sunday. funday. recap.

While D.C. isn't my favorite city, I do enjoy visiting the art museums located on the National Mall. From the National Gallery of Art to the Hirshhorn, there's no shortage of galleries to explore and get lost in. For the majority of the museums, admission is free — a win-win if you're on a budget. With the temps in the low 80s, this past Sunday seemed like the perfect day for a quick trip into our nation's capital. Just for fun, I've rounded up some photos + highlights from my visit below!  Enjoy! 

The National Gallery is seriously so BIG. Since this wasn't my first time visiting, I just meandered my way through some of the exhibits. (I lucked out because, but there was a Gustave Caillebotte exhibit that opened on Sunday — perfect timing I guess!)

Speaking of NGA, I can't get enough of the East Building designed by I.M. Pei. While the galleries are currently under renovation, the atrium is still open to visitors. I especially love the large Alexander Calder mobile that spans the ceiling — it's amazing.

Admittedly, I'm also a sucker for the Concourse walkway (and light sculpture entitled Multiverse by Leo Villareal) which transports you between the two buildings. #somanylights

Color Bands (2000) by Sol LeWitt at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Having the opportunity to see Nam June Paik's work on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum was hands down one of my favorite parts of the trip, especially since I wrote a paper on him for my modern art class last semester. Seeing Megatron/Matrix in person (an 80 channel video installation with 215 monitors) was a real treat as it's normally not on display. The Smithsonian lucked out in receiving so many of Paik's works for their archive. Electronic Highway (also on display) has become a permanent fixture in the museum's modern wing as well.
 

You gotta love Flavin at the Hirshhorn. #nofilter

Because it was on the way (and free), we quickly popped into the Freer Gallery of Art to see check out some of the current exhibits. If you're interested in Asian art, then it's definitely worth stopping by.  I personally enjoyed the serene courtyard.

A snapshot of my #ootd. I'm so glad that I decided to wear this skort on Sunday — not only was it a comfy + practical option, but it's very much of-the-moment. I don't know about you, but I'm loving how skorts are becoming a thing again. I'm pretty sure that this was my first time wearing a skort since middle school...

Of course, no trip would be complete without some shopping. Although I didn't buy anything this weekend, there is a cute J.Crew, Anthropologie, American Apparel, etc. that I like to stop in.  Next on my list of D.C. attractions to see include the Phillips Collection (notably the Rothko Room!), the National Museum of Women in the Arts and possibly Georgetown (I still haven't been!)

What are your favorite D.C. spots? Leave a comment below!

xo,
A

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sunday. at. the. museum.

I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing that I enjoy more than a good art museum.  What else would you expect from someone who studied art history in college – go figure!  While I’ve been to plenty of art museums in NYC (the Met, MoMA and the Whitney, just to name a few), I’m nowhere near as familiar with the art collections in Washington, D.C.  Since I was already on spring break anyway, last Sunday proved to be the perfect day for a museum getaway. #SundayFunday, if you will!

Highlights of my visit include paintings by Edward Hopper, the contemporary collection and the Portrait Gallery courtyard designed by architect Norman Foster.  Speaking of which, what a space!

Now that I’ve set the scene, I’m just going to let the pictures do the talking.  Enjoy! 

1.  Portrait Gallery courtyard designed by Foster + Partners.

2.  People in the Sun (1960) by Edward Hopper.

3.  Cape Cod Morning (1950) by Edward Hopper.

4.  Close-up detail of Candy (1979) by Robert Cottingham.

5.  Close-up detail of Money (2005) by Mel Bochner.       

Although I will certainly be back, I am happy to say that I can now cross the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum off my list of museums to check out in the D.C. area. What are your favorite art museums in D.C. (or anywhere for that matter)?        

xo,

A

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