National Portrait Gallery celebrates Elaine de Kooning

 

Elaine de Kooning (1918-1989), John F. Kennedy #21, 1963, Michael and Susan Luyckx

 

I've been twice in five days.

 

If you lived in a generation with the halcyon JFK administration and recall the verve, the energy, spontaneity, glamour, and intelligence the Kennedys brought to the White House, you will not want to miss the nine portraits and drawings which Elaine de Kooning

(1918-1989) drew of President Kennedy in 1963, some larger than life and now on display at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

 

They are part of the major retrospective of Ms. de Kooning's portraits which went up last week, coinciding with Women's History Month and the artist's birthday on March 12.

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy sat for "Elaine" (the name the Portrait Gallery says she likely would have favored) at the "Winter White House" in Palm Beach, Florida in late 1962 and early 1963. 

At the National Portrait Gallery,  Senior Curator Brandon Brame Fortune discusses Elaine de Kooning's John F. Kennedy, 1963.  This work usually hangs at one of the National Gallery's entrances and is part of the museum's permanent collection, "America's Presidents."/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Ms. de Kooning called President Kennedy "bigger than life....I was determined to...communicate his warmth, sharp wit, appraising glance, and something of the outdoor figure I saw." In the year after his death in 1963, the artist barely lifted a paint brush, and throughout her life, she kept the JFK portrait #21 (at the top of this page) which still belongs to her family. 

 

How she came to be selected to paint the president's portrait makes fascinating reading in the de Kooning catalogue ($49.95), but, in a few words: If it were not for the Harry S. Truman Library, there might not be a JFK series by Elaine de Kooning. According to the library's executive director at the time,  David D. Lloyd, she "obviously belongs in the new frontier of art," and she got the commission.  (Later, Ms. de Kooning said it would take a while for President Truman to grow accustomed to her style since he was not a big fan of modern art.) 

 

Pretty amazing stuff when one realizes she was competing against male artists in 1962.  Not only was she a woman, but her style was unconventional and one might say extreme for a presidential library located in the Midwest.

 

Once it got wind of the library's interest in a Kennedy portrait, the White House went to work right away to accommodate Ms. de Kooning, and off to Palm Beach she went.

 

Of the portraits and drawings in the show, the Truman JFK is my least favorite.  And why is that?

 

The whole thing is stilted and artificial.  The background of bright yellows and oranges overshadows the subject who sits in the center with a puzzled expression as if to say: "Why am I here?" He appears uncomfortable, thinner, more timid than the person we have come to know, lacking his customary confidence and sex appeal but with a fire (the assassination?) about to engulf and shroud him, his expression and bearing make more sense.

 

Yellow is not a strong color.  It's a weak color, especially compared to the vibrant and energetic greens and blues Ms. de Kooning used for the National Gallery's official JFK portrait that is part of the Gallery's series of presidential portraits.  (She is one of two female artists represented in the series, the other, Greta Kempton, who, coincidentally, painted President Harry S. Truman!)

 

The year attached to the Truman painting is 1963. The catalogue has a photograph of President Truman with Ms. de Kooning  at the presentation ceremony in 1965. 

 

The color catalogue features the works in the show, naturally, and an entire section is devoted to JFK, and Ms. de Kooning's experience trying to paint a figure constantly in motion: "He was--well, he was just a great-looking man." And "incandescent, golden." (The yellows in the Truman JFK?)

  

Ms. de Kooning was an abstract expressionist, known for her stark, angular, and bright renditions  of contemporary figures, usually men, who dominate the show.

 

"Men always painted the opposite sex, and I wanted to paint men as sex objects," the catalogue quotes her. (Rock on, Elaine!) She drew several men (Fairfield Porter, Johnny Snow) sitting with their legs spread, and when JFK drooped his leg over a beach chair and asked her "Is this pose all right?" Yes, it was! (Rock on, Elaine!)

 

 

The exhibition is not entirely about JFK, but that's who (or what) engulfs me. Three free films run continuously in a loop.

