Let the American History Museum entertain you!

The entrance to Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie
 

This is Althea Gibson's Wimbledon uniform when she won the women's singles title in 1957, the first black player to win the title there and at the U.S. National Championship. Displayed at Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

When the Dixie Chicks (now, just the Chicks) spoke out against George Bush and his Iraq war in 2006, they endured immediate backlash which didn't stop them from becoming the best-selling all-woman band and best-selling country group in the US. At the time I went right out and immediately bought two of their albums to show my support for the Chicks. This is a poster at Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In 1992 Kristi Yamaguchi became the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. Her grandparents had been held captive by the U.S. government in a Japanese internment camp in World War II.  Her signed 1990s skates and photo are at Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is Cyndi Lauper's outfit from the cover of her solo debut album, She's So Unusual (1983). At Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Who remembers Howdy Doody?  He's here, too, at Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History with Mr. Rogers's red sweater and shoes/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Thank you, Billie Jean King for beating that rascal and "male chauvinist pig" (his words) Bobby Riggs in 1973 in a heralded moment in tennis!  This is the uniform she wore in the "Battle of the Sexes" match. At Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The Lone Ranger and Tonto are here, too. This is a mask Clayton Moore wore as the Lone Ranger, 1949-1957, found at Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is the Cardinal Wolsey costume worn by actress Charlotte Cushman around 1857 at the Entertainment Nation exhibition/Photo by Patricia Leslie

No need to identify these celebs at Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Prince's "yellow cloud" guitar from 1983 at Entertainment Nation, National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

All those area stranded Southwest Airlines customers waiting at National Airport must have found their way to the National Mall for that's where it seems like thousands converged like it was July 4th in December,  but, maybe it's always like this during Christmas week.

Anyway, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the National Museum of American History, one of my stopping places during Christmas break.

At the information counter, I told the volunteer I was an area resident, searching for something new at the museum.  

Did he have any recommendations?

"Well," he said, "there’s the entertainment section which is new. I was up there about 30 minutes ago, and it was like…" and he trailed off like it was the Southwest Airlines counter at everywhere.

He was right; Entertainment Nation was crazy packed, like Disney World in a museum, the place was slammed, but not crowded enough that you couldn't move pretty fast through the aisleways if you know how to manuever.

But where was my fave, Michael Jackson? Maybe I missed him amidst all the people. 

Nowhere could I find Michael but there was Prince and his yellow guitar, and Cyndi Lauper's dress and Diana Ross's dress and lots more. Even, Mr. Rogers's sweater! 

It's Howdy Doody Time! 

But, no Michael.

Photographs by Richard Avedon adjacent to Entertainment Nation at the National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The reading room at the Richard Avedon photo show at the National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie 

 

The reading room at the Richard Avedon photo show at the National Museum of American History/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Meanwhile, across the hallway was a Richard Avedon exhibition, a disorganized mess and confusing to boot. He (1923-2004) was THE photographer of famous persons, just a few of whom are included in this maze.

The subjects are not identified with their pictures. No, across the aisle are labels with names and you only have to walk back and forth across the aisle to see who is pictured "left" and who is "far left" and who is "right" and who is "far right" and "center," and upstairs and downstairs, and there will be a test at the end to see if you can still walk straight.

A wheel chair would be useful at this presentation and the museum has a few to loan out!

The best part of the Richard Avedon show is the reading room where visitors may sit (or sleep, depending upon energy level) in comfortable chairs and leaf through actual copies of old (like 50 years old!) Life magazines, Highlights for Children, and more.

The magazines' advertisements are the best parts ("Do not let baby sleep on pillows!" admonishes one with a drawing of a mother tucking her baby on top of a pillow), and include many "motion picture" ads and a feature on It's A Wonderful Life!

Thank you, Richard Avedon's estate, for donating (I am guessing) these photos to the Smithsonian, but this exhibition could stand for reorganization, if you will.

I think I've figured out Michael Jackson's omission: his estate has not donated anything. Is that right? It is unfathomable that the Smithsonian with all its possessions would omit Michael Jackson from this inaugural exhibit so...

Please, Michael Jackson Estate if you are reading this, donate something, anything (THE glove? A show costume? P l e a s e) to the Smithsonian Institution so we all can enjoy it and not have his likeness and belongings omitted from this grand exhibition! Thank you for consideration.

And, thank you, contributors, for your gifts to the nation so we may see them up close and personal.

Applause to the Smithsonian for including all labels in Spanish, too!

And, if hungry, take your big wallet to NMAH. The fixuns' at the Museum's cafeteria ain't cheap. No charge for mustard!

What: Entertainment Nation "will feature a powerful, ever-changing selection of objects and interactive experiences" embracing theater, television, film, music and sports.

When: Now through "ongoing." The Museum is open daily, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. but hours on New Year's Day and January 2, 2023 hours may vary. Call to find out: 202-633-1000.

Where: National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20560. Museum entrances are located on Constitution Avenue on the first floor and Madison Drive (National Mall) on the second floor. There may be a short wait to enter the building.For more information: 202- 633-1000

Tickets: Always free admission at NMAH!

Metro stations: The Smithsonian and the Federal Triangle stations.

patricialesli@gmail.com

Last day for modern photo show at National Gallery of Art

Dorothea Lange, General Strike, San Francisco, 1934, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

For children of the 1960s who grew up amidst Watergate and President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994), it is hard to leave the full wall of photographs taken in 1976 by Richard Avedon (1923-2004) which are part of the exhibition closing today at the National Gallery of Art.

With a few exceptions, all the major era players hanging on the Watergate Wall are dead.

