selling spaces for artists and craftsmen. It is an
interesting place by the water in Alexandria.
As to general advice, the major concentration of interest in on or near the
Mall. The Freer and sackler are very near the Mall metro stop. Even if you
have a rental car, you will probably not want to take it to the capitol area.
Parking is interesting and sometimes impossible. If you select a lodging
that is close to a metro station, you can save yourself some car problems by
riding the trains. Either way, you will be walking a lot. The only time it
is easy to find parking places in the Mall area is the week between Christmas
and New Years. Wear good shoes, take the train, and don t buy anything heavy
early in the day.
Joseph Herbert
JJHerb@aol.com
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