Art Tour Series VII: Washington, DC

While company was visiting this weekend in honor of my nephews wedding, a few of us went into DC Friday for  some gallery hopping and lunch; my idea of the perfect day.
The meters are .25 for 5 minutes at the mall, with a 2 hour limit, so we dashed through four galleries, the first among them was  the Freer Gallery which has joined with the Sackler Gallery to form the National Museums of Asian Art.  On display is this phenomenal Peacock Room by James Whistler.

This room was originally in a Liverpool mansion owned by Frederick Leyland, a shipping magnate. Artist and expatriate James Whistler redecorated it in 1876-1877 as a "harmony in blue and gold".  It was purchased in 1904 by museum founder Charles Freer, disassembled and shipped to his mansion in Detroit, MI. He then added hundreds of porcelains and 'objets' from his travels. It was reassembled for the gallery in 1923.  It is dark and moody but sparkling and brilliant at the same time, so relevant with today's trends.
There were many works of Whistler on display including this self portrait:

 One of my favorite paintings by Whistler "Caprice in Purple and the GoldenScreen" (1864):

Elsewhere in the Freer was this section of a 35 ft. screen from the mid 12th Century! It was a beautiful pen and ink drawing depicting animal scenes and landscapes;

These animal "ewers" or wine vessels, were produced in northern china where they more often depicted mythical creations.  Southern china created more natural realistic living animals.

This beautiful low back rosewood armchair was from the Ming-Oing dynasty, late 16th-18th century.

Next on our 2 hour tour we traversed the Smithsonian castle gardens on our way to the Museum of African Art, which I had never been to before and it did not disappoint!

 There were lots of specimen plants in the garden.

I am always as enthralled with the architecture of these buildings as I am the art.

I loved this African horse charcoal drawing:

 There is currently an exhibit on the Cosmos and African Art, which was very interesting.

Then we made our way to the Hirshorn Museum and sculpture garden which I  mentioned pin the 1st of my art tour series here.  Currently there is a "signs of the zodiac" exhibit in the gardens, by Ai Weiwei, which depict eleven Chinese zodiac bronze animals . I found out that I was born in the year of the snake--how unromantic.( Have I mentioned I hate snakes? We have them on our property occasionally, and in our pool infrequently, thank god!)

Find out what your Chinese zodiac sign is here.

His crystal panel is under installation currently to open later this month. I snuck a quick shot through a slit in the curtain...isn't it beautiful?

Next inside there were some new exhibits including a very graphic text display by Barbara Kruger called "Belief and Doubt"where words overwhelm the space as you go down the escalator to another floor.

Then there's the spectacular 2nd story atrium view of DC, 

along with some of my favorite colorful contemporary art by Stanton Macdonald-Wright:

That concludes our 2 hour tour of a few museums in Washington, DC. Then we headed off to a rehearsal dinner and the backyard wedding on Saturday evening.  Here are some quick shots of the lovely couple, (their 2nd marriage each, blending families with 2 boys each) and spectacular flowers on russet orange tablecloths.

Here is a shot of me on the left with my 3 siblings:

The Powell of Powell Brower:

My eldest sister, the mother of the groom, made this wedding cake, and a coconut grooms cake:

I hope you had a great weekend! Im exhausted!

Nancy


If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices. Nancy and Bethany

Wedding Weekend

I was trying to find something smashing to wear for my very good friend's wedding tomorrow (sadly, Mom and I will be attending different weddings tomorrow evening).  After conferring with Mom that the dress I bought for the occasion hugs me a bit too tight in the wrong places, I opted to pull out the old trusty - the LBD.  

In an effort to jazz it up, I plan to wear some neon purple heels and some equally neon lipstick.  A la Emma Stone here.  I just love how she pulls off the black and pink.  I hope I can too.

Sunday, we're off to a dog show in nearby Millwood, VA, to check out the scene.  My husband and I are crazy over our bulldog, Wilma, and are contemplating adding another to our brood.  A little brother for Wilma to look after.  While I was busy researching breeders, my vet gave my name to a show breeder in Virginia, who called me to let me know she just had a litter.  Needless to say, we're so excited at the prospect of getting another pup, but are cautiously doing our research and saving pennies in the meantime.  Not sure if it's even feasible in our fall budget, but we're going to do everything we can to make it work.  

Who can resist a lineup of bulldogs?  We certainly can't.

While my husband and I are fast trackin' it to becoming these types...

We're trying to contain Best in Show to the bathroom for now.

What are you doing this weekend?

-Bethany

If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices.

Nancy and Bethany

Weddings on the Brain

Not sure why I have weddings on the brain.  Maybe it was the radio show I was listening to this afternoon about engagement rings.

They were asserting that some socially-driven women link ring size and a lasting marriage together.  A direct correlation between the investment in the ring and the commitment to matrimony.  That some couples want the shock-value amongst their peers, and that anything less than flashy and showy would eventually cause bitterness.

I thought that perspective is a little off.  

For some of us, yes, we want bling.

Like this dress.

And perfectly styled bridesmaids.

And a beautifully set table.

And for others, it's about the promise and the gesture. 

To this material girl, a quickly planned backyard wedding was the perfect celebration. I never had visions of being a bride from a tender age, and never dreamt of some big wedding day and the excesses that came with.  

I had a creative block about weddings. I didn't want to get too hung up on details.  I had been burned once (long story... basically the Inn that we secured for our initial wedding date went bankrupt unbeknownst to us and we lost some money).

I have no regrets with our breezily orchestrated day.  Here's a peek:

I love to see romantic interiors that attempt to keep the flame burning long after the wedding candles are blown out.  Interiors that produce a visceral feeling when your eyes assimilate all of the items in a room.  Soft lines, twinkling lights.

It's definitely a 'look'.  And I always associate Paris with that look.

Get the look:

pillow/chair/mirror/lights/stool

-Bethany

Thinking a interior design consultation is too expensive?  We have design services starting at $50!  Contact us for a listing of our services and prices; we'd love to work with you to make your home uniquely 'YOU'. 

xoxo  Nancy and Bethany