U.S. Patent Office, American Art Museum: Then and Now

U.S. Patent Office, 3rd Floor. Circa 1924. Via shorpy.com.

American Art Museum, 3rd Floor. Circa 2007. Via the42bus.blogspot.com.

Take Five at the Kogod Courtyard

Sort of happened upon this by chance, but I'm glad to know it exists. Take Five! is a monthly program held in the courtyard between the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The music is generally of the jazz variety and this event takes place each third Thursday from 5:00pm until 8:00pm. SAAM and the NPG are normally open until 7:30, which I love. Great for an after work break/happy hour. The courtyard cafe is open during the performance and yes, they do serve adult beverages.

Yesterday's performance was a take on April 15; tax day. Singer and pianist Sandy Asirvatham played with an ensemble group and sang songs about, well, money and taxes. It was sort of odd, but we enjoyed the music and good company. The next Take Five! performance will be on May 20 and feature the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet.

Do yourself a favor and go early, see Remembering the Running Fence at SAAM (fascinating!) and settle down for some vocal jazz.

This is just a prelude of sorts to another totally separate event, Jazz on the Grass (i.e Jazz in the Garden). Hosted by the National Gallery of Art, Jazz in the Garden begins a week later, May 28, down at the Sculpture Garden on 7th & Constitution. Summer is about to begin boys and girls. It's about to begin.

Hirshhorn: Art Quickie

Busy weekend! I have a few neat posts in the works, but for now, take my advice and stop by the Hirshhorn. We visited yesterday and I realized that I'd nearly forgotten that its an oasis on the Mall. The one the tourists seem to pass up and the locals like myself seem to visit not quite often enough. I get spoiled, lunching at the National Gallery of Art so often. A hard-knock life life, I know... If you have a few minutes for lunch or just find yourself downtown take a few minutes and check out downstairs at Hirshhorn.

Black Box is usually my favorite, featuring a short film which loops repeatedly throughout the day. Either visitors walk away satisfied because they think they "get it," or completely bewildered. Often, I think I'm the only one who sits through the entire film, as was the case yesterday (I think the film was just over 10min). Its art people, take it as it is... The current film is A Laundry Woman, Yamuna River, Delhi by the Korean artist Kimsooja. No point trying to explain it. Also downstairs is a collection of some of the recently acquired pieces of the museum, titled Currents. The curators did a great job of showing the various types of artwork which the museum collects, even if much of it may never see additional exhibition time. That's where shows like this come in handy. There's no real theme or rhyme or reason, just interesting pieces used to show off the collection. Anyway, if you just want a quickie of new art and don't have time to lounge (or are on lunch), hit downstairs at the Hirshhorn. A diversion well worth your time.

NPG and American Art

I love the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. They are housed in the same building at the other end of the 42 bus line. Ride the Metro Center bound 42 all the way to the end of the line and you'll be right across the street from the entrance (G St NW between 7th and 9th Sts NW). The American Art exhibits change pretty frequently, but the Portrait Gallery's collections seem to rotate in and out at a slower pace. More exciting though, is the building itself. Originally constructed to house the Patent Office (it was supposed to be fireproof), the south wing was completed in the 1830s and the Patent Office moved into the space in 1840.

Over the years the building has established a rather sordid history, growing by several wings, housing numerous agencies and government offices, surviving the Civil War (as a morgue for a time), hosting Presidential inaugural balls and, of course, being partially destroyed by a large fire (1877).

It was designated as home to the Smithsonian's American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery in 1968. In 2000 it was closed for a two year renovation and according to government schedule reopened in July 2006. It was worth the wait though. Here are a few photos from the building. These are from the third floor, which is hardly ever crowded.