Art. It can mean expression, self explanatory, or just plain beauty. It can be painted, drawn, sketched, or even shaped (my favorite). Art is whatever you want it to be.
Although I occasionally enjoy to learn about artists or enjoy beautiful paintings, I have never had a taste for it (sorry Mrs. Christian). Art was never my favorite subject in school, because I wasn't good. The only real time I ever learned about artists was in T.A.G. (a special program in school) when I learned about Edward Hopper.
Although I made a giraffe look like a blob in art (that means I'm not good). I liked clay, and wire sculptures. The rest was rather hard.
Anyway, two days ago, Rebecca wanted to go to the National Museum of American Art. At that point, I would rather have read my book, then gone to that museum. I was dreading the hour.
We walked in, went through baggage clearance, and we were explained by the employees there that the two museums. The National Museum of Art and The National Portrait Gallery are joined together. That makes it a lot easier.
On the west side of the first floor, was American Folk Art and the American Spirit in Art. On the east side of the first floor, is many portraits of famous people. On the second floor of the east side, is the Hall of Presidents. On the second floor of the west side, there is some more art. And, on the third floor, there is the art of the 21st century art, with portraits of sport stars and performers. We decided to start with folk art.
In the section, I saw many sculptures, and I took those of notice a lot. An Elvis jug, a house with people on it, a metal robot girl, all were interesting. Some weird, like a preacher praying over a devil, or a painting of a two faced dog. Perhaps the weirdest one though, was a beautiful array of tin foil made into pretty wings, pillars, and different patterns and symbols. Tinfoil! Ah, you should have seen it. It was also so big. And Beautiful.
A man by the name of James Hampton, who was a janitor for many years, constructed this work of art, taking and buying all this material. Hampton said he got the inspiration from a vision he had, of Christ's Kingdom when Jesus returns to the Earth. On top of all these things, were the words: FEAR NOT. It was surreal.
Later, we saw some more art, and yet another I will venture to mention. This one, was not unreal, but funny. It was license tags, in order alphabetically of all the states, and with sounds (like people is P PUL) said: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general well fare, secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.
The tags version: WE TH P PUL OF TH U NI DIDD ST8S INNOR DUR 2 4M A MOR PUR FEC UNE NONE S TAB LISH JUSTIZ N SURE DOME ESTIK TRAN KWILI T PRO VIDE 4 TH COM UN DE FENZ PRO MOT THE JEN R L WEL FARE N C CURE TH BLES NGS OF LIBBER T 2 R SELVS N R POS TERI T DO R DANE S TAB LISH THIS CON STI 2 10 4 TH U NI TID ST8 OF AH MARE E CUH.
We passed on to other exhibits, seeing portraits of Bill Gates and Neil Armstrong. Later, we saw portraits as far back as Nathaniel Hawthorn and Louis May Alcott. I even saw a portrait of Christopher Columbus. Now that was a first!
In other parts, we saw more old and famous people, and then saw Fredrick Douglas and Mark Twain. It was very interesting.
After many minutes in this area, we went up stairs to see the Hall of Presidents. By this time, I had lightened up a bit, not being in such a bad mood about the art museum.
In the middle of the entrance of that section, was G.W. in the famous portrait of him stretching his hand in the direction of his desk It was a very large painting. . On the right of him, was John Adams, the stout white haired grim looking fellow.
On the right, were two paintings of Thomas Jefferson, both when he was thin and young and don't forget handsome.
Then, there was a painting of James Madison in his latter years (who was president in the Wart of 1812, and was president during the only burning of the White House, and James Monroe, with his wife.
Next was John Quincy Adams, who looked a little bit grimmer than his grandfather.
After that, I saw a big painting of Andrew Jackson, who was a poor kid who ended up becoming president. He did many things, most against Indians.
Then, there was Martin Van Buren, with his "stylish" mutton chops, and William Henry Harrison, who sadly only had one year in office. He developed s cold, and became the first president to die in office. His Vice President, a charming looking John Tyler, who succeeded Harrison. After was James Polk, who added a lot of new territory to the U.S.
Next was Zachary Taylor, who died in his second year of his presidency. Millard Fillmore was the last Whig in the presidency, and only lasted 3 years, becoming sick in his third. He died.
Franklin Pierce followed, and it was a game of musical chairs. Taylor dies, Fillmore (who was V.P. at the time) came in, and then he died. So, Franklin Pierce takes over.
We saw the painting of James Buchanan, the guy with the funky hairdo.
Then, we saw just a small little photograph of Abraham Lincoln. He may of had a small photograph, but he did big things. (I won't go into them now).
Since in his second term Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, (I think we all know the story) Andrew Johnson, Lincoln's V.P. took over. He almost got impeached by the radical republicans.
The 18th president of the U.S. was a famous union general, who, although was good in the army, was a not so good political leader. His name, is Ulysses Simpson Grant.
Next, was Rutherford Birchard Hayes, and James Garfield, who would've been a good president, but was shot in his first year. Both of these two had long beards.
Chester Arthur and Grover Cleveland, who both had short grey hair and mustaches.
Grover tried for a second term, but lost to Benjamin Harrison, relative to William Henry Harrison. Cleveland wasn't finished yet, so he competed again and got back in office. He is the only President to do that.
After Cleveland, a man named William McKinley, a clean shaven president, steps up to bat.
A rough rider from the Spanish- American War and New York senator, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt comes. He has very short hair, glasses, and a mustache. He had two terms.
Then, William Howard Taft came, another guy with a mustache. Woodrow Wilson then took the reins and made some progressive reform. Warren Harding promised a "return for normalcy." Calvin Coolidge then was appointed, and started the reign of modern presidents. He was president during the Boom years, and saw much wealth in the nation. After that, Herbert Hoover came in.
Finally F.D.R. came, and helped out people in the Great Depression, and did many good programs there. Then, he was pres. when WWII happened, before suddenly dying of polio. His V.P, Harry Truman ended WWII with the atom bomb.
Dwight Eisenhour, a WWII hero, came in and had a good eight years.
The rest were John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford.
The portrait of the peanut man, Jimmy (James Earl) Carter, is of him looking out of the window of the oval office. He looked like he's out of it.
Then, Ronald Reagan, the awesome actor and Governor, came in. Next, we saw a nice picture of Bush Senior and a sculpture of him playing horse shoes.
And, we saw a funky picture of Bill Clinton where he was all different colors. Then we saw a nice one of George W. Bush. No one will know what Obama's will be, not yet anyway.
We saw some other sections, but they weren't blog worthy.
So, I had a pretty good time at the Art Museum. It was better than I thought it would be, and it was very interesting too. I had fun.
For now, goodbye!
Painter:Just pose for a minute, Mr. President.
Pres:I can't move my face.
pAINTER: jUST HOLD ON...
Pres: Achoo!
Painter: Back to square one
-Andrew.
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