It’s about to get real sloooow in the arts world as summer moves heavily upon us. You could throw down a grand on a trip to the Louvre, but everyone knows you can only love Paris in the springtime. Luckily for us, our nation’s capital provides us with more museums than you can shake a Mona Lisa at. Not only will museums around town be open all summer (unlike many private galleries), but they’re usually open seven days a week and will rarely charge you a cent to see some of the greatest artwork in the world (centainly not as much as lodging on the Left Bank). Our advice: As residents, you’ve got the upper hand, so try to go during the week when the tourist-mania wanes a little, and wear some comfy shoes — you’ll want to stay awhile.
>>Smithsonian American Art Museum: Even if you didn’t make it to the biggest Smithsonian opening ever, you can still be one of the first people in the world to experience the beautifully renovated Reynolds Center. Be sure to check out William Wegman’s traveling exhibition Funney/Strange. This popular photographer, painter, drawer, videographer (et cetera, et cetera) likes to play with the balance between the light and dark sides of comedy, which seems to require lots of dogs sitting on boxes. Reading Two Books (pictured), covering an entire wall, disturbingly welcomes you into the exhibit. His creepy eyes will follow you as you move on to his more quaint works, such as his drawings and collages that expand on idyllic postcards. (Through September 24, 2006)
>>National Portrait Gallery: Sharing the Reynolds Center with the Smithsonian, the National Portrait Gallery is a phenomenal treasure dedicated to our historical need to capture and frame America’s movers and shakers. Eye Contact: Modern American Portrait Drawing follows the art of potraiture from the 1880s to the 1980s, as it rides a cresting and falling wave of styles, media, and intent. The exhibit explores the movement from the bold, striking poses of Edward Hopper and Don Bachardy to the more abstract, inward-looking portraits of Alice B. Toklas. Pop and celebrity culture, the integration of photography, and themes of gender and race are just a few points of focus in this comprehensive collection. (Through October 9, 2006)
