MY VISIT TO OUR CAPITOL

This week I was in Washington, D.C. on a business trip. I was very excited to go because I have only been there a few times and haven't even scratched the surface of the Smithsonian. I had a tight schedule - I arrived at 9:30 pm on Monday - and then waited 1 1/2 hours for my bag to arrive on a subsequent flight. My conference sessions didn't let out until after 5 pm everyday so I had a limited window of time - early evening - to see sights. I had done my research and found that two of the many Smithsonian museums stay open later in the summer. I was all set to see the Hope Diamond and to go to the American Art Museum. So, on Tuesday evening I got into my tennis shoes and took the free hotel shuttle to the Pentagon City Metro stop (I was staying in Arlington Virginia). I hopped onto the Metro and rode through some historic stops, such as Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery. When I got off at the Smithsonian stop some 25 minutes later, I emerged onto the Mall and saw this.

Now, I had seen the Jefferson Monument from this vantage point on my last trip to DC, but I can tell you it was still as impressive as ever. Also, I love that you can then turn around and see the White House at the opposite end.


I got my bearings (here's the Smithsonian "Castle")


and was chagrined to see that I was on the opposite side of the Mall from the Natural History and Art Museums. Why was this a problem? Did I mention that it was like walking through a wet blanket and the temperature was in the 90s? Yuck. Also, the Mall is REALLY BIG. I started hoofing at a fast pace, as the museums were only open until 7 PM and 7:30 PM.

After some minutes (who were all those fools jogging?) I reached the Natural History Museum which had a sign that said, "Closing at 5:30 PM today." So much for the Hope Diamond. I kept heading toward the White House, the direction of the American Art Museum, and came across their sculpture garden. Since I couldn't see the museum building, I decided to look around at this outdoor exhibit. There were many very modern pieces which didn't really move me, but I did love this sculpture.


Still looking for the museum itself, I spied this fabulous building.

It says it's the Archives of the USA. I can tell you I had images from Raiders of the Lost Ark floating through my head. The statuary was nice.


Still looking for the museum building, I saw these gorgeous flowers.

I finally found the art museum, but there were no signs, only these incredibly tall doors with no handles on them. I didn't see another way in, so I concluded that this museum was also closed.

By now I was quite hot and sticky, so I decided to cross over the Mall to the Hirshhorn Sculpture garden, which was on the way back to the Metro stop. Some years ago I had visited this garden and really enjoyed it. I was pleased to be back with a digital camera this time.

The sculpture in this garden is quite eclectic. You will find modern pieces, like Henry Moore's called "Two Piece Reclining Figure: Points,"

and "Draped Reclining Figure,"




as well as more classical pieces, like this (one of my favorites):


There are many artists I have heard of:



and some I haven't:

I especially liked this piece and would like to see it in different light, with clouds.



Here is another artist I don't know, but I like his work.


And this, I was sure was a Picasso piece, but I was wrong.
I could find a place for it in my garden, really, I could!

Miro is so whimsical.



This piece communicates so much joy!


Here's a bit of the whole sculpture garden. It's a lovely setting which you walk down into.

So, even though I was skunked in my attempts to go inside museums, I did have a nice art experience and, as I headed out of this sculpture garden back to the big M, fat rain drops started. I just got to the underground in time before an amazing thunder and lightening storm started.

And, I am so happy to be back in our lovely temperate climate after a 15 hour travel day on Thursday, but that's another story. (Question, how can an airport lose it's power for over 4 hours?)

Audrey

NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL

Jim and I have been going to the Northwest Folklife Festival for so many years that we have the 25th anniversary pin amongst our collection. Folklife is an annual event over Memorial Day weekend in Seattle. It takes over the entire Seattle Center and lasts for 4 days. This is an event that celebrates music, food and cultures from all over the world.

Neither Jim nor I are much for crowds, but this is one event where we truly don't mind. At Folklife, everywhere you look there are people playing music. That's what it's all about.

This gentleman was one of the first musicians we came across. He is playing the notoriously difficult Nan Hu or Chinese fiddle. The rosined bow passes between the strings. Jim and I have only ever been able to make a sound like a cat being murdered on this instrument. Needless to say, this man was making his fiddle sing.

Folklife has many stages, both indoors and out, and has acts as varied as Irish Whaling songs and Ukrainian folk dancing. We never even made it to any of the formal stages this year - there were too many interesting impromptu groups to watch.

Also, there were lots of creative instruments. These two had a whole vaudeville act using household items as their percussion section.


I believe these men were from Cuba. I watched for awhile as a guy in the crowd pulled a percussion instrument out of his backpack and joined in.


I was especially thrilled to see so many young kids playing their hearts out (and they were GOOD, too).

This young man was getting a lot out of these plastic buckets.

The youngest member of a family group of musicians, she couldn't have been more than 5 years old.

Folklife is full of colorful people, costumes and arts and crafts.


This guy was part of a group who played wailing blue grass.

Oops, he took a wrong turn for the Ren Faire.


Tie dye is still alive and well.

And lots of really neat creative crafts, like these handmade, hand painted leather shoes.

Here are the ones I finally decided on.

The day was cold and rainy but the crowd cheerful and the Seattle Center as beautiful as ever.

The International Fountain is always a draw for kids, no matter how cold it is outside.

And the Space Needle never ages.

This 'cello says it all about Folklife.