When I visit DC, one of my first stops is the Renwick Gallery. It’s one of the Smithsonian museums, but one that is less well attended than the larger, more famous ones. It is dedicated to American crafts. The current exhibition is “State Fairs Growing American Craft.” As someone who is also a fan of state fairs, this was especially appealing.
On display were some unsurprising crafts, like quilts, woodworking, jellies and jams, and jewelry. There were also some unexpected crafts like a cow sculpted in butter (housed in a refrigerated case) and hand-crafted saddles. Even the expected had some unusual twists, like a quilt crafted from the 600+ ribbons won by one competitor (it is a stunning work of art).
What Vicki and I both appreciated is that throughout the gallery are beautifully crafted benches (each unique) that had a nearby sign saying, “please sit.”
From there we headed over to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Despite the museum’s name, I was interested in an exhibit of Australian Aboriginal Art. Before we got to the exhibit, we got hooked into their First Saturday program. It’s a free crafts program for kids and adults. I, naturally, had to try my hand at creating a design reflecting my knowledge of Aboriginal art (which is extensive). I had a blast, comparing my handiwork with two young girls who were having a super time.
The exhibition is fantastic. If you are in the DC area, try to get to see it. The work is visually striking and if you’ve not seen much of this work, you will be both surprised and captivated.
After a rest at the hotel, we headed off to have dinner with friends of ours, Mary and Ed, who recently moved to the DC area. It was great to see them and their new home. We also got to meet their new dog, Ollie, who is a real charmer.