President Nixon's secretary, famous for "erasing" several minutes of critical audio tape, Rose Mary Woods (1917-2005) is there in a tight-fitting frock who looks like she's been stuffed in a can, and beside her is the rumored-to-be-and-later-confirmed, "Deep Throat," Mark Felt, the FBI deputy director, the major tipster for the story.

Richard Avedon, Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, Washington, D.C. June 8, 1976  Promised Gift of Lisa and John Pritzker, in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Photography at the National Gallery of Art

Richard Avedon, Edward Kennedy, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1976  Promised Gift of Lisa and John Pritzker, in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Photography at the National Gallery of Art

 Diane Arbus, Child with toy hand grenade, New York City, 1962, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Deborah Luster, One Big Self: Prisoners of Louisiana, 1998-2002,  National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.  Ms. Luster was driven to this project by her mother's unsolved murder.

Did the photographer choose the clothes?  Why else would the elegant Lady Bird Johnson wear a plain and definitely  unfirst ladylike, striped blouse which could have been purchased at the Walmart? 

 Richard Avedon, Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady of the United States, McLean, Virginia, August 24, 1976  Promised Gift of Lisa and John Pritzker, in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Photography at the National Gallery of Art

I asked National Gallery curator Sarah Greenough how the photographer was able to gain approval from so many important subjects for his assembly, and she replied: "He was Richard Avedon." 

Richard Avedon, Cesar Chavez, organizer, United Farm Workers, Keene, California, June 27, 1976  Promised Gift of Lisa and John Pritzker, in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Photography at the National Gallery of Art

The huge majority of subjects do not smile.  It was not a smiling time, save for one U.S. Congresswoman on the wall from New York, and that would be Bella Abzug (1920-1998).

Richard Avedon, Bella Abzug, U.S. Congresswoman, New York City, June 19, 1976  Promised Gift of Lisa and John Pritzker, in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Photography at the National Gallery of Art

Of course, Watergate does not encompass the whole show which has about 200 pictures and illustrates the history of photography from the 1840s to present day.

Simon Norfolk, one of four photographs (1934-2004) of The Lewis Glacier, Mt. Kenya,  National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.  The series shows the effects of climate change, and this photograph of one of Norfolk's pictures pollutes the image with reflections on the glass.

What better place for Watergate portraits than  Washington, D.C.? 

Plan to sit for a spell in front of them (if there is room on the bench) and play "Watergate." Be amused by a bygone era and the characters you can identify whose names are listed on a card. 

The exhibition is the third of three National Gallery shows to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its photo collection which now includes nearly 15,000 works by more than 600 artists.  

A catalog with 325 reproductions, essays, and a history of photography, The Altering Eye:  Photographs from the National Gallery of Art, is available in the shops. Ms. Greenough and the Gallery's Sarah Kennel, Diane Waggoner, Andrea Nelson, and Philip Brookman are the authors.

What: Celebrating Photography at the National Gallery of Art: Recent Gifts
 
When: Closing March 13, 2016.
 
Where: West Building, National Gallery of Art, between Third and Seventh streets at Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. On the Mall.
 
Admission is always free at the National Gallery of Art.
 
Metro stations: Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, Navy Memorial-Archives, or L'Enfant Plaza

For more information: 202-842-6941
patricialesli@gmail.com

Richard Avedon at the Corcoran Gallery of Art: Portraits of Power

It's a great show. Well worth the price of admission ($14; less for students, seniors and children under age 7).

The Avedon opening for members was crowded, but, at least, we were able to see the photographs standing not ten deep.

Rather than 9 p.m. (the announced closing), we left at 9:50 p.m. with no rush by the guards. (Obviously, not the Smithsonian guards who could give lessons to NASCAR.)

Anyway, the photographs! Many, stern, serious, few smiles. Most are quite unflattering. White backgrounds. Black and white. Severe. Large.

One of the few smiles is on Robert McNamara. Why is he smiling? He should never smile again.

Almost everyone looked far worse than you have them pictured mentally, except, John Kerry. In a picture taken in 2004 he's the only one who looked handsome and better than reality which is mean to most of the subjects.

(Henry Kissinger (in the second photo of him in the show) might have had the flu. The pain and agony on George Wallace's face (in the third picture of him) makes a viewer wince. If he had not died before Dick Cheney erected his Torture Chamber, he could have been sitting on boiling water at Guantanamo.)

Come to think of it, the show is pretty darned depressing overall.

Standouts in the crowd: Several shots of the Chicago 7, George Bush the First, Rudolph Nureyev, Jimmy Carter (was handsome), Barack Obama (in color), Dwight Eisenhower (with eyes seemingly rolling around his head), the Rosenberg boys. (Where are they now? Twice in the news in a week).

I cannot recall a more uncomely photograph of Ronald Reagan. Avedon easily (to a viewer) captures the arrogance of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Few women grace the exhibit. But the outrageous, the charming Dorothy Parker with her personality and wit flowing from the frame is there, contrasted with, a few galleries away, the eternally injured Vietnam woman who is too painful to look at for more than a second or two.

Richard Avedon died in 2004 from a cerebral hemorrhage.

I recently upgraded my membership to get invitations to the members' previews with wine and hors d'oeuvres, and the upgrade has been a splendid value.

Plentiful treats and drinks amidst seeing the shows without the hordes. Plus, additional benefits, like free admission to Mt. Vernon (expired at the end of July. Yes, I went.). Plus entrances without charge at other fee-based museums.

This coming Thursday night I return to the exhibit and to hear the curators, Frank Goodyear and Paul Roth, deliver a lecture about the show, another membership benefit. The exhibit ends January 25, 2009.