National Portrait Gallery Senior Curator Brandon Brame Fortune with Elaine de Kooning's The Burghers of Amsterdam Avenue, 1963, private collection.  Loosely modeled after two Dutch paintings, both titled The Governors of the Kloveniersdoelen, one executed by Govert Flinck (1615-1660) in 1642 and the other by Bartholomeus van der Helst(1613-1670) in 1655, both on loan from the Netherlands to the National Gallery of Art where they may be seen at the Seventh Street, NW entrance to the ground level through March 11, 2017/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

Govert Flinck, Dutch (1615 – 1660)
The Governors of the Kloveniersdoelen, 1642, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, on loan from the City of Amsterdam to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Bartholomeus van der Helst, Dutch (1613 – 1670) The Governors of the Kloveniersdoelen, 1655, Amsterdam Museum on loan to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

In the Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery, there was "a party going on" to celebrate Elaine de Kooning's birthday March 12 and the opening of a major retrospective of her portraits/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, welcomed guests to the reception for "Elaine de Kooning: Portraits." In a statement Ms. Sajet said the artist "ensured that a person's likeness was linked to their innate vitality and spirit."  The Gallery holds the largest museum collection of Ms. de Kooning's portraits, and the new exhibition includes rarely seen works on loan from the artist's estate and from family members/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At Elaine de Kooning's birthday party March 12, 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At Elaine de Kooning's birthday party March 12, 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A man in black (subject for the artist?) at Elaine de Kooning's birthday party March 12, 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At Elaine de Kooning's birthday party March 12, 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The Dolls, and Sean Lane and the Bay Jazz Project made music at the Elaine de Kooning party at the National Portrait Gallery, and this energetic gal with a bobbing head slashed her fiddle with a force to stun and silence the crowd/Photo by Patricia Leslie

William Wordsworth would have been proud of these golden daffodils at Elaine de Kooning's birthday party March 12, 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery. The colors match the yellows in Ms. de Kooning's JFK portrait on loan from the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri/Photo by Patricia Leslie

What: Elaine de Kooning:  Portraits

When: Now through January 10, 2016.  The National Portrait Gallery is open from daily from 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21, 2015, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.:  Women's History Month Family Day, Kogod Courtyard

Friday, April 17, 2015, 12 p.m.: "In Her Own Light:  Liz Rideal on Elaine de Kooning."  Ms. Rideal from the National Portrait Gallery, London, is the author of How to Read Art (2015), and she will lead a tour of the de Kooning show.

Where: Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F streets, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20004

How much: No charge

For more information: 202-633-1000 or visit the web site

Metro station: Gallery Place-Chinatown or walk 10 minutes from Metro Center

patricialesli@gmail.com

An ethereal concert at St. John's, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.

Jared Denhard with his bagpipes and  Michael Lodico on the organ at the First Wednesday concert at St. John's Episcopal Church.  The eagle landed and approved/Photo by Patricia Leslie

It wasn't that I had died and gone to heaven; I had just gone to heaven at St. John's Episcopal Church, listening to Jared Denhard's bagpipes and Celtic harp, and Michael Lodico on the organ at the church's mid-day First Wednesday concert.

I still breathed, but barely, and floated in the tranquility of the moment, hearing the celestial sounds which carried me far away to peaceful places, a respite for any soul seeking truth and beauty. 

Michael Lodico played at the First Wednesday concert at St. John's Episcopal Church/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

The presentation began with Pipe Dreams and then My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, followed by Highland Cathedral, O'Carolan Suite for Celtic Harp, Maids of Morn Shore for Celtic Harp, and to finish, Over the Hills Medley which included Amazing Grace whose beauty still remains in my mind for which I am grateful.

At the end of the performance I found myself wanting to buy the artists' CD, but none was offered.

Jared Denhard on the bagpipes at the First Wednesday concert at St. John's Episcopal Church/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

The crowd continues to grow at these concerts (I estimate about 200 attended last week), and it's no wonder since, in just 35 minutes, they can embrace you quickly and carry you off to just about anywhere you want to go.

Only three concerts remain in this year's First Wednesday series, and April 19th's will be on a Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. when the St. John's Choir will sing.

The May and June Wednesday performances will begin at 12:10 p.m. Food trucks are located at Farragut Square, two blocks away, for those on lunch break.

Who:  St. John's Choir

What: Spring Concert

When: 4 p.m., April 19, 2015

May 6, 12:10 p.m. The U.S. Air Force Strings accompanied by Benjamin Hutto on the organ will play a Handel concerto and other works.

June 3, 12:10 p.m.  Benjamin Straley, organist at the Washington National Cathedral, will perform.

Where: St. John’s, Lafayette Square, 1525 H Street, NW, at the corner of 16^th, Washington, D.C. 20005

How much: No charge

Wheelchair accessible

Metro stations: McPherson Square (White House exit), Farragut North, or Farragut West

For more information: Contact Michael Lodico at 202-270-6265 or 202-347-8766

patricialesli@gmail.com

At the 2015 Philadelphia International Flower Show

At the entrance to the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show where nothing is artificial/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

This year's theme at the Philadelphia Flower Show was Hollywood movies, "Lights!  Camera!  Bloom!" and what fun and beauty it all was, as usual.  Claire and I have made it an annual trek with the Smithsonian Associates for three years now, and our expectations are always exceeded, with the show, the pageantry, the artistry, lights, color, and action!  And the alcohol (beer and wine we drank) which make it more fun to walk around and admire the outstanding creations of so many, which increased in beauty, somehow, the more we drank (just kidding). 

 

And the products to buy!  I must have been the only one on the bus back to D.C. to leave with nothing purchased, save wonderful memories, and the visuals of Gene London's exhibition of Hollywood gowns for $5; well worth it in my playbook.  Below are highlights from the "world's longest-running and largest indoor flower show."

At the entrance to the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  It was bigger than my bridal bouquet/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is the back of the entry from the Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia which based its design on the movie, Tarzan.  At the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the front of Tarzan, entered by the Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The entry by Inchscape, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was based on the movie, The Prince of Persia, at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A multi-award winning entry by Leon Kluge Landscape Design of South Africa, modeled on A Maleficent View at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A scene inspired by Finding Nemo by J. Downend Landscaping from Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  "Underwater" viewers could look above and find a big boat "floating" overhead/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 From "Pooh's Hunny Depot" by Irwin Landscaping of Hockessin, Delaware at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Waldor Orchids from Linwood, New Jersey used Peter Pan in Neverland as its theme at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

One of my favorites, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice Meet the Horticulturist's Apprentice" based on Walt Disney's (a lot of Disney was present) Fantasia, presented by Mercer  County Community College from Trenton, New Jersey in the Education Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by Paul Hervey-Brookes & Associates from Gloucestershire, United Kingdom at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another view of The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by Paul Hervey-Brookes & Associates from Gloucestershire, United Kingdom at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

"Cinderella's Wedding" by Robertson's Flowers & Events, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Based on Frozen by Michael Bruce Florist, Pennsauken, New Jersey. Flowers seemed sparse because they don't grow on ice?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Based on Aladdin by Pure Design of Philadelphia at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This flower purse won the Blue Ribbon in its category at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  A purse with wings. Can you see Kate Middleton carrying it? I doubt the Queen would approve/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In the Miniatures Division, Beverly Sue Palacia won an Honorable Mention portraying Miss Scarlett on the porch calling to Mr. Butler in Gone with the Wind at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  A judge wrote:  "While the placement of Tara is pleasing to the scene, the architectural details are inaccurate." I do declare, Miss Scarlett: Tara was a figment of imagination so does that make "architectural details" inaccurate since they didn't exist?  Those judges are outright picky. but they need to find something to pick on, I suppose. The labels for every miniature list all plants used in each design/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Lucille Dickerson took Third Prize with her An Affair to Remember entry in the Miniatures Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Cathy Bandoian won Second Prize with her Enchanted April entry in the Miniatures Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

First Prize in the Miniatures Division was awarded to Louise Krasniewicz for Rear Window at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Pamela Goldman won a First Prize in the Miniatures Division at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show for her "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" entry/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In the movie posters category, Peggy S. Moore from Fairfield, Connecticut's Garden Club won Second Prize for her Thor at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show. A judge wrote the "placement of Heliconia disrupts the balance." If I knew what the hell "Heliconia" is, it might have added more points to the Blue Ribbon I would have awarded Ms. Moore for Originality, Style, and Design.  Look at it!  Incredible!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In the jewelry division of previous Blue Ribbon flower show winners, a watch of flowers and plants which Richard Burton might have given to Elizabeth Taylor, on display at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show. Made with macadamia, crape myrtle, grapevine, nandina, wild rice, oak, pokeweed, green peppercorn, and black peppercorn.  Good enough to eat!  Edible watches.  Another product idea for Apple.  If you get hungry, just eat your watch!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 Another jewelry entry from previous Blue Ribbon winners in the category of a Richard Burton gift to Elizabeth Taylor at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.  The components are all plants and flowers, mind you:  anise seed, almond, chickpea, coriander seed, cumin seed, rice bean, juniper berry, split pea, peppercorn, mustard seed, pecan shell, andromeda, crape myrtle, hibiscus, money plant, allium, and cotton.  No wonder I failed biology/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another outstanding jewelry design at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show made from eucalyptus, millet, wisteria, split pea, billy ball, French lentil, silver brunia, and star anise/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This asparagus fern won a Blue Ribbon at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show and won at the 2013 show. (How many times can one enter the same plant?  Another multi-year winner is further down.) We wondered if the white fronds were an outgrowth of age /Photo by Patricia Leslie

Lynn Cook and Troy Ray from Liberty Bell Gesneriad Society won a Third Prize for their Sinningia Bulbosa at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another Blue Ribbon winner at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show which also won a Second Prize in 2013. Something for everyone! "Help!  I've fallen and I can't get up."/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is a replica of Cinderella's glass slipper which the actress in the upcoming movie actually wears, said a vendor at the Philadelphia 2015 Flower Show. The actress (who is?) said the shoes are really uncomfortable, according to the vendor.  Really?  Wearing broken glass is uncomfortable?  Sounds like a typical shoe design to me/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

Compare entries from the 2013 show.

 

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Hollywood gowns at the Philadelphia Flower Show

Leslie Caron wore this gown designed by Walter Plunkett and Helen Rose for 1955's The Glass Slipper. From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

 

The theme at this year's 2015 Philadelphia International Flower Show (to see at least one year before you die) is "Lights, Camera, Bloom!" as in Hollywood, and what better place to show off some of Gene London's collection of 60,000 costumes than the show which captured international honors as "the best event in the world" (International Festivals & Events Association)? If you missed it, there's next year!  A docent said London's collection travels the world, but he has no museum to display costumes.  She said everyone admires the tiny waistlines on display, and the gowns.

Audrey Hepburn wore these two Cecil Beaton gowns in 1964's My Fair Lady.  From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

Elizabeth Taylor wore this Halston at the 1972 Academy Awards presentation. The label below the gown says Ms. Taylor flew the designer out to Hollywood where he created this for her in three days.  From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

Bette Davis wore this Nolan Miller gown when she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at Spain's San Sebastian Film Festival in 1989. Too weak from illness to make it back to the U.S., Ms. Davis, 81, died soon afterwards in France. From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

The crowd at the Gene London Hollywood Collection exhibition at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Tallulah Bankhead was Catherine the Great in The Royal Scandal in 1945 and wore this gown designed by Rene Hubert. From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

Tallulah Bankhead and James Stewart in The Royal Scandal from 1945. (See gown above.) From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

In 1939's  Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Bette Davis played the queen in this Orry Kelly creation. From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

Lana Turner was "Samarra" and a size 3 in this scandalous-at-the-time Herschel creation for The Prodigal in 1955. From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

The Marilyn Monroe collection from Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

At Gene London's Hollywood Collection exhibition at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is a replica of a gown worn by Scarlett O'Hara (Vivian Leigh) in 1939's Gone with the Wind.  From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

In the classic stairwell scene in Gone with the Wind, Miss Scarlett (Vivian Leigh) wore this gown when Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) carried her upstairs. From Gene London's Hollywood Collection/Photo by Patricia Leslie at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show

Gene London's Gone with the Wind Collection at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At Gene London's Hollywood Collection exhibition at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Gene London, the collector, at his Hollywood Collection exhibition at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

patricialesli@gmail.com