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National Gallery, Anyone?

post #1 of 33
6/21/07 at 1:20am
Thread Starter 
Has anyone been to the National Gallery in DC lately, and if so, what are the more interesting exhibits? I hope to be stopping in with a friend of mine sometime over the summer.

Thanks for any advice/pointers/stuff!

JB
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post #2 of 33
6/21/07 at 2:20am
I'll be going next week or the week after. I went a few (like 6-7) months ago. I can't remember most of it though we only did a small portion of the museum.
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post #3 of 33
6/21/07 at 4:25am
Since we're in DC, my gf wants to do a tour of all the...touristy...stuff in the next week or two. I'll let you know by then if there's something interesting.
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post #4 of 33
6/21/07 at 4:43am
damn I lived in DC for 3.5 years in Foggy Bottom and havnt been to the National Gallery even once
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post #5 of 33
6/21/07 at 7:02am
You've gotta check out the Monets, Renoirs and Van Goghs in the West building.
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post #6 of 33
6/21/07 at 9:18am
The last two times I went I went to see Jasper Johns. Really neat exhibit. The hirschorn had a pretty cool light exhibit a few months ago, but I have no idea what's going on there now. I need to find out. I always go see "Girl in a Red Hat" By Vermeer, everytime I visit. Except they've moved it around a few times. I remembering being shocked at how small it was like 6 years ago.
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post #7 of 33
6/21/07 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghulkhan View Post
damn I lived in DC for 3.5 years in Foggy Bottom and havnt been to the National Gallery even once

Thats what most Gdubbers say. Good thing I was local.
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post #8 of 33
6/21/07 at 9:38am
Haven't been to the National Gallery in about 6-years, but agree with the recommendation to check out the West building and particularly the Vermeers if you're into the older art.

Checking their website, the Mark Rothko mural installation looks pretty neat as well. I'm not sure if I've seen that particular display, but I've seen a lot of Rothko at various places.

Also, ever since I was a little kid, I've loved eating at the cafeteria in the tunnel between the two buildings and I almost always make time to get lunch there, so I highly recommend that - not for the food, but the atmosphere!
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post #9 of 33
6/21/07 at 9:56am
After your finished walk over to the National Portrait Gallery which also houses the American Mueseum of Art. Both just opened back up recently and they are a can't miss.
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post #10 of 33
6/21/07 at 10:26am
Quote:
After your finished walk over to the National Portrait Gallery which also houses the American Mueseum of Art. Both just opened back up recently and they are a can't miss.

+1. It's huge and a has a great, diverse collection. Don't let "portrait" scare you off.
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post #11 of 33
6/21/07 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoreman1782 View Post
+1. It's huge and a has a great, diverse collection. Don't let "portrait" scare you off.

And don't let the terrible mural things done by high school students scare you off either (I'm allowed to insult the high school, I went there), or the large amount of awful portraits (they have historical value!), and if you go after the Hirshhorn excited to see more of William Beckman's work after enjoying his nude over in the big cylinder, don't be scared off by the disappointment you feel seeing him flatly painted in motorcycle gear. And the David Hockney "sculpture" is really...just...god damn this scene!

There are, though, very nice things in the Presidential section, as well as in the British exhibit going on now, and even as one who usually is opposed to the enormous celebration of outsider art, the collection here has some good things.

Thank you, thread, for reminding me I need to go to the NGA.
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post #12 of 33
6/21/07 at 11:30am
If your feet get tired the theatre plays some great art films depending on day and time.
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post #13 of 33
6/21/07 at 11:32am
we get there about every 2 years (even when we weren't living in the country) - come on, DC's, you have one of the great art museum right there, and it is free. enjoy it.

the impressionist and post impressionists are very impressive - a real world class gallary.
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post #14 of 33
6/21/07 at 11:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willsw View Post
and if you go after the Hirshhorn...

Yeah and if you go to the Hirschhorn, make sure to check out the Giacomettis... or as I like to call them, "Hollywood A-Listers and Model Types".

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post #15 of 33
6/21/07 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, thanks for all the info. We may do the National first, have lunch in the tunnel, and go across to the Portrait Gallery for a bit. Sounds very nice.

JB